new to snakes- enclosure setup

[Balmer]

Hi as stated i am very new to snakes and am researching into snake enclosures having deciding on a ball python being my choice in snake. at current i have partly decided on the viv pictured below which is a 36" long Vivarium 3ft x 1.5 x 1.7 and is made of walnut.

http://www.valuevivariums.co.uk/viva...6-pi-3947.html

My main issue that i am trying to research is the heating of such a viv as it is wood which i believe will rule out heat mats (correct me if im wrong) and have set eyes on a microclimate 150 watt ahs heater with built in thermostat. question is is this adiquate to heat the whole viv? will this work on its own without need for a second heat source? and will a protective cover be needed?

http://www.valuevivariums.co.uk/micr...w-pi-3730.html

As for substrate, hides, humidity and decor i am pretty confident and the only other question i can think of at the moment is will some sort of device be required to give sunlight to the snake? and please suggest one that is reasonable for the viv above.

thank you so much for any help you can offer and im sure you will be able to as this site seems extremely helpful.

cheers

[Kaorte]

You could use a heat mat but it would be a little tricky to install. Putting it on the outside of a plank of wood isn't practical because it won't put much heat through the wood. And putting it inside requires sealing it off with tile or glass.

I would maybe look into a different kind of enclosure. You will want something that isn't very tall since ball pythons are terrestrial. 1.5' tall is a bit excessive for a snake that will rarely leave the ground.

Another thing to consider is the size of the snake you will be putting in there. An adult would be fine, but a baby would be overwhelmed with that much space. It is best to start small and work your way up.

As for the heater, that one looks like it might dry out the air. I am not familiar with it though. A radiant heat panel might be worth looking into.

[I<3Dreamsicles]

Just get a tank or tub like everyone else.... they dont need all that space or the stuff to climb on since they dont climb.

You dont need to give them sunlight? They dont need UV light and heat lamps lower humidity. I dont use any lights.

If your snake is small you can always clutter the cage, or block off part of it...

[Crazy4Herps]

Hi as stated i am very new to snakes and am researching into snake enclosures having deciding on a ball python being my choice in snake. at current i have partly decided on the viv pictured below which is a 36" long Vivarium 3ft x 1.5 x 1.7 and is made of walnut.

http://www.valuevivariums.co.uk/viva...6-pi-3947.html

My main issue that i am trying to research is the heating of such a viv as it is wood which i believe will rule out heat mats (correct me if im wrong) and have set eyes on a microclimate 150 watt ahs heater with built in thermostat. question is is this adiquate to heat the whole viv? will this work on its own without need for a second heat source? and will a protective cover be needed?

http://www.valuevivariums.co.uk/micr...w-pi-3730.html

As for substrate, hides, humidity and decor i am pretty confident and the only other question i can think of at the moment is will some sort of device be required to give sunlight to the snake? and please suggest one that is reasonable for the viv above.

thank you so much for any help you can offer and im sure you will be able to as this site seems extremely helpful.

cheers

It may take a bit of meddling, but I could see that heater working in the vivarium. Yes it will need a cover so that the snake cannot come into contact with it and burn itself (something along the lines of chicken wire will work). I can't tell you whether or not it will be enough heat by itself, but try it out, if you want. Setting up any enclosure takes a certain amount of experimentation.

There's no way you'll be able to use a heat mat with the enclosure, but I could see other types of UTHs working. How thick is the bottom of the viv? Depending, some flexwatt with a thermostat could work (as long as you elevate the bottom to allow airflow), though I might worry about fire hazards if the wood is very thick.

As snakes are nocturnal, they do not need any source of "sunlight" (UVA/B radiation).

Good luck, and have fun! If you have any other questions, that's what we're here for.

[Balmer]

cheers for all of the info so far you've all been really helpful. i have been given this viv by a friend now but he has sold all of the fixtures and fittings to go with and as for the ahs heater it is designed for vivs of this size so i reckon i will be giving it a try and if anyone else can name any other essentials that i will need for a new bp then please do not hessitate to let me know. the snake itself is a little over 2 ft and is a normal and feeds well but not sure of the age as the owner is not 100% sure himself.