Want my new bp to be well taken care of

[HerpinCurt]

So I have 55 gallon aquarium I planned on using. I have a UTH on one side of it and i have a light hood. I plan on getting a BP in the next few days and know I will need more than this, I just don't know what all I need. I want to go out and get all of this tomorrow so i can get it all set up for her so can someone tell me what all else I need to get? And which type of substrate is best? What to use for humidity? Is any extra heating needed? hiding places, ect. Thanks in advance for any info/help I greatly appreciate it and am glad to be a part of these forums.

[HerpinCurt]

Also I have heard that Tubs were better than the glass aquariums, is this true? I could use a tub if necessary.

[dragonboy4578]

Tubs hold humidity better than glass enclosures. It is easier to keep the optimum conditions in tubs. In all honesty a 55 gallon tank is huge for a ball python. if you haven't do so already please take a few minutes to read the caresheet on ball pythons.

[HerpinCurt]

Okay tyvm I will read it now.

[Slim]

Setting up a tub style enclosure will be cheaper and better in the long run.

They are easier to heat and much easier to maintain proper humidity levels in than any glass enclosure.

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...Basics...*DUW*

[DooLittle]

Setting up a tub style enclosure will be cheaper and better in the long run.

They are easier to heat and much easier to maintain proper humidity levels in than any glass enclosure.

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...Basics...*DUW*

^^^ This X2. I switched to tubs and it is so much better.

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[Wiggy]

Is there any way you could postpone the snake?

You might want to give yourself a day or two (or more) to tweak the temperature controllers and gauge the base humidity and the rate that the humidity rises/drops.

This way you're working out the technical details BEFORE you have to worry about an animal, and if it turns out the room is too cold, dry, etc for you to maintain conditions in the enclosure, you'll be able to spot this and fix it before you have to worry about a new snake that's already stressed from arriving and being introduced to a new enclosure.

My 2 cents.

[Inarikins]

Make sure you have a thermostat (or at least a lamp dimmer) for your UTH! An unregulated heat source can burn your snake very, very quickly! A dimmer's only ~$12-15 dollars at a home improvement store and are great if you can't afford a $100+ thermostat right away or yours is broken. They have to be watched much more closely than a thermostat because they can't compensate for fluctuations in the ambient air temp but once they're dialed in they stay pretty steady so long as the room temp doesn't go up and down and up and down. I got the temp to settle pretty easily with it in the space of an hour or two and only had to fuss with it when I bumped the room temp up a little more.

[tjohnson722]

I have tanks also but will be moving to tubs. So much easier. I have to mist my tanks twice a day. I use newspaper now for substrate. It's easier. If you want it to look nicer you could use forest bark or aspen bedding (found in reptile section at pet store). Highly recommend a thermostat. Uth WILL get too hot if left un regulated. Also to check temps use a digital thermometer with probe. Have tank set up a day or two early before you get your snake. Hope this helps.

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[riffraff]

If you already have the aquarium-style cage and you don't want to get rid of it/can't return it, there are still ways to keep the humidity up. I mist mine a couple times a day with a spray bottle and keep a damp towel or tshirt on top while my BP is shedding and he does fine.
I think the biggest problem with large enclosures is that BPs are pretty shy and a big enclosure can make them feel 'watched'. It can be dealt with if you get plenty of hides of the appropriate size, though. Fake plants also help.