Few questions

[Skittles1101]

Some good advice on this thread.

Hi all I am new here and hopefully soon to be new to owning a BP.
I have Bern thinking of getting a BP for a while now and have finally decided to look into it seriously. But before I go out and buy a bunch of useless junk I wanted to get some info on what I should be doing.

Tank size... is it best to just go straight to a 40 gallon or should I adjust as the snake gets bigger?

I read not to use a heat rock but instead use a heat pad under the tank...is this always needed? Or only if I need to get that side to the right temp?

I'm not a huge fan of having to buy bedding all the time and want something relatively easy to maintain. What would be some good options?

when starting out what are the must have things to buy?
I know big enough water dish, hide away and a branch of some type.
Are lamps needed?

Basically any info I can get will make this so much easier on me.

I'm sure a lot of these questions are answered all over these forums but I am using my phone and searching forums can be a pain at times so I apologize in advance.



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1) I personally think a 40 gallon tank is far too large for a ball python (if your getting a baby), although it's not impossible and plenty of people do it without issue. However, my personal experience is this. I made my own rack, and got tubs that are the same size as a 40 gallon tank. My ball python stopped eating once he was in it, and didn't eat again for 5 weeks until I bought a smaller sized tub for him. He had hides and all that stuff, but it was just so large...and he's not a tiny baby snake he was about 350 grams at the time.

2) No heat rock ever. They are not made for snakes and they will seriously burn themselves if you add that to the enclosure. Stay far away from them. A UTH is the most beneficial heat source for a ball python. Belly heat helps with digestion. You just put the UTH on (I'd tape it, as opposed to taking the adhesive off and sticking it to it, this way it's removable without risking damaging it.) The main issue with UTHs is they get VERY hot, my small Zoomed one was making my tank floor over 130 degrees before I got a thermostat. Thermostats are crucial if you use a UTH. I'd stay away from heat lamps, as they tend to get very hot as well and they suck the humidity out of the tank, which will give you bad sheds.

3) As someone else mentioned, you can spot clean bedding in between full blown cleanings. However, some substrate is harder to detect if they just urinate, leaving room for bacteria to build up. I use aspen in my quarantine rack and have had perfect sheds and easily spot any kind of fluids. BUT it does not hold humidity as well in a tank. Depending on where you live you will need to mist once or twice a day. People use everything from newspaper to paper towels for substrate, as long as you stay away from pine and cedar, you're fine.

4) You will need two hides, that are tight fitting for the snake. They like small spaces, I buy mine from Reptile Basics, they have some very nice hides that are easy to clean. One on the hot side, one on the cold side. You can use anything as cheap as a tupperware container or a tissue box. In my tank I have a larger water dish, to help keep humidity up, just make sure if you have a small ball python it's not deep enough for them to drown in, just to be safe. I have a suctioned fake plant for him to climb on, he loves it. Those cheap humidity and temp guages are useless, however my ball python like to perch across them lol.
http://www.amazon.com/Chaney-Instrum...6350876&sr=8-3
That is a digital thermometer and hygrometer, much more accurate that analog. I also own a temp gun, which comes in very handy because I have multiple snakes. You can find them as cheap as 25 bucks. Other than that, those are the main points. Good luck on your new pickup (when you get him/her)

Here is a list of the thermostats that I have used.
http://www.amazon.com/Hydrofarm-MTPR...6351025&sr=8-1

http://www.reptilebasics.com/johnson...stat-pre-wired

http://www.coldbloodedsupply.com/pro...-SHIPPING.html

The last one is by far my favorite, but it's $118 shipped. The others work well also, the only problem with the first one is once the probe is gone, you have to replace the whole unit, and I don't know the life span on the probe.