rubbermaid set up

[lisa marie]

I have the opportunity to take in an adult male ball python right now. I would like to house him in a rubbermaid, as I do not want to use a glass terrarium. I know this has probably been asked before, but I was wondering if someone could give me some detail as to how to heat a rubbermaid? I have never used rubbermaids before, and I've always wondered how human heat pads are used when they are not designed to be left on all the time. Help, please!

[Phrasty]

hey lisa, for an adult just make sure you get a big enough rubbermaid. ok, without the snake in there (had to say it, some people do some crazy stuff out there) get a drill or a hot ice pick or something like that and make some holes along the top rim of the container. be sure that the lid can not be opened easily, if it can ...secure it. now inside could be lined with newsprint but of course you could use any acceptable snake friendly substrate (you prob know this im just going through the list in my head just to be sure) make sure that the snake has 2 hides and a water container, one hide on the room temp side and one on the warm side. ok now heating the rubbermaid, you can use a human heatpad under 1/3rd of the container. make sure that the heatpad has a thermostat on it or youd have to wire it up to one. set up the rubbermaid with heat and all for about 2 days prior to putting the snake in there to get heat and humidity right, room temp side should be about 80 and the warm about 92, once thats all ok your good to go. If i missed anything im sure others will fill in. :)
good luck with your new guy, post some pics when you get him.

Phrasty

[lisa marie]

Thanks, Phrasty. My question is with the heat pad mainly. Do I leave space between the heat pad and the cage and space between the heat pad and whatever the rubbermaid is sitting on? And by thermostat do you mean the hi, med, low thing on the heat pad or should I get a separate heat controller? And it is safe to leave these human heat pads on 24/7?

Sorry for all the questions. Just want to be sure. Thanks.

Lisa

[Phrasty]

as long as the surface temps of the rubbermaid don't get warmer than 92-95ish you can set the conatiner on the heatpad directly, just set it up BEFORE the snake goes in and make sure the temps are ok, if it gets too hot then you can raise the R/M up a bit off the pad. ive left my heatpad on 24/7 and havent had any probs personally, (heat pads differ so its not definate) but make sure to get a good thermometer preferably with a probe and a high and low temp memory so you can constantly see the temps. and yeah the thermostat is the low med high dial on the h-pad.
no prob bout the questions :)...thats what these forums are for.

phrasty

[lisa marie]

I have a temp gun but not a probe thermometer. Maybe I should look into that.

Thanks again.

[smeagel]

i have had my human heat pads on 24/7 for a long time. just get one that won't shut off automatically after two hours. I get mine at walmart.