[QUOTE=Mr Sully;2509736]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
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Id like to ad something to my previous post that Zina reminded me about.. Bob at Pro Products tells you what Pro Panel to use depending on the size enclosure and temps of the room. So with that said, a T10 would use a P3 like I said above, but I bought a couple 1 model larger, the P12 so that I had a better window incase I needed a bump. Its only like $25 more but it will take care of things if the house got super cold. I have had a furnace shut down before, and call a Furnace Service in the middle of Winter in NY when its 5 degrees outside with a -15 windchill and your house will be 40 degrees within 6 hours.. So just a FYI. For the money, take the next model up. My P12's are 88 watt, 12" wide and 24" long and I love them. My electric bill didnt go up at all with the Herpstats running them either. The percent of electricity going up & down "proportional" saves you $$$ bigtime!!
Also if you have money burning a hole in your pocket go for the Herpstat2 instead of the Herpstat1.($195 vs $115) Think of it as a amplifier with 2 or 4 Channels. You can run 2 sources vs 1.
I think its nice to have "incase" or if you get another enclosure/reptile and heat source
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