14 yo newbie here with a shopping list and some questions :))

[JodanOrNoDan]

Ok, here is what the snake needs...

1 appropriately sized tub. $2 - 8
Digital humidity and temp gauges
Temp gun
Paper towels 50 cents a roll.
Heavy Water bowl $1 at the dollar store
Two appropriately sized hides. (re-purposed plastic garbage) $0
UTH
Thermostadt
Spray bottle with vinegar (to clean with)

The snake will be perfectly happy in this environment. The expensive pretty stuff from the pet store placed in a tank would be for your enjoyment. There is nothing wrong with trying to do a tank but if you live in a low humidity and or temperature environment a tank can be challenging. I highly recommend that if you are not an experienced reptile keeper to go the cheaper easier route until you are very familiar with your animal and its needs. Good luck. BP's make wonderful pets.

[Kira]

Thanks for answering so many questions! I was actually planning on getting that exact thermostat lol ^-^ Is it compatible with any UTH (like the Ultratherm one)?

Yes they will be compatible. I'm glad that you are planning everything out and making a list. Regarding breeders, you can search them on the Fauna Classifeds Board of Inquiry to check if they have a good reputation.

[chickenooget]

- - - Updated - - -

First of all, GREAT JOB with your preparation!! You are putting in the due diligence that many people skip over and that is AWESOME!!! You are setting yourself up for success, my young friend!! You could teach a LOT of adults a few things already!!

Keep in mind I am sharing what I know, and what my experiences have taught me. I am not an expert, and it's always good to hear varying ideas with varied success and failure rates...
A few quick answers to your questions:

-The size of the snake will vary, but just for reference, when I got my BP in mid-January he was 20" and 128 grams. As of 2/24 he was 21+" and 188 grams.
-As far as feeder size, I believe you will be fine feeding the hoppers til your 10 run out, then switch to the appropriate size
-One water bowl is enough in your 10 gallon setup, it's up to you whether you add a second when you upgrade. I sometimes add a second during dry winter months to help keep humidity up
-Honestly, if you can afford to upgrade to PVC when it's time to upgrade to the snake's forever home it is worth it. Glass looks great, but temps/humidity can be a pain in the rear end. If you prefer glass, I think a 40 gallon breeder tank is perfect. I use 40 gal breeders now and am fine with them until I can eventually switch to PVC.
-In a 10 gallon, your UTH may be enough, depending on the ambient temp in the room the snake will be kept in. Day/night lights are not required. Your BP will prefer less light and feel more safe and secure without them.
-Wrapping 3 sides of the enclosure is a great idea!
-I spot clean every time I see any poop/urates or any time my snakes make a mess exploring, spilling water or whatever. The sooner the mess is cleaned, the better. Bacteria and mold can't build up if it's not there in the first place. I also do a thorough cleaning about once a month, which includes hides, water bowl (clean water daily/every other day while giving the water bowl a quick wash), decorations, glass, etc...
-As far as handling, I would wait til your snake gets 2 meals in him/her before doing much handling. Believe me, I know it's tempting to hold your new snake, but you have 20+ years to hang out with your snake, so let him/her adjust. After that, 3-4 times a week is plenty, especially while your snake is still young. BPs take very little handling to acclimate to humans when done properly. They are a very docile species who tolerate handling well, however, over-handling will often cause stress, which can lead to your snake going off food, etc...

Kira hit the nail on the head with the thermostat!!!

Anyway, hope I helped a bit.
Like I said, you are well on your way. Keep reading, keep asking questions, follow advice you get from experienced keepers and you will be successful with your new BP!!!

thanks so much for all the information!! it'll definitely come in handy if you don't mind me asking, how often do you change the substrate?

[chickenooget]

- as for tanks, if you must go with a glass tank, I'd recommend a 20 gal long, it is not too big for a baby and not too small for a medium, it will give you time before needing to upgrade. look around on craigslist for one (also look for your local "buy nothing or gift everything" FB group, sometimes these things can be had for free), they should be $20 or less (have parents do the pick up, CL can be creepy) or check out petco for their $1 fish tank sale, I've scored several 20 gal longs that way.

i thought a 20 gallon would be too big? i was going to get a 20L at first but i read that i should get a 10 haha ^^; if i do get it, how much time will the snake be able to stay in that tank? and should i get more decor to clutter the tank when it's still a hatchling?

[chickenooget]

Ok, here is what the snake needs...

1 appropriately sized tub. $2 - 8
Digital humidity and temp gauges
Temp gun
Paper towels 50 cents a roll.
Heavy Water bowl $1 at the dollar store
Two appropriately sized hides. (re-purposed plastic garbage) $0
UTH
Thermostadt
Spray bottle with vinegar (to clean with)

The snake will be perfectly happy in this environment. The expensive pretty stuff from the pet store placed in a tank would be for your enjoyment. There is nothing wrong with trying to do a tank but if you live in a low humidity and or temperature environment a tank can be challenging. I highly recommend that if you are not an experienced reptile keeper to go the cheaper easier route until you are very familiar with your animal and its needs. Good luck. BP's make wonderful pets.

hi thank you for the suggestion ^_^ i've definitely thought about the possibility of using a tub, but personally i would prefer to be able to decorate a tank for my snake as well as have a nice display. i recognize the challenges of a tank but i'm planning on making sure the humidity and temps are perfect before buying the snake also i live in the DMV area so temperature and humidity isn't that bad here

[Zincubus]

hi thank you for the suggestion ^_^ i've definitely thought about the possibility of using a tub, but personally i would prefer to be able to decorate a tank for my snake as well as have a nice display. i recognize the challenges of a tank but i'm planning on making sure the humidity and temps are perfect before buying the snake also i live in the DMV area so temperature and humidity isn't that bad here

I know there are a few advantages of rubs .... easier to control humidity and much easier to clean out and of course take up much less space ..but they absolutely pale in comparison to the advantages of a beautifully laid out vivarium ...IMHO


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[Slither Seeker]

I don't think a 20 long is too big. how much time will the snake be able to to stay in the tank? um, about twice as long as a 10 ;~). In all seriousness I think the exact point you will want to transfer will be a matter of individual judgment. you'll probably find that you are eventually too short on space to have the decor you want plus two hides. as for the hatchling, I'd recommend keeping the tank super simple at first, say two hides, paper towels and a water dish. with any new snake its good to get the basic husbandry down before adding stuff. this will give you a chance to deal with mites or something else while it's easy to clean the environment. think of it like a quarantine phase. I recommend starting simple and gradually making changes going forward.

i thought a 20 gallon would be too big? i was going to get a 20L at first but i read that i should get a 10 haha ^^; if i do get it, how much time will the snake be able to stay in that tank? and should i get more decor to clutter the tank when it's still a hatchling?

[chickenooget]

I don't think a 20 long is too big. how much time will the snake be able to to stay in the tank? um, about twice as long as a 10 ;~). In all seriousness I think the exact point you will want to transfer will be a matter of individual judgment. you'll probably find that you are eventually too short on space to have the decor you want plus two hides. as for the hatchling, I'd recommend keeping the tank super simple at first, say two hides, paper towels and a water dish. with any new snake its good to get the basic husbandry down before adding stuff. this will give you a chance to deal with mites or something else while it's easy to clean the environment. think of it like a quarantine phase. I recommend starting simple and gradually making changes going forward.

that makes sense.. i think i'll take your advice on that. looks like i'm upgrading to a 20! :B
wait, if i get a 20 long should i get a different size UTH? because the one i want to get is only 11x11in

[Stewart_Reptiles]

20 gallons for a 100 grams snake and for a first time owner that will not be able to recognize signs of stress and other issues is a bad idea plain and simple.

When givving advice it's not about what I do or what I like, it's about recommending what is known to work (and is pretty much foolproof) especially with new owner until they gain the necessary experience.



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[tttaylorrr]

20 gallons for a 100 grams snake and for a first time owner that will not be able to recognize signs of stress and other issues is a bad idea plain and simple.

When givving advice it's not about what I do or what I like, it's about recommending what is known to work (and is pretty much foolproof) especially with new owner until they gain the necessary experience.



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i strongly recommend the tub to start, with 6qt being standard for bbys. when i first got Yellow at 80g in a 20gal i had no idea how stressed he was because i didn't know what to look for; thinking back i would have moved him into a tub in a heartbeat had i known.

tubs are very cheap, setup and maintenance is a breeze, their ability to hold heat+humidity is fantastic and best of all it is a tried and tested method for starting babies off on the right scale. you can upgrade the size as needed for very cheap and eventually get the 20gal glass enclosure once the snake is thriving if you really want it.

my 7mo old Spaghetti is in my old 20g but she was well established when i got her at 6mo and is doing fantastic, but i'm also more experienced and was ready to move her into a tub at the first signs of stress.

please take these points into account and consider the tub. we just want your little beep to be as happy as possible with a method that works for beginners. 😊