Improved BP Set Up

[nightwolfsnow]

After doing more research, watching videos, getting advice on here, and talking to a few bp owners, I think I have a much improved set up.





I moved the thermostat probe to the inside of the tank on the glass underneath the reptile carpet over the center of the heating pad, that way the pad is now flush against the bottom of the tank. The thermostat probe is set at 102, but my infrared thermometer reads the pad 89-100 depending on whether the stat has it switched on or off. I've also noticed that the pad reads warmest in the center and decreases towards the edges. Are there better heating pads that heat their surface equally? Right now I have a small 8V that came with the tank starter kit. The glass underneath the substrate reads 95ish, and the substrate under the hot hide 89ish. I moved the thermometer probe to one of the hide entrances, the ambient temp in there is reading 83-86. The overall ambient temp ranges from 76-79 on the cool side and 80-83 on the warm side. This seems fine to me considering the hide provides a location for absorbing belly heat on the inside, and I have seen him basking on top of it for the bulb light. The bulb is a 50w nocturnal infrared heat lamp that I have on a dimmer and adjust if the ambient temperature becomes too high or low.

I really wanted to avoid having an overhead lamp at all since it dries out the air. But that doesn't seem possible for me since the UTH does not increase ambient air temperature and the tank is in my bedroom which I would say ranges from 70-75. So I got some New Zealand sphagnum moss. There's some inside the skull hide, and scattered around the cool side since that's the side with the ventilation opening over top. I plan on putting some in the hot hide also. I didn't want to disturb Orochimaru too much because he's in there digesting a mouse. I was so happy that he ate last night, it was my first time trying to feed him! I hope that means he's adjusting well and will be a good eater.

I decided to switch out the half log since a lot of people don't think it feels secure enough. That was where he spent most of his time, but I did notice that he would get in the defensive S shape if I was doing something with the tank, whereas in the tree stump he would only ball up or just turn his head away from me. We'll see how he likes the skull once he's done digesting the mouse I suppose.

The silk plants were added since I heard they help with humidity as well as helping the snake feel safe. It was one big 6 foot section, but I cut it into smaller sections that I don't think he will get tangled up in.

The water bowl is also larger to help with the humidity, and heavier so he can soak in it without tipping it over. You can see it better in this pic.


I also got some more clips and will leave the rock up there since Orochimaru figured out how to use suction cups for this.




It was pretty funny to see him poke his head down so he could see what I was doing.


I'm thinking he was roaming around because he was hungry. He was very eager for that mouse when I put it in the tank.

Super long post >.< Thanks to everyone who gave me advice, and hopefully others will learn through my trial and error.

[Ax01]

Ha I just got a skull for my new setup also.

I like all the leafy plants and seems like your doing a good job monitoring temps. Your baby snake looks like quite the climber too. Mine climbs on her tree but not on the tank by itself like your spider snake.

[nightwolfsnow]

Ha I just got a skull for my new setup also.

I like all the leafy plants and seems like your doing a good job monitoring temps. Your baby snake looks like quite the climber too. Mine climbs on her tree but not on the tank by itself like your spider snake.

I'm not exactly sure how he stays up there lol. I walked in and all I saw was his little tail on the stump, I was pretty confused at first lol. Maybe when he grows enough for a bigger tank I'll put in something he can climb on.

[tembii]

It's weird my Louie loves to climb too! I got him some branches you suction cup to the sides of the glass and he loves them. They're by All Living Things and I super recommend it! Great enclosure, he looks happy in there!! All the skulls everybody has and talks about makes me want to get one too lol. Awesome job improving!! xx

[ballpythonsrock2]

It's weird my Louie loves to climb too! I got him some branches you suction cup to the sides of the glass and he loves them. They're by All Living Things and I super recommend it! Great enclosure, he looks happy in there!! All the skulls everybody has and talks about makes me want to get one too lol. Awesome job improving!! xx

Do the branches stick pretty good? I have some gauges she climbs on now that are attached by suction and suction with Velcro. So far they have held her but I am afraid as she gets bigger her weight will pull them off that is why I am thinking I need to get her something better to climb on, thanks for the tip.

[tembii]

Do the branches stick pretty good? I have some gauges she climbs on now that are attached by suction and suction with Velcro. So far they have held her but I am afraid as she gets bigger her weight will pull them off that is why I am thinking I need to get her something better to climb on, thanks for the tip.

The suction cups on their own wouldn't stay so what I did to make em stick and I've had no problems with after is to mist the glass behind the suction cups then press them on! I read a tip if you apply some Vaseline around the edges of the suction cup that helps to create a tight grip from glass to cup. Louie is 95 grams currently and he curls up on them safe and happy!
When he gets bigger I figure he will most likely outgrow them. Wayyyy back when I had my first bp my dad used glass glue to glue a half log higher up on the glass and she grew full grown and could still sit on it.

[Mr. Misha]

If you're going to go the branch route, I'd suggest going out and getting him one of those grape branches because they'll hold up his weight as he gets older.

The thermostat probe should be on the exterior of the or the terrarium sandwiched between the RHP and the glass. If you have it INSIDE the terrarium then the glass will heat up to the 102 F. It might not only crack the glass, if your BP ever gets under the carpet, he will burn himself. You can get small furniture pads and put them under your terrarium so you have a small clearance between the terrarium and whatever it's sitting on.

I'd also get rid of the reptile carpet. That thing breeds all sort of grossness especially when he poops and pees on that thing multiple times. With high humidity and heat, you're creating a breeding ground for bacteria. I'd personally suggest coco husk because it holds humidity very well.

Here's a great thread of how to set up a glass terrarium just in case you didn't have a chance to check it out:
http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...-With-Pictures!

[nightwolfsnow]

The suction cups on their own wouldn't stay so what I did to make em stick and I've had no problems with after is to mist the glass behind the suction cups then press them on! I read a tip if you apply some Vaseline around the edges of the suction cup that helps to create a tight grip from glass to cup. Louie is 95 grams currently and he curls up on them safe and happy!
When he gets bigger I figure he will most likely outgrow them. Wayyyy back when I had my first bp my dad used glass glue to glue a half log higher up on the glass and she grew full grown and could still sit on it.

Yeah I have that branch for my anole and he loves it. I had to mist the suction cups to get it to stay on. He's already over 100 grams though so I don't know if it would hold him.

[nightwolfsnow]

If you're going to go the branch route, I'd suggest going out and getting him one of those grape branches because they'll hold up his weight as he gets older.

The thermostat probe should be on the exterior of the or the terrarium sandwiched between the RHP and the glass. If you have it INSIDE the terrarium then the glass will heat up to the 102 F. It might not only crack the glass, if your BP ever gets under the carpet, he will burn himself. You can get small furniture pads and put them under your terrarium so you have a small clearance between the terrarium and whatever it's sitting on.

I'd also get rid of the reptile carpet. That thing breeds all sort of grossness especially when he poops and pees on that thing multiple times. With high humidity and heat, you're creating a breeding ground for bacteria. I'd personally suggest coco husk because it holds humidity very well.

Here's a great thread of how to set up a glass terrarium just in case you didn't have a chance to check it out:
http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...-With-Pictures!

I followed that thread when I first set up the tank and had a lot of problems. I used to have the probe on the exterior glass but it prevented the the pad from being flush against the glass and it wasn't heating the tank enough. The thermostat is off by a few degrees, but I did turn it down to 99 after I started using the heat lamp again.

I have eco earth and I was debating on switching to that. I figured the carpet would be easier because I bought a second one so that I could swap them out and wash them. I guess the eco earth would be easier to spot clean.

[ballpythonsrock2]

I have eco earth and I was debating on switching to that. I figured the carpet would be easier because I bought a second one so that I could swap them out and wash them. I guess the eco earth would be easier to spot clean.

Eco earth is very easy to spot clean. Take some paper towel and grab it up, taking plenty around it. But if you really like the liners, spot clean the carpet with something like half vinegar and half water. Or they might have a spot cleaner in the pet stores. But the vinegar/water mix would be good till the you wanted to swap the carpet out. That is why I believe in minumim things in the enclosure, easier to do a total 30/15 day cleaning/disinfecting, which is when I use a partial bleach and mostly water mixture. (not half and half) Vinegar and water (1/2 and 1/2) is what I used to spot clean with when I used carpet. I did switch to eco-earth but mainly for the looks of it. ( more natural looking IMO but not by much really ) I still like the carpet liners but they maybe should be totally cleaned or swapped before 30 days, say every two weeks.