Rank novice needs advice before making mistakes!

[CALM Pythons]

I've been thinking about getting a BP for years and in recent months those thoughts have coalesced into a firm intention. I have a great deal of respect for what I plan to embark on and want to do it right. A twenty plus year commitment is not to be entered lightly. The internet contains vast information, some contradictory, so I wanted to make myself and my intentions known and get some advice.

Brief background; I had a BCI when I was 13 (terrible experience), and am now 38, have a house, a steady comfortable income, and have cats. Their safety is paramount. Finally, I live in South Eastern Massachusetts, so you have a sense of my climate.

I want to get a baby ball python, as young as possible. I am thinking about a 24" x 18" x 12" glass terrarium with side doors (the kind of thing you buy at Petsmart). Heating would be regulated by an as of yet obtained proportional thermostat (thinking a Herpstat) and provided by a heating pad, and a .... Well here we go.

I've looked at ceramic heating elements and incandescent bulbs. I don't want to do incandescent because I would hate to have a bright light shining on me all the time. If I shut it off at night that would cause problems with heating and it isn't natural to have a glaring light on 24/7. Ceramic might be better, but I understand that they are inefficient. That brings me to heating panels.

My research indicates that heating panels are generally used in plastic terrariums such as those from Reptile Basics or Boaphile. I haven't seen anyone using heating panels in a glass terrarium and suspect that there might be a reason for that, a good reason of which I am ignorant.

I'm sure that I'll eventually need a larger terrarium anyway, so maybe I should just start off with that, outfit it with a dim LED (on a timer), UTH and heat panel. But I've heard that baby pythons feel "stressed" if they have too much room, which is why I'm opting for the 24x18x12. Logic would suggest that more space is always better, but logic and common sense don't always hold with reptiles.

Finally, I plan to keep the python in my semi-finished basement. Don't get the wrong idea! This isn't some dank pit filled with oily rags and such. It's a clean and finished space with walls and a door that I can close to keep the cats out. I spend a lot of time down there watching TV, listening to music, and generally escaping from the family. It's humid (about 50% with a dehumidifier running), which is to the better, but in the winter it is cool, about 55 degrees or so (it has limited heating). With a thermostat and sufficient heating it shouldn't matter what the temperature outside the terrarium is, but does it? I'll also be using a battery back up to keep the terrarium heated in the event of a power outage.

So there you have it. I think you get the idea that I'm a novice who's willing to learn and commit the resources necessary to do this the right way. I won't be getting the python until I have a complete set up am ready to go.

Thank you for reading all this and for any advice or insight you can offer.

Welcome to the forum! You sound like the perfect person to give a snake a home. Everytime someone does research and touches bases before running into the house with a Snake to Open a Forum account and say "hi im new and just bought a Ball Python what do i do" gives me hope hahahaha.
Im in upstate NY so we share the same weather.
As far as enclosures im against the Petsmart terraniums. That doesnt mean they cant be used. I do and have had 48"x13x13 Aquariums ive used for 20+ years and they will work once you have a basic understanding of how to manipulate them..are they harder to maintain heat and Humidity and run Probe wires into? Yes but it can be done. I also use a RHP by Pro Panel on one of mine. (Do not use Reptile Basics RHP on top of any lid, i do not use that brand period. There have been several reported problems of warping, overheating and even melting/fire. Some people use them, i wouldn't.)
It is the 88 watt 12"x24" P12 model and it is on top of the screened lid on one side "Hot Basking Side" and the other 1/2 of the screened lid is covered by a 11"x24" peice of Duraplex plexyglass to hold Humidity and heat (cool side). The screen does not heat up at all using it this way and it does work very well. I also have a smaller Quarentine tank I use a CHE for the cool side ambient 78-80 and the rest of the screen is covered by Tin Foil for humidity/heat. The Hot Basking is a UTH on the opposite side controlled by a dimmer.

With all this said, I would never recommend doing it like this or buying a glass enclosure.. It is much cheaper and easier to buy a AP (Animal Plastics) T8 or T10 ($150 - $199) that will do everything that you want without cob jobbing a Glass tank.
If you are worried about the size for a hatchling they sell a Divider for $20 & that way it would be a 24" enclosure until you opened it up... But I would use the entire setup myself.
I have never had a problem with a Ball Python in a large enclosure as long as i provided the correct Hides ect.... People buy fancy Hides that look like Trees and Rocks when all a Ball Python wants is a tight, dark spot that has a small doorway so he:she canot be seen. The best kind are PVC for sterile easy cleaning. They are cheap and work great. ($5) for a medium and thats perfect for under a year old.
For heating you would go with a P-3 Pro Panel if you choose a T8 or T10. (48"x24"x12" or 48"x24"x15H"). You put that on your Hot side which in return makes the opposite side of the enclosure your Cool side. Provide 2 or 3 hides (identical) so that they can be Hot, warm or cool. This is why i also like a bigger enclosure. As long as good hides are provided they love to explore a larger enclosure with things to climb on once they are comfortable. Ive never had smaller than 48" in my 29 years of owning Balls & Burms unless its a quarantine tank.
I also like climbing decorations. Balls love to climb. I use PVC 1/2" plumbing pipe, T's , elbows and Caps. (Always cap the ends).
For thermometers i use Accurite with the Indoor/outdoor temp & Humidity Probe. You can order them from Lowes online with free shipping for $20 or Amazon but under $50 you pay shipping. I'll post links to what I use and then follow the stickys for PVC setup or Glass Setup.
PS- never use Tape as a adhesive inside a enclosure. Use Silicone.

1) AP enclosures: http://www.apcages.com/home/

2) Herpstat thermistats: Tstat: http://www.spyderrobotics.com/index....products_id=24

3) Pro Panel Rhp: http://pro-products.com/pro-heat/

4) Reptile Basics: http://www.reptilebasics.com/hide-boxes

5) Acurite thermometer: https://m.lowes.com/pd/AcuRite-Digit...meter/50425266


PVC pipe climbs


Pro Panel ontop of my quarantine enclosure.


Just Hangin around: