Getting my first BP

[TheHabit]

i work at a pet store and have been thinking about getting a ball python, i have always wanted one and we just got one in at my store a few days ago. I've done a lot of research and i'm excited to get it home, but i still need to buy the equipment/housing. i want to have its tank all set up and ready for it when i bring it home, and was wondering if maybe i should get the tank set up and monitor the heat for any period of time before actually bringing the snake home. Also, there is a lot of debate over what is a good substrate to use for ball pythons. We have a ready supply of coconut husk substrate at my store, but im not sure if thats good for them. Any suggestions would be much appreciated.

Also, it is a "juvenile", between 1-2 ft in length. I was planning on getting a 15gallon aquarium along with a secure screen lid (preferrably one with clamps to secure it) and later getting a 30 gallon tank when it gets bigger. Would the long 15gallon tank be sufficient for a juvenile?

[51-50 Python]

i work at a pet store and have been thinking about getting a ball python, i have always wanted one and we just got one in at my store a few days ago. I've done a lot of research and i'm excited to get it home, but i still need to buy the equipment/housing. i want to have its tank all set up and ready for it when i bring it home, and was wondering if maybe i should get the tank set up and monitor the heat for any period of time before actually bringing the snake home. Also, there is a lot of debate over what is a good substrate to use for ball pythons. We have a ready supply of coconut husk substrate at my store, but im not sure if thats good for them. Any suggestions would be much appreciated.

Also, it is a "juvenile", between 1-2 ft in length. I was planning on getting a 15gallon aquarium along with a secure screen lid (preferrably one with clamps to secure it) and later getting a 30 gallon tank when it gets bigger. Would the long 15gallon tank be sufficient for a juvenile?

a 15 gallon is perfect... but if i were you i would just get plain reptile bark from another pet shop.. thats what i use and its great... ya set up the tank and use a black 50 watt light if u can find one as ur heat source... and get something to measure the heat.. you want it to be around 87-92 degrees at all times

[Dcommander]

I might be wrong, but I beleive that adults require about a 50 gal aquarium, so I guess juvenile will need a 30 gal. I might be wrong, but i'm pretty sure im not
And yes, it's better to have it alll set up and monitorred before the python arrives, u know u're ready when u are able to keep temps and humidity good for 24 hours.
And I like newspaper as bedding, easier way to go
hope i helped

[51-50 Python]

I might be wrong, but I beleive that adults require about a 50 gal aquarium, so I guess juvenile will need a 30 gal. I might be wrong, but i'm pretty sure im not
And yes, it's better to have it alll set up and monitorred before the python arrives, u know u're ready when u are able to keep temps and humidity good for 24 hours.
And I like newspaper as bedding, easier way to go
hope i helped

a 50 gallon is WAY too large for an adult that would just stress out the snake.. an adult should be in a 25-30 gallon tank and anything bigger is unhealthy for the snake

[TheHabit]

thanks for the advice, there is another pet store across the street with a wider variety of reptile accessories, i'll check them out tomorrow. i was planning on getting all the housing equipment friday afternoon, and then going back for the snake sometime on saturday, would that be enough time to watch the temps?

[soy.lor.n]

I have a 9 monther in a 20 gallon long and it is PLENTY big enough for her.
Most people 'round here say that a 10 G is big enough for hatchlings, and that the rule is that the length+width of the tank should be >= the length of the snake.

Also, there are plenty of people around here that LOVE the coconut stuff for bedding, but I have also heard it can be messy

[Thor26]

ok so heres exactly what you should get a 20 gallon long tank which is suitable for up to a 4 foot snake 2 under tank heaters a ceramic heat emitter and shroud. 2 alife on/ off thermostats. One for hot end and one for cool end. i would set hot to 90 and cool to 80 as long as it is above 75. In order to keep humidity at least 50-60 which is needed you'll prolly need to put a towel over most of the top screen except for where the ceramic heat emmiter is. Also some tanks have a locking mechanism built right in. 2 small black zilla hides which are really cheap one goes on the cool side one on the hot. A water dishg big enough for it to soak in. Personally i use coconut shaving as bedding because it keeps humidity up. I hope this helps =] -Josh

[51-50 Python]

thanks for the advice, there is another pet store across the street with a wider variety of reptile accessories, i'll check them out tomorrow. i was planning on getting all the housing equipment friday afternoon, and then going back for the snake sometime on saturday, would that be enough time to watch the temps?

ya thats fine.. just make sure u get a small hide that it can tightly squeeze into and make sure its not too big for it.. and also get a water bowl a little less then an inch deep and that will keep the humidity at a good level

[51-50 Python]

ok so heres exactly what you should get a 20 gallon long tank which is suitable for up to a 4 foot snake 2 under tank heaters a ceramic heat emitter and shroud. 2 alife on/ off thermostats. One for hot end and one for cool end. i would set hot to 90 and cool to 80 as long as it is above 75. In order to keep humidity at least 50-60 which is needed you'll prolly need to put a towel over most of the top screen except for where the ceramic heat emmiter is. Also some tanks have a locking mechanism built right in. 2 small black zilla hides which are really cheap one goes on the cool side one on the hot. A water dishg big enough for it to soak in. Personally i use coconut shaving as bedding because it keeps humidity up. I hope this helps =] -Josh

loll hes just a beginner thats way too complicated and expensive.. you dont even need all that stuff... all you need is a hide, a water bowl, some reptile bark, and a black light as ur heat source.. and also something cheap to measure the heat on each side.. you can get these stick-on reptile thermometers dat just stick to the glass and there only about 5 $ each

[soy.lor.n]

loll hes just a beginner thats way too complicated and expensive.. you dont even need all that stuff... all you need is a hide, a water bowl, some reptile bark, and a black light as ur heat source.. and also something cheap to measure the heat on each side.. you can get these stick-on reptile thermometers dat just stick to the glass and there only about 5 $ each

The under tank heaters are definitely better than lights for ball pythons (or so I hear haha) because they need "belly heat" to aid in digestion. Also, the Acurite thermometer/hygrometer is only $12 at WalMart, making it a far better deal than the stick on thermometers (you know, since they actually work)

you also do need something to control your heat source, but that can be as simple as a "lamp dimmer" (found in the lighting section of a hardware store or some WalMarts as well. Just a dimmer switch that you plug into the wall and then has an outlet that you plug your UTH/lamp into)