More Questions!

[Reptimom]

Hello again people!
I'm inching closer to my first ball python, I have a tank, hygrometer, and feeding tongs. Unfortunately the hides and UTH I bought were too small so I am returning those, and I still need to buy water bowl, thermostat and temp gun. I have thought of a few more questions to ask, because I want to be as prepared as possible! (I had a bad experience with my first Beardie because I didn't research enough and I don't want to repeat that)

1. Would a metal or plastic dog bowl work as a water bowl?
2. Can I wait on a scale until after I have the snake? Or do I really need it right away?
3. What UTH would you guys suggest for a 20gal tank? Its supposed to be a smidge smaller than half of the tank correct?
4. Is this a good thermostat for starters? http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0018CLYNG/...I1GQEWB29ZVTO4
5. Where is the best place to get rats, online or at a show? And what is a good starter amount?

Thanks guys!
Reptimom.
P.S. I'm planning on getting a Spinner Blast or a Coral Glow, so super excited!

[Freakie_frog]

Hello again people!
I'm inching closer to my first ball python, I have a tank, hygrometer, and feeding tongs. Unfortunately the hides and UTH I bought were too small so I am returning those, and I still need to buy water bowl, thermostat and temp gun. I have thought of a few more questions to ask, because I want to be as prepared as possible! (I had a bad experience with my first Beardie because I didn't research enough and I don't want to repeat that)

1. Would a metal or plastic dog bowl work as a water bowl?
2. Can I wait on a scale until after I have the snake? Or do I really need it right away?
3. What UTH would you guys suggest for a 20gal tank? Its supposed to be a smidge smaller than half of the tank correct?
4. Is this a good thermostat for starters? http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0018CLYNG/...I1GQEWB29ZVTO4
5. Where is the best place to get rats, online or at a show? And what is a good starter amount?

Thanks guys!
Reptimom.
P.S. I'm planning on getting a Spinner Blast or a Coral Glow, so super excited!

1. Would a metal or plastic dog bowl work as a water bowl? Yes
2. Can I wait on a scale until after I have the snake? Or do I really need it right away? wait unless you're breeding and have a marginal male or female
3. What UTH would you guys suggest for a 20gal tank? Its supposed to be a smidge smaller than half of the tank correct? I liked the Desert heat ones. theyre super thin
4. Is this a good thermostat for starters? http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0018CLYNG/...I1GQEWB29ZVTO4I have no experience with these but be aware its am on/off version so you'll get temp swings
5. Where is the best place to get rats, online or at a show? And what is a good starter amount?Depends on how often you will be able to get to a show and how much your freezer will hold

[DJ Sterrett]

1. Would a metal or plastic dog bowl work as a water bowl? Yes
2. Can I wait on a scale until after I have the snake? Or do I really need it right away? You can wait but it is nice to know the weight of your snake incase it goes off feed so you can see how much weight they lose. I have a simple food scale I purched at Walmart for around $20, so its not a huge investment. I weigh my snakes onece a month so I an monitor their growth.
3. What UTH would you guys suggest for a 20gal tank? Its supposed to be a smidge smaller than half of the tank correct? I am a big fan of the Ultratherm brand. They are low wattage and work well. They also make many different sizes, I wouldn't go much more that 1/3 of your tank, but thats just me.
4. Is this a good thermostat for starters? http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0018CLYNG/...I1GQEWB29ZVTO4If you are going to spend money on an on/off thermistat I would get this one. http://www.amazon.com/MTPRTC-ETL-Cer...arm+thermostat THey are what I use as a back up and I have never had any problems with them. You still get heat swings but with the above mentioned mat and this thermostat they aren't too bad
5. Where is the best place to get rats, online or at a show? And what is a good starter amount?Show is cheaper because there is no shipping. Calculate about how many rats your snake will eat in 6 months and buy about that many.

[Crowfingers]

[QUOTE=Reptimom;2440822]

1. Can I wait on a scale until after I have the snake? Or do I really need it right away? Get one when you get your snake, so you can get a weight right at the start. Or if you see one on sale, grab it now
2. What UTH would you guys suggest for a 20gal tank? Its supposed to be a smidge smaller than half of the tank correct? I don't use these, but I've heard they should cover 1/4 - 1/3 the length of the tank. If I'm wrong, someone will will correct me
3. Is this a good thermostat for starters? http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0018CLYNG/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=1B0GG9TLQL321&coliid=I1GQEWB29ZVTO 4 That is the thermostat I use, but I use it with a CHE. I will say it took some trial and error, the temp dial on the device is not that accurate. I used white paint and marked the spot that keeps my hot hide at 90*F. If room temp really drops (like it did over the winter) I had to bump it up and then check on it until the temp stabilized. Also, no matter where you set it, it has a 2-3 degree range; i.e. it turns off between 90 and 91 then when the hide cools to 88-89 it turns back on. This is fine for a CHE, but I don't know how that will effect a UTH. Mine really only uses the hot hide right after eating.
4. Where is the best place to get rats, online or at a show? And what is a good starter amount? I used to use Big Cheese Rodents (their rats come in 15-25 packs depending on size), but the last shipment I got was a little bigger than advertised and my snake was not quite big enough for them; and more importantly a few I threw out, they thawed weird (the abdomens were squishy and bloated) and smelled wrong. So I found perfectprey.com and called them (they ship pretty much any quantity you want) and requested a specific size and they actually were able to help me out. Since they took the time to pick out 8 rats in a specific size range for me, I'll probably do my ordering from them from now on.

QUOTE]

[meganmarkita15]

and more importantly a few I threw out, they thawed weird (the abdomens were squishy and bloated) and smelled wrong ]

Ive bought a few like this , an its like their bellys are LEGIT seconds away from busting open !! I wasnt sure if it was bad or not , i threw them out because i was unsure but also because i didnt want stomach guts everywheres . Soo0oo , this is a bad thing then right ? You should definitely not feed your snakes rats like that ? And what is it , that makes them go that way ? Sorry to ask a question on someone elses forum but I never posted my own yet , an dont know how . Also , wouldnt know how to ask the question right :-p haha


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