Quote Originally Posted by hilabeans View Post
Cheap and easy are all relative terms. Have you considered another snake species or is your daughter set on a BP? Maybe a colubrid of some sort would be better?

I recently went thru the exact same exercise of working with my daughter on fulfilling her wish of snake ownership. We thought a BP was the way to go since it's the go-to "beginner" snake, and they're just so beautiful. But after months of research, we settled on something completely different.

We wanted more a display animal so we could take advantage of a large glass tank. We wanted a snake with a more outgoing personality, which can be hit & miss with beeps. And we were turned off by the more specific and complex husbandry needs of a beep. We ended up going with a Russian Rat. While (arguably) not as beautiful as a ball, he fit the more important traits we were looking for in a pet.

So you've got options, just saying!
Thanks for the new direction to look into. Do you have any links for me on the husbandry and care of a Russian rat? Are there temperament generally nice to handle? I would think so from your recommendation. Thanks again.

As far as the animal plastic cages the price gets way past a 20 long glass tank fast. If I went with T-10 as recommended. I could see 300 easy shipped. Really spoiled by free shipping from amazon. I am going to check with reptiletubs.com as I seen he had pvc cages at the reptile expo last weekend. But I did not check prices as my original plan was a glass tank. He is close enough I could pick it up. Or at the next show.

Also I do get that T-10 might be the only cage needed. But just a divider and heat strip from AP puts it with shipping about $300. And that's no thermostat or thermometer with humidity. And I get all the benefits of the T-10 that goes along with it. But just not sold on the style, look, price, and placement issues for
me. Oh for those looking for a T-10 there is a sale there. And a good price on quick ship page for a T-10 at 150.
Sorry to hi jack this thread! But thanks all for the info and help! Take care.