BP Questions

[uTiRambo]

Hey Everybody

I'm interested in getting a ball python in the near future and I have a few questions. First off I'm probably going to be using some sort of tub. I hear glass enclosures are hard to keep humidity and heat. So I was watching this video on youtube and I'm wondering if this is ok to follow by:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMfEz1KTHXE
And also I'm going to be using a heat pad and I'm wondering should I stick it directly on the bottom of the bin or will this burn the bin? And should there be space below the bin to let some heat out or no? The heat pad will be attached to a reostat or thermostat so it won't be overheating. And I've heard the basking temps should be around 88F-92F and an ambient temp of around 80F-85F is it alright to keep these temps 24/7? Or should the temps drop at night and if so how would I do this? And with the heatpad how much of the bottom of the bin should it cover? And I'm interested in buying these products for heating the tub,has anyone else used these and how are they?
http://lllreptile.com/store/catalog/...llon-heat-pad/
http://lllreptile.com/store/catalog/...at-with-probe/

Thanks
Alex

[mikeamy2007]

i know when i bought my UTH it came with four little rubber feet, to help lift the corners of the tank and provide flow through ventilation underneath

[blackcrystal22]

I almost would say use the bin you have for feeding as the beginner home bin. Until you get him on a routine feeding schedule I wouldn't try to move him out of the bin to eat. Once he's eating well, then you can try. The smaller bin will provide more security for the smaller snake and will allow for less roaming - less stress.

I like ZooMed. They're products that have worked well for me.

[uTiRambo]

Can anyone else help answer the questions I have?

Thanks
Alex

[Argentra]

Ok, first off good going looking into things BEFORE you get the snake!

Now then, ZooMed UTH pads are reliable and a good product to use. I have them on all my enclosures - from my new rack to stand alone tubs to tanks - and they work great. The key is NOT to use the adhesive that is on the pad! Instead, use foil tape to attach the pad to the underside of the tub. And no, it won't melt or burn your tub as long as you have the essential thermostat to control it.

'Basking' temps isn't really the right wording. Better is 'warm side' temps. BPs don't bask, they hide in their hides and gather their warmth from below. Sorry, the Bio student in me just had to speak. Otherwise, ideal temps measured at the bottom surface of the tub are Warm side - 89-93, Cool side - 80-83, Ambient air 78-81. Those are central numbers, and you can see ranges that are warmer or cooler, but those numbers work for me.
You do not need a temp drop at night, or at all, unless you're cooling for breeding.

The UTH should cover 1/4-1/3 of the bottom of the enclosure. The t-stat probe then goes directly on the UTH under the tub.

LLL products are fine...but there are cheaper things that work great out there. Most of us around here (that don't use flexwatt tape) use ZooMed UTHs and the Acurite digital thermometers and they are terrific.

Ask away if you have any other questions.

[dr del]

Hi,

Hey Everybody

I'm interested in getting a ball python in the near future and I have a few questions. First off I'm probably going to be using some sort of tub. I hear glass enclosures are hard to keep humidity and heat. So I was watching this video on youtube and I'm wondering if this is ok to follow by:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMfEz1KTHXE
And also I'm going to be using a heat pad and I'm wondering should I stick it directly on the bottom of the bin or will this burn the bin? And should there be space below the bin to let some heat out or no? The heat pad will be attached to a reostat or thermostat so it won't be overheating.

Seems ok in general - though I would probably keep it simple till you've had a chance to make sure there are no problems. (mites etc)

By that I mean I would use newspaper - 2 simple identical tight hides and a ceramic waterbowl.

What size of snake do you think you will get? She was right about them liking smaller enclosures so for a really small hatchling that may be slightly too large.

You also need to give some serious thought about how to avoid escapee's - these lil guys are amazing escape artists so you will probably need either binder clips or bungee cords to make sure he can't force a gap to get out of.

I wouldn't actually stick the heat pad to the tub but rather sit the tub on top of it - if the tub has a perfectly flat bottom perhaps some small rubber feet to keep a small gap might be ok.

As long as it is atatched to a good quality thermostat ( or controlled via the rheostat) then it shouldnt cause any damage to the tub even if it is sitting directly on top of it.

And I've heard the basking temps should be around 88F-92F and an ambient temp of around 80F-85F is it alright to keep these temps 24/7? Or should the temps drop at night and if so how would I do this? And with the heatpad how much of the bottom of the bin should it cover?

I would try and arrange it so the temps at the warm end under the substrate do not get higher than 94f and then adjust the depth of the substrate to keep it around 90-93f on the surface inside the hides where the snake will spend most of its time.

Cool end/ ambients should be fine at around 80-82f.

I would keep those temps 24/7 and the warm end heatmat should cover approx a third of the tub and (if needed) a second heatmat can be used to keep the cool end temps up under another third of it - it is always a good idea to have at least some of the floor with no heat source in case of accidents or overloads.

And I'm interested in buying these products for heating the tub,has anyone else used these and how are they?
http://lllreptile.com/store/catalog/...llon-heat-pad/
http://lllreptile.com/store/catalog/...at-with-probe/

Thanks
Alex

I'm afraid someone else will have to advise you on the heat pads etc as we do not have them over here - though I will say I have read mixed comments about the thermostat and it might be a better idea to invest in either a ranco, jhonson or even a helix or herpstat.

Since they can be moved from tank to tank as he grows they would be a good investment.

I would also suggest setting the tank up a bit more in advance than she did to iron out any possible problems - a week if you can arrange it just to double check.

One thing you will definately need I didn't see listed was a reliable digital thermometer - preferably with a probe.

You can find a good one in walmart which will also measure humidity at the base unit or you can splash out and get a temp gun as well.

But the $12 indoor/outdoor weather station from walmart will let you check the temps at various points in the tub.

Have you had a read of our caresheet?


dr del

[uTiRambo]

Thank you guys for the fast responses. I already have a temp gun so I will probably end up using those for my ball also. I also have a digital thermometer with probe, so I might just use that but will see. I'm not sure what age or size of ball I'm getting yet but I'm getting it from a breeder so I don't think I will have to worry about mites. And Argentra when you said "The t-stat probe then goes directly on the UTH under the tub." Do you mean the probe that comes with the thermostat? And you place it directly in between the heat pad and the tub?

Thanks
Alex

[blackcrystal22]

Thank you guys for the fast responses. I already have a temp gun so I will probably end up using those for my ball also. I also have a digital thermometer with probe, so I might just use that but will see. I'm not sure what age or size of ball I'm getting yet but I'm getting it from a breeder so I don't think I will have to worry about mites. And Argentra when you said "The t-stat probe then goes directly on the UTH under the tub." Do you mean the probe that comes with the thermostat? And you place it directly in between the heat pad and the tub?

Thanks
Alex

Yes, most Thermostats have a probe that come with them so they can read the temperature. The probe should be placed directly on the heating source for the best results. You may have to bump up the thermostat temperature to 105 or so (thats how mine is) in order to get the 90-93 and 83-86 temperatures in the actual enclosure. I place mine in between the heat pad and the tub, and have had no problems, I think thats what others do as well, but I'm sure you could tape it to the outside of the heat pad.

Temp. guns are fantastic. I suggest you weigh him in grams when you get him and it would determine if he should be in the larger or smaller container. The larger container looks like that it would house anything over 180-200g and the smaller container would be under that. :]

[uTiRambo]

^ Thank you very much.

I'm been looking threw reptilebasics and I found this product and I'm wondering what thermostat I should use for 1 ball python?

This one:
http://www.reptilebasics.com/Johnson...d-p-16178.html

Or this one:
http://lllreptile.com/store/catalog/...at-with-probe/

And is the johnson a proportional thermostat?

Thanks
Alex

[starmom]

Helix and Herpstat are proportional and Ranco and Johnson are the on/off variety. RBI sells Helix as well as Johnson and Ranco and Rich advises that a proportional be used as the main t'stat with a Ranco or Johnson acting as a back-up should the proportional fail

It is only my opinion, but I would purchase the best thermostat you can. Again, my opinion, but I think that Helix and Herpstat are the best. My opinion.