Tub questions

[lillyorchid]

I'm hoping by June I'll be a new mom to a baby ball python. So till then, I am starting to get everything ready.

I'm looking now to get a good plastic tub for it's house. I've heard Iris? tubs are good? Where can I find/get one of them at? Also I'm not sure if this is an okay thing to do, but would it be okay if I bought a large sized one just so he/she could grow up in it (I wouldn't have to toss out/sell a smaller one that he/she grew out of). Or would you recommend getting a smaller one at first and just uping the tub sizes as he/she grew?

[rabernet]

Congratulations on your future purchase! While I'm certainly no expert on tubs, I do use them and LOVE them! Some of my "kids" are in the Sterilite 1986 model tub. It's 41 quart with lots of room to grow in. When it was first critiqued by members here, there was some concern that there was a lot of room for them, but they seem to have settled in nicely and I have three hides available for them, and they all use all three on a pretty regular basis. Here's how my tubs are set up on the computer desk shelving:




And this is before attaching the flexwatt and some newspaper inside (they're now on aspen)



And this is with a roughly 250 gram female ball python:

[lillyorchid]

Hey Robin I'm so glad you replied! Funny, I was actually going to send you a PM and ask what kind of tubs you used, since I really liked your set up pictures and info you gave me over here.

I'm going to order a tub, and then order some flexwatt and a ranco thermostat and hope I can play electrician well enough to get everything wired together correctly.

[rabernet]

Allison, you don't have to order the tub, it came direct from WalMart - $7.99 I think. And you don't need an electrician for the flexwatt and Ranco thermostat. You can buy the flexwatt pre-wired and ready to plug into the thermostat and the thermostat plugs into a regular wall outlet. Easy Cheesy!!!

[cassandra]

Yah, I would guess Matt at MGReptiles would have the ready-to-go Flexwatt and Ranco for you. By all accounts, he's a great guy and ready to help with questions on exactly what you need. =)

[Rusty]

I'm hoping by June I'll be a new mom to a baby ball python. So till then, I am starting to get everything ready.

I'm looking now to get a good plastic tub for it's house. I've heard Iris? tubs are good? Where can I find/get one of them at? Also I'm not sure if this is an okay thing to do, but would it be okay if I bought a large sized one just so he/she could grow up in it (I wouldn't have to toss out/sell a smaller one that he/she grew out of). Or would you recommend getting a smaller one at first and just uping the tub sizes as he/she grew?

If you want a complete tub package you can purchase a 1960 sterilite tub (really big tub perfect for even adult BPS) with a thermostat and flexwatt from MGReptiles.

Also another option if you think you will be buying more herps in the future, is a rack. You can check out some already heated racks from Animal Plastics, or where I bought my first rack from Natures Spirit In the Snake Shacks section.

Personally I think tubs are better than glass caging because it's easier to keep humidity levels stable and using a heat source like flexwatt with a thermostat can make life alot easier for you and your BP. Hope the links help you out.

By the way, you'll also need atleast 2 hidespots (one on eachs side), a thermometer to measure both sides of the enclosure (hot & cold side), and ofcourse substrate and a heating source. 90-95 degrees on the hot side and 80-85 degrees on the cool side. 60% humidity / 70% when in shed.
-Rusty

[jglass38]

Welcome and good luck! Its always great to see people doing research before jumping in! Your snake will thank you for it! Where are you getting your new baby from?

[lillyorchid]

Thanks again Robin!

and Thanks a lot Rusty!

[Ace-of-spades]

Sorry but i guess im about to hijack this thread with one of my own questions... but i would like to know if there is ne concerns about the tub melting due to the flexwatt... thanks!

[jglass38]

Ace, no problems there. I use flexwatt with all the tubs and its all good!