Critique my tubs please? Photos included

[lusciousdragon]

I moved my single ball python over to a tub setup today. It is in my craft room away from the kids and pets where I do my sewing and scrapbooking. I put the tubs on my shelves that I use to store craft supplies up along an interior wall. Could you tell me if I did everything correctly and if it looks good to you?

I put a 7 foot long roll of 4 inch heat tape along the back of the shelf. I didn't run it through the middle of the shelf, just along the side closest to the wall. I attached it to the shelf with aluminum tape. I have my 2 year old ball python in the 25" x 16" tub. I put newspaper on the inside of the tub. The air holes are about 3.5 inches apart and are made with a drill bit. The holes go all the way around on all 4 sides. I set the thermostat to 92 and put the sensor on the inside of the tub (enlarged a hole and slide it through the hole) then used a suction cup to attach it directly over where the heat tape is. I added a water bowl and cardboard hidey box (I have new plastic hidey boxes coming in the mail). On the opposite corner from the sensor I put a temperature gauge and a humidity gauge. The temperature gauge is reading 82 degrees on the cool end. The humidity gauge is reading 70%. It is hot and humid out right now in Ohio. Now for the smaller tubs those are 15" x 10" and are for 3 het pied babies coming in the mail next week . The air holes for those are about 3 inches apart and go all the way around. They will be set up the same way inside as the large tub.

So my questions are: Is that enough air? Is everything set up in a satisfactory way? Is this a happy set up for both owner and snakes? Is the temperature alright or should I change it? Is everything safe? In the future, once the babies are old enough to breed, I will make an actual rack set up. But I figure I don't need to make one just yet since I only have the 4 for now.

Pictures!




empty baby tubs




Me with Aura

[PghBall]

I moved my single ball python over to a tub setup today. It is in my craft room away from the kids and pets where I do my sewing and scrapbooking. I put the tubs on my shelves that I use to store craft supplies up along an interior wall. Could you tell me if I did everything correctly and if it looks good to you?

I put a 7 foot long roll of 4 inch heat tape along the back of the shelf. I didn't run it through the middle of the shelf, just along the side closest to the wall. I attached it to the shelf with aluminum tape. I have my 2 year old ball python in the 25" x 16" tub. I put newspaper on the inside of the tub. The air holes are about 3.5 inches apart and are made with a drill bit. The holes go all the way around on all 4 sides. I set the thermostat to 92 and put the sensor on the inside of the tub (enlarged a hole and slide it through the hole) then used a suction cup to attach it directly over where the heat tape is. I added a water bowl and cardboard hidey box (I have new plastic hidey boxes coming in the mail). On the opposite corner from the sensor I put a temperature gauge and a humidity gauge. The temperature gauge is reading 82 degrees on the cool end. The humidity gauge is reading 70%. It is hot and humid out right now in Ohio. Now for the smaller tubs those are 15" x 10" and are for 3 het pied babies coming in the mail next week . The air holes for those are about 3 inches apart and go all the way around. They will be set up the same way inside as the large tub.

So my questions are: Is that enough air? Is everything set up in a satisfactory way? Is this a happy set up for both owner and snakes? Is the temperature alright or should I change it? Is everything safe? In the future, once the babies are old enough to breed, I will make an actual rack set up. But I figure I don't need to make one just yet since I only have the 4 for now.

Pictures!




empty baby tubs




Me with Aura

Your tub setup itself looks good, but the area may be a bit busy for your snakes, considering all of the other things you have on the shelves and the potential for loud noises and things falling onto your snakes enclosure. You may want to pick convert that shelving unit to just hold your snakes. I just finished a home made rack last night that I made from similar shelving (got the idea from youtube). I cut the shelving legs down to get about a quarter inch gap between the next shelf and my BP's tub. I also ran flex watt along the back side of the shelf connected to a thermostat.

[izoid]

It may be difficult to provide a proper temperature gradient with the way you have the tub positioned. It looks like the tape runs the entire length of the tub instead of just on the side portion.

[PghBall]

It may be difficult to provide a proper temperature gradient with the way you have the tub positioned. It looks like the tape runs the entire length of the tub instead of just on the side portion.

I didn't realize that. I put two 32 qt tubs side by side on my shelves.

[WingedWolfPsion]

Be sure you have clamps of some kind to hold the edges of the lids down.

[DemmBalls]

T-Stat probe should be attached with aluminum tape directly to the heat tape (not inside the tub w/ a suction cup).

[lusciousdragon]

T-Stat probe should be attached with aluminum tape directly to the heat tape (not inside the tub w/ a suction cup).

The thermostat instructions say to put the probe inside of the enclosure and to attach it with the suction cup that is included. This is the one sold made by Big Apple Herps.

[anatess]

The thermostat instructions say to put the probe inside of the enclosure and to attach it with the suction cup that is included. This is the one sold made by Big Apple Herps.

Right, but a lot of bp.net members have experienced that there are too many risks involved in doing it that way.

1.) with the snake moving around the enclosure, it could get dislodged and end up sitting away from the heat source which would cause the tstat to stay on even if the heat has already reached max.

2.) the probe is "reactive", therefore, it could possibly be that the heat tape is already pouring very high heat before the probe senses the measurement through the enclosure.

So, a lot of people put the probe right on the heat tape outside the enclosure so that it senses the heat right out of the heat source with as little interference as possible.

But, you can weigh pros and cons and just do what you feel is best for your set-up. As long as the temps are ideal for the snake, you're good!

[lusciousdragon]

Your tub setup itself looks good, but the area may be a bit busy for your snakes, considering all of the other things you have on the shelves and the potential for loud noises and things falling onto your snakes enclosure.

The area isn't busy. No one is allowed in the room except for me and I am only in there to sit at my sewing machine table which is on the other side of the room. Then I sometimes take supplies from the shelves to bring over to the table. So no risk of things falling. It isn't loud in there, there is only the quiet sewing machine that makes noise. I keep the door shut so the dog and cat can't come in either. So the room itself isn't an issue, it is quiet, rarely is anyone in there, I even keep the air conditioner vent covered with blankets.

[lusciousdragon]

Right, but a lot of bp.net members have experienced that there are too many risks involved in doing it that way.

1.) with the snake moving around the enclosure, it could get dislodged and end up sitting away from the heat source which would cause the tstat to stay on even if the heat has already reached max.

2.) the probe is "reactive", therefore, it could possibly be that the heat tape is already pouring very high heat before the probe senses the measurement through the enclosure.

So, a lot of people put the probe right on the heat tape outside the enclosure so that it senses the heat right out of the heat source with as little interference as possible.

But, you can weigh pros and cons and just do what you feel is best for your set-up. As long as the temps are ideal for the snake, you're good!

How it is with the probe on the inside, I have the thermostat set to 94. Then on the cool side of the tub the thermometer is measuring only 79. The thermostat doesn't get any higher than that. So that is a reason I put it on the inside so it would judge the inside temperature and not the outside since it has to get through the thick plastic. I would rather the probe be on the outside for safety reasons also. I just don't think it would make the tub warm enough then. Maybe I need to add another strip of heat tape? Would that make it warmer on the inside and then I can put the probe on the outside?