If it's cold in your house*, that will make it much harder to maintain adequate warmth in whatever "tank" or enclosure you choose. You can use various things to insulate them on the outside to help keep warmth in (leaving just the front & part of the top for viewing etc.) or even put the enclosure/tank inside a wood cabinet for that purpose- something with glass doors on the front (like a china hutch) so you can still see it- but then keep in mind that handling your pet could expose it to unhealthy temperatures anyway. I agree that you'll probably need both UTH & RHP- but to use an RHP, you probably won't be able to use a "tank" since they're installed overhead. (*How cold does your house get?) Most here will tell you that a 'plastic' enclosure of some kind is more suited.
Realistically, you also need to have a plan for your snake in case the power goes off. And since BPs require warmer temperatures to stay healthy than many other species, they might not be the best choice for your circumstances- just something you need to think about & prepare for. I'm not saying it can't be done, but you have less "room for mistakes" & a quality thermostat is a must. Especially because too much heat is worse than not enough- excessive heat can cause permanent neurological damage to a snake- or death- whereas being too cool causes lowered immune function- typically a respiratory infection. You must avoid either scenario, so BPs are not the easiest pet snakes to keep, & they're far from being the only good pet species. Also something to think about is where you'll get veterinary help- most regular vets don't treat (or even want to see) snakes, so research that too.
Reply With Quote