got a 50 qt tub...now what?

[python baller]

it's by zoo med...reptistat. i threw the box away and i'm too lazy to go upstairs right now. the cool side is at 80 degrees, so that's a pro.

i think if i lay something down between the tub bottom and bedding i'll be ok.

also, is one row of airholes around the top of the tub good enough? remember she's a pretty big ball.

i also ran into the guy i got her from. he acted frustrated that i was gonna put her in a tub.

[python baller]

well, i don't like the tub so i'm putting her tank back together. i went out and got some foam board to insulate the tank sides, 2 hides, and another lamp and nighttime red bulb.

i can't wait to feed her in a few days. one question about feeding, is there a particular time that i shouldn't feed her?

[Libitina]

it's by zoo med...reptistat. i threw the box away and i'm too lazy to go upstairs right now. the cool side is at 80 degrees, so that's a pro.

i think if i lay something down between the tub bottom and bedding i'll be ok.

also, is one row of airholes around the top of the tub good enough? remember she's a pretty big ball.

i also ran into the guy i got her from. he acted frustrated that i was gonna put her in a tub.

When I first put mine in a tub, I just used a lamp dimmer (from home depot) with a UTH from Reptile Basics until we were able to get a thermostat (Herpstat ND) for the rack. It worked pretty good. It usually ran at about 50% and kept the tub at perfect temps (our house was kept at about 68-72degrees. If the zoomed doens't work, maybe try picking up a lamp dimmer from a local hardware store, about $10, they work the same as a "reptistat".

It's important that the bottom of the tub doesn't get too high because even with newspaper on the bottom, the snake could easily find a way underneath the substrate and the newspaper- we have one guy who hides under his newspaper :/

good luck

[python baller]

When I first put mine in a tub, I just used a lamp dimmer (from home depot) with a UTH from Reptile Basics until we were able to get a thermostat (Herpstat ND) for the rack. It worked pretty good. It usually ran at about 50% and kept the tub at perfect temps (our house was kept at about 68-72degrees. If the zoomed doens't work, maybe try picking up a lamp dimmer from a local hardware store, about $10, they work the same as a "reptistat".

It's important that the bottom of the tub doesn't get too high because even with newspaper on the bottom, the snake could easily find a way underneath the substrate and the newspaper- we have one guy who hides under his newspaper :/

good luck

for some reason, i couldn't get the stat to adjust the temp right. not sure if it was the pad or the stat that was being troublesome. it's fine now. at 1st, the lowest setting right b4 turn off was reading over 100 degrees. i was about to ditch it and i'm glad i didn't.

what is a good temp to run the pad at? i have about 1/2" of bedding on top of about 3 layers of newspaper and the probe is on the outside bottom of the heat pad. i only have a pad on the hot side right now but my overall tank temps are ok. it's a 55gal tank(tall) and she's a full grown bp.

man, i had trouble finding some decent hides for her that i liked. i tried clay pots but i smashed the heck outta them both. i decided to go ahead and buy some fluker's hides(i think that was the brand) that are just some cut wood. man, i'm in the wrong business if spare wood can be sold for $12 a piece.

btw, this is an awesome forum. lots of helpful people here helping me care for my new pet snake. i've had a few other types of reptiles and snakes are the coolest.

[Libitina]

The temp on the floor of the hot side should not get hotter than 92degrees. Most on here say that between 88 ad 92 is perfect.
For hides, just make sure that they are very closed off, we had some wood hides from the pet store that were wide open on one side, which don't allow the snake to feel secure. Now we use dog bowls and solder an opening with a soldering iron just large enough for them to get in.

[Oxylepy]

Oh the vinyl straps can be bought at walmart or any arts and crafts store. Pretty much you just buy a set of clips and the strap, probably cost you all of 2 dollars, and then you just us them. They can be tightened to not have much give, this will stop the snake from getting out a lot better than a bungee cord.

[python baller]

well, i've decide to put her back in the tank. i have foam board around the 3 sides and it's covering 1/2 the screen top. i then have foil wrapped around the lights. this keeps my temps more stable and the humidity is better.