Rubbermaid setup help

[Vengeance]

Figured I'd post this post here because I didn't get much of a response in the enclousre forum. One suggestion people made was the heat the entire room which unfortunatly for me is not possible. So here is the post, any and all help would be much appriciated.




Ok, I'm trying to prepare for the arrival of my 3 new ball pythons. So while I get the custom wood enclousre I have ready I'm going to be storeing them in rubbermaids. Also I want them to be a little bit older before they go in there as well. This is my first time using rubbermaids and I'm running into a few problems. Here is what my setup looks like....

http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/500/3606DSCF0004-med.JPG

Currently only one of the human heat pads are hooked up to a rheostat and turned on. So mabye things will change once all three are up and running. But anyway my problem is this, as you can see I have the human heat pad setup on one side and nothing under the other. I can get the Tempature high enough on the side with the heat pad, 90 - 95 for a hot side, but the cool side never seems to get over 80, it's allways around 71 - 75. The same tempature as my room. Without adding another heat pad is there something I can do to raise the temp on the cool side? Is there something wrong with my setup? Any suggestions would be greatly appriciated.

Just for a little background, I'm using a digital Thermometer/Hydrometer in the rubbermaid to check ambiant air temps, and I'm using a temp gun to check surface temps. The ambiant never goes over 72 - 75 either, the same temp the cool side is when I temp gun the cool side. The hot side is 90 - 95 on the hot side when I temp gun it.

Any suggestions would be greatly appriciated. I'll be picking these guys up at the reptile expo so I have some time, but I'd like to get this problem solved as soon as possible.


Also just to add, all 3 heat pads are now setup and it is in and around the 77 - 78 range which is a little better. Also right now I'm working on heating only, I'll add hides, water, and the rest of the stuff in the cages once I get temps stable.

[smeagel]

your cool side and warm side temps sound good to me, remember that the temps will change once you get the hides, water, and especially the snakes inside the rubbermaids.

[marisa]

I think things will be fine when you get all three hooked up.....Right now I have two rubbermaids on human heating pads...the hot side is around 92-95 with the cool side only around 73.....but mind you that's the extreme cool side....in the "middle" things hover between 75-82....and it has worked out just fine for me. The air temp/ambient temp on my hot spot is just fine as well.

Looks good!

Marisa

[mykee]

All looks good except I don't see any holes in that rubbermaid for airflow...

[Vengeance]

See, I was allways under the impression that a cold side of 80 - 85 was needed and the hot spot should be 90 - 95.

So is it more that the cool spot is kinda a grey area? As long as there is a place for my Ball python to heat him/her self back up to an appropriate temp and the cool side doesn't fall below 73 - 75 it should be fine? I wasn't overly worried about ambiant because I know as long as the surface temps are good, that is what he/she is using for heat most of the time, or atleast that was what I thought.

I'm getting a trio 1.2 100% Het Albino Ball pythons from Markus Jayne. So this will be my first of hopefully many breeding projects in the years to come, but I'll start off with these guys and see how it goes. I've got a thermostat with nighttime drop to help me control temps. I'll be picking these guys up at the reptile expo.

[Vengeance]

Picture isn't the greatest but they are there. There are about 12 holes on 2 sides of the rubbermaids on all 3 rubbermaids.

I'm going to use PVC pipe for hides. I'll hit home depot and just grab some 12" pipe and cut it in half.

[justinO]

Let me first mention that THANK YOU for putting in the time, effort, and research before even getting your animals..... now if only everyone followed your example, the herp hobbiest world would be a much better place!!!!!

Your temps sound good (the updated 78 cool 90ish hot) and sounds like they will be happy.....
I like your set up and might even copy you! :P

Jessy

[Vengeance]

Well this will be my second, third and forth ball python. I did my research the same way first time around. I used a 50 gallon tank, which I don't regret using, but it does talk allot of work to get it to a point that it is habitable for a Ball python and I have to keep a more watchful eye on temps in a glass cage. But he eats, he sheds in one piece, uses both hot and cool sides of the tank and seems fine.

I love the look of Albino Ball pythons, but droping $3K for a snake just ins't fesable. There are 2 Morphs I really want, Albino and Piebald. I figure the best way for me to get to that point is to breed to that point. Start with Albino's get some Het's and breed them, keep some, sell others and move up to piebalds. Figure it's my best chance ant getting such an expensive morph. Since I'm getting established hatchlings, I've got 2 - 3 years to research proper breeding, I've already got the Sutherland DvD, but I've got time before the females will be ready to breed.

But anyway I'm glad to hear my setup is ok and thanks for the kind words. I'll pick up the cage accessories over the weekend, I thought I was going to have to hussle my *** off and get this wooden custom cage I have up and running before sept because I didn't think the rubbermaid temps were going to cut it. Glad I asked in here before I started really working everyday after work to get things up and running.

[hhw]

My only suggestion is to move your cool hide closer to the middle, or get a third hide in the middle. That way, your ball pythons won't have to choose between such extremes and feel safe at the same time.

[Vengeance]

Good idea, I'll take that into consideration as I setup the hides in each cage.