Switching to Tub, Need Clarification on a Few Points

[Chaosangel]

Hi All! Though I rarely post, I must say that the people on this forum are the best, most valuable BP resource I have found! That said, there are SO many messages, that in two days of searching, I have not been able to find answers to a few details I want to make sure I get right. So ....

Situation: I am in the process of switching my 2yo BP from the large (expensive, fancy, blah, blah) herp enclosure I have from my previous snake (boa) to a tub. (Yes, I'm a convert!) I have only one BP - no racks and no other reptiles.

What I have so far:
• 16 QT Iris "Buckle-Up Box"
http://www.craftsetc.com/store/item....0&ItemId=47814
• Stick-on Felt Pads to raise tub off of surface it's sitting on
• Soldering tool
• T-Rex Aspen Bed substrate

Question #1: My previous Acu Rite Indoor/Outdoor with Humidity thermometer is not working (nothing reading on the LCD screen) and a battery change does not make any difference. Because I couldn't find the instructions, I've been trying to get another, but I haven't been able to find one yet (Wal-mart is out of them, etc). By any chance has anyone had this problem and know the magic fix? Or being cheap, does it just need to be replaced? This is the kind I have:
http://www.weatherconnection.com/mfg...29964&mfgno=21

Question #2: I live in Utah - low humidity, especially with indoor air/heating. I know I need to solder holes into the tub for ventilation and that the number of holes depends on humidity. What is the minimum number of holes for good ventilation? How big do I make the holes? (I've seen several pix, but haven't been sure what size I was looking at - hard to tell without something to measure!) Also, where should I put the holes? Top? Sides? Front? All in the same area?

Question #3: I know from reading posts that I will be ordering some Flexwatt tape and a thermostat (perhaps a Helix) from Reptile Basics and having Rich put it all together. The problem is, I'm not sure how much I need and for where. (Note that the transition to a tub is happening in part to keep the heat up to the correct temps AND steady - the temp goes too low, too often!) It sounds like some on the sides and/or the back, plus some on the bottom is good. But how much? On one, two or three sides? Should it be the height of the tub or 3/4 of the height or even less? How does this effect my ventilation holes? (See question #2.)

As for the bottom, how MUCH of the bottom do I put tape on? On just one half to make the warm side? Or on both, but controlled with different thermostats? And I've seen mention of towels being useful to regulate temperatures ... would this ever be necessary with Flexwatt and a thermostat?

Question #4: I've seen lots of posts about sticking down the temperature probes ... some saying don't stick them down so you can move them to different locations, others say to tape them down so the snake won't get tangled in them. And there seems to be a lot of concern about tape ... what kind/brand of tape should one use, if one does tape down probes?

Question #5: And when I do tape down/place the probes, where do I put them? Attached to the aspen-covered floor? If so, where? In the hides? If you put them in the hides, do you need two thermostats, one for each hide? (Sounds expensive!) Also, I've seen posts recommending that the thermostate probes be placed both outside and inside ... which is it?

Question #6: My boa needed a large, heavy water dish big enough to soak in. As near as I can tell, that's not necessary for a BP, which is good because the tub is small (as recommended). So ... I've seen several different pix ... what is the best water dish for a BP?

Question #7: Not related to the other questions ... in my searching, I saw a post showing a BP in its hide and then with the hide off, so you could see how tight they like their hides to be. But now I can't find that thread. Can anyone point me in the right direction?

I hope I provided enough information. Thanks in advance for your replies!!

Peggy

[Sunny1]

Hello!! I will try to answer the questions that I can, as I don;t have the answers to all of them.

Question 1:
I had an accurite that failed on me one time and wouldn't measure temps or humidity... kinda like yours but not a blank screen, just read "HIGH" on everything. (I think I got it wet when I was misting my tank...not real sure though.) Anyway, I couldn't get mine to work right so I ended up just replacing it. You may just need to go and get another one. I would just keep checking at your local walmart, they should be getting some in soon (I used to be a manager for one at one time.... the one thing they hated was empty spots on the shelves!!!)

Question 2 &3:
Will have to be answered by someone more experienced than I with tubs and flexwatt. Right now I have tanks and UTHs.

Question 4:
I don't have my temp probe taped down, I just normally bury it under the substrate on the hot side in the hide so it rests right above the uth (which is on the outside of the tank underneath). I am constantly checking temps etc. in my tanks and have learned to tell when my snakes have moved their temp probes (the temp readings are then lower than normal). So then I move them back. I have read a post one time on here where someone suggested using painters tape to tape down probes inside the enclosure, its less sticky. But I am not sure if this type of tape could be harmful to a snake if it came into contact with it...... maybe someone reading this could answer about the painters tape and its use??? Is that type of tape harmful too?

Question 5:
With my digital thermometer (an accurite), I place the unit itself in the cool side and run the probe over to the hot side and place it touching the glass over the uth underneath the substrate inside the hot side hide. (did that make sense?)
My thermostat probe is taped to the uth outside of the tank. This way it is taking a better reading of the temp of the uth and my BP cannot move that probe.
And you would need to run each heat source (flexwatt or uths) through a thermostat, although I believe that most thermostats can handle more then one heat source (as long as the watts(is it watts??) of the heat sources combined are not greater than the watt power of the thermostat). But again I am not using flexwatt, so someone with more experience on that would have to answer this better.

Question 6:
The best water dish is something too heavy for your BP to be able to easily tip over, and with enough surface area to affect your humidity in your enclosure the correct way. In my tanks, I have slightly larger water bowls that are placed on the hot side to help boost my humidity up(I am currently using a gladware type bowl...so far have not had my girl tip it over, but I also surround it with substrate to help with that also). In a tub, which holds humidity in much better than a tank, you probably won't need so much surface area and would be fine with a small bowl (like a small animal ceramic food bowl).

Question 7:
I remember the thread that you are talking about, but cannot find it either. Sorry!!

Hope that some of this helps you!! And I am sure that others will see your thread and answer the questions for you that I cannot answer!

[rabernet]

Question #7: Not related to the other questions ... in my searching, I saw a post showing a BP in its hide and then with the hide off, so you could see how tight they like their hides to be. But now I can't find that thread. Can anyone point me in the right direction?

Would these be the pictures? This is Pretzel when she was a baby in her 15 quart tub:







And just because I love her so much, this is Pretzel now!

[Brimstone111888]

I remember a thread which had a large snake around 800g and it showed the size of the hide. He also picked up the hide while the snake was in it and he was all coiled up. He showed the size of the hide using a dollar bill. I couldn't find the thread either.

[Freakie_frog]

Question #7: Not related to the other questions ... in my searching, I saw a post showing a BP in its hide and then with the hide off, so you could see how tight they like their hides to be. But now I can't find that thread. Can anyone point me in the right direction?

I hope I provided enough information. Thanks in advance for your replies!!
Peggy

I remember a thread which had a large snake around 800g and it showed the size of the hide. He also picked up the hide while the snake was in it and he was all coiled up. He showed the size of the hide using a dollar bill. I couldn't find the thread either.

Here is my post on the hide sizes
http://www.ball-pythons.net/forums/s...ad.php?t=45693

[Brimstone111888]

Thats the thread I was thinking of. Thanks Freakie.

[Chaosangel]

FROM ORIGINAL POSTER

Re: Question #7 ... Freakie Frog, those were the pix I was looking for. While Rabernet's are good, that other one is just - Wow!

Re: Questions #3, 4, & 5 ... I get the impression from reading online that tank's and tubs, while similar, work out somewhat differently as far as thermostat and thermometer probe placement and size are concerned. Is this correct? (Previously have been using UTH with a ceramic bulb heater - entire enclosure is not staying warm enough easily and the heater dries out the humidity. :p)

Re: Question #6 ... I'm not sure, but I don't think Aspen is a sturdy enough substrate to keep a lighter weight dish in place. And in that little tub, there's not tons of room for two hides AND a wide water dish. I chose that size tub because my BP is 380 oz. (stll young) ... but she's been over a year in a HUGE enclosure ... maybe I need a larger tub?

Thanks!

Peggy

[nevohraalnavnoj]

FROM ORIGINAL POSTER

I chose that size tub because my BP is 380 oz. (stll young) ... but she's been over a year in a HUGE enclosure ... maybe I need a larger tub?

Holy cow! 380 oz is like 20+ pounds! That's a huge snake!

JonV

[Freakie_frog]

Holy cow! 380 oz is like 20+ pounds! That's a huge snake!

JonV

lol grams I think they meant grams. LOL

[shag]

If your afraid of tape (like I am) than you can hot glue the thermometer probe to the bottom of the tub or the inside of the hide. Just give it a twist when you want to clean the tub and they usually come off with little effort. The hot glue is completely safe and will not even come close to melting if your temps are in the normal ranges.