New cage for my BP, I need suggestions

[Elvyra's Keeper]

I just recently purchased a 50 gallon tank (it's 4ft long), a 30-40 gallon UTH, an 85 watt green light for warmth, and a large water bowel to help with humidity. I had her in a 20 gallon tank with a 20 gallon UTH and a 60 watt light bulb. I had problems keeping that warm enough for her. I was wondering if i should put the smaller UTH under the water dish on the other side of the tank from the larger UTH where her hide is. I also purchased two electronic thermometers that read both temp and humidity (one for the hot and cold side) I was wondering if any one had any suggestions on how I should set up my tank and what I should turn off or on at what times (I purchased a timer which multiple things can be plugged into for this) The average temp at night in my house is around 70 F (I can't get it warmer, I've been trying) and durring the day it can get to around 75 F. Please give me some suggestions, I'm new at this.

[Patrick Long]

well first off, how old is your bp? a 50 gallon tank is huge....very huge. especially if she fit in a 20. as for the lights, i dont think any of us will be able to tell you what to have on and what not to. your gonna have to play around with it to get the most heat. 70 is cold for a bp. and if you went up to a 50 you are going to have even more problems keeping the heat in that one

[Sparky1]

Well i am assuming that it is screen top, there is a great sticky around that shows you how to cover your top and that works pretty good. I dont think running to UTH will help that much, when i ran mine without any type of control they got really hot. So one on the warm side should work but you need a good way to control it not just a timer, like a reostat or a thermostat. I would also not use any type of light bulb, instead a ceramic heat emmiter for a tank that large you will need to get a pretty big one. You are probably going to have to do alot of tweeking to get it all right, i would try to get it all dialed in and holding properly before moving the sanke.

[Elvyra's Keeper]

I got a larger light that instantly emits heat and a larger UTH, also I may still use the smaller one. I know she needs more heat, ( I was stupid and went by the temps in the BP book I bought, which told me 68F-75F at night and 78F-85F in the day) Her temp in her cage is at 78, which is good according to the book, but apparently not in real life. I want to supply her with more heat, but I feel putting all the things I have for her on the smaller tank will over do it. I plan on stabilizing it before actually putting her in it. Also, I'm struggling with humidity and I have no room in the smaller cage to place a larger bowel or a humidity hide. As far as age, she is about 4 months and about 2 to 2 1/2 feet, and about 1 1/2 in girth.

[Elvyra's Keeper]

I just checked the temp in her cage, (I just bought a good thermometer, I used to lnly have the stick on side one) The temp is 80F, on the wrm side. As far as the light, it really emits plenty of heat, instantly when I turned it on I felt it, not up against it, but in the light from it, it's green so it's not bright. I looked for a ceramic bulb, but I couldn't find any.

As far as a thermostat, I have never seen one, other than what's on the house. Could you tell me what it looks like and how it works exactly.

And I definately planned to stabilize the temps before moving her.

[ADEE]

I suggest a bin.. its so much easier on everyone involved.. use that nice big tank for another type of herp.. good luck!! I hope you can keep the heat in, when i first got back into balls i too had a tank and had a horrible time getting temps/humidity to stay the way it belonged.

[Elvyra's Keeper]

well people have suggested covering part of the top to keep the heat and humidity in, which i have done on my smaller cage and it seams to be working.

[Argentra]

In this case, I would actually agree that a tub might be better for you. Usually I like to have those people who like tanks stick with them, but a tub would have the ease of care that you seem to desire. I'm certainly not saying you can't handle a tank...but they can be tricky to maintain.

If you do want to go with the tub, there are some really good threads in the forums that give advice on how to set it all up. But if you really want to go the tank route, here's what you should do:

First, use the 50gal for another animal. Not even an adult BP would be happy in one of those, let alone a youngster. That 20 gallon you had her in is actually just right for one her age and size.
Make sure your UTH is sized right for a 20 and that it's on one side of the tank. Using two UTHs on a 20 is not overdoing it as long as they are both controlled. My tank is a 20 long and I have two UTHs and lamps for day and night.
Your most important EQ is going to be your thermostat(s) and digital thermometers. Also, you're going to want to cover the back and both sides of that tank with a nice solid background and some form of insulation to keep the heat in. I use foam insulation board from Lowes..really cheap for a huge piece cut down to needed sizes. With that, the screen top covered with foil as in the sticky, and your controlled UTHs you should be good to go. Lamps can then be used to boost a few degrees if needed. Required temps are 92-93 warm side no lower than 90, 82-83 cool side no lower than 80, and ambient no lower than 76.

Thermostats for heating devices are found almost exclusively online. The best place for a nice Johnson or Ranco around $75 is ReptileBasics.com. If you have a bit more money, the better buy is a Helix or Herpstat for around $110. The site has great pix and Rich is the best to work with.

Hope that wasn't too much...I just really like trying to help people get their tanks right if they really want to keep them.

[rabernet]

You've got a young ball python with multiple problems from your other post (external parasites, scale rot and probable RI). The last thing you need to be doing right now is stressing her out more by putting her in an enclosure that is too large for an adult ball python, much less a four month old.

Please take advice that has been offered to you in this thread and other threads and get this girl taken care of before you start making such drastic changes in her life.

[Elvyra's Keeper]

I have no intent on moving her before she is ready, I will make sure she is completely better before I do this. She doesn't seam stressed at all, she's not hiding all the time, she's eating well. She has shown no signs to me that she had any problems at all, aside from the weezing.

I left the 50 gallon set up on all night to see what the temps will be, and since I know she needs more heat right now I was considering placing the larger light on her, but the temp in the light alone was 85F in the larger cage, I'm afraid it will get too hot in the cold cage.