Should i cover my bps tank?

TinkerbellsMom · 07-10-12, 01:29 AM

I have my 1 month old bp in a 10 gallon aquarium tank with a ventilated lock lid. I have a fan that i used to sleep with but i stopped sleeping with it whenever i got her because it can get pretty cold.Unfortunately i cannot do this anymore it is summer time in texas and i am way to hot to sleep without my fan on. I cant move her enclosure either. My room is the least amount of traffic and warmest during the day.
My question is, would it be ok to cover like 2/3 of her enclosure with a towel? This may be a sill question but Tinkerbell is my first snake and I just want to do everything right

StudentoReptile · 07-10-12, 04:04 AM

Honestly, it is what I do with any glass tank set-ups I have had. Some use saran wrap also.

Lankyrob · 07-10-12, 04:17 AM

If the room is cooler then the thermostat on the heater should keep the tank warm anyways, my worry would be what your humidity is with an "open topped" tank ??

alessia55 · 07-10-12, 05:35 AM

You shouldn't have a mesh top lid to begin with. Ball pythons need constant high humidity, which is hard to get if the mesh top is letting all the air out. So yes: use seran wrap and towels to cover a good portion of it. You might want to look into getting a better enclosure (wood, etc) that will maintain humidity better. And you'll be able to sleep with the fan on! You could also put her in a more isolated room where it is warmer.

**lady_bug87** · 07-10-12, 08:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alessia55

You shouldn't have a mesh top lid to begin with. Ball pythons need constant high humidity, which is hard to get if the mesh top is letting all the air out. So yes: use seran wrap and towels to cover a good portion of it. You might want to look into getting a better enclosure (wood, etc) that will maintain humidity better. And you'll be able to sleep with the fan on! You could also put her in a more isolated room where it is warmer.

See I get really defensive when I read posts like this. When I started keeping I didn't know there was an alternative to screentops and as a result I have many some have been given to me (for free) and some I bought myself. Though I agree that they aren't necessarily the "best" choice I dont think they're the demons of the enclosure world.

My Ball python, RTB, bullsnake, lizards, and GTP are ALL in screentops I won't lie I have had issues but nothing major and very far spaced between.

I use towels and saran sometimes, and Humid hides. I just personally don't appreciate when someone's opinion (as common as the opinion is) being treated like the absolute law of keeping.

To the OP use what you have to work with. If you're worried about warmth as long as the UTH is working and on a thermostat the snake will be warm. Saran covering 2/3 of the lid will help the humidity problem (provided there is one which I saw no evidence of in the initial post)

alessia55 · 07-10-12, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lady_bug87

See I get really defensive when I read posts like this. When I started keeping I didn't know there was an alternative to screentops and as a result I have many some have been given to me (for free) and some I bought myself. Though I agree that they aren't necessarily the "best" choice I dont think they're the demons of the enclosure world.

No need to get defensive. Until recently, I kept both my ball pythons in screen top tanks. I didn't know any better then either. Now that I know what's better, why not pass that information on to someone new? Now that mine are in boaphile cages, I don't have a single husbandry issue (whereas I used to struggle with humidity). Don't take my comments personally. I'm just handing out good, valid information.

Quote:

My Ball python, RTB, bullsnake, lizards, and GTP are ALL in screentops I won't lie I have had issues but nothing major and very far spaced between.

what are the sorts of issues you're struggling with? This is why I quickly and happily switched out of tanks and now barely (if ever) worry about husbandry. I just want others to be able to have the ease I have found in getting out of glass tank enclosures.

Quote:

To the OP use what you have to work with. If you're worried about warmth as long as the UTH is working and on a thermostat the snake will be warm. Saran covering 2/3 of the lid will help the humidity problem (provided there is one which I saw no evidence of in the initial post)

Fine advice.

**lady_bug87** · 07-10-12, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alessia55

what are the sorts of issues you're struggling with? This is why I quickly and happily switched out of tanks and now barely (if ever) worry about husbandry. I just want others to be able to have the ease I have found in getting out of glass tank enclosures.

I'm not struggling my animals eat, shed, and poop just fine thank you. I have HAD my issues when I first started keeping snakes. The latest issue I had was a result of my moving houses while my arboreal snakes were in shed which caused a ton of stress for them and me and resulted in retained sheds on both animals which have been resolved.

You can give whichever information you find useful, I can provide an alternative. We have to be respectful but that doesn't necessarily mean I agree with you, nor you with me.

Besides If I had to change the enclosure type I used it would be tubs or acrylic and when tanks need to be replaced due to wear and tear I will replace them with one or the other.

alessia55 · 07-10-12, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lady_bug87

I'm not struggling my animals eat, shed, and poop just fine thank you. I have HAD my issues when I first started keeping snakes. The latest issue I had was a result of my moving houses while my arboreal snakes were in shed which caused a ton of stress for them and me and resulted in retained sheds on both animals which have been resolved.

Hey there, I wasn't being offensive when I asked that! Glad everything is ok!!

Quote:

You can give whichever information you find useful, I can provide an alternative. We have to be respectful but that doesn't necessarily mean I agree with you, nor you with me.

Absolutely! I don't feel I was disrespectful; That wasn't my intention whatsoever (it never is). So if it came off that way to you, know that it was not what I meant.

StudentoReptile · 07-10-12, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lady_bug87

I'm not struggling my animals eat, shed, and poop just fine thank you. I have HAD my issues when I first started keeping snakes.

Fantastic. I think Alessia was just referring to your earlier statement here:

Quote:

My Ball python, RTB, bullsnake, lizards, and GTP are ALL in screentops I won't lie I have had issues but nothing major and very far spaced between.

I have to admit, without further clarification, you implied that said issues were related to using screentops. Just pointing that out. I'm sure that Alessia and myself were not the only ones who came to that conclusion.

Wildside · 07-10-12, 07:59 AM

...Or you could put a humid hide in there

DeesBalls · 07-10-12, 08:05 AM

you could also get a piece of plexi glass cut to fit on the lip of the top of the tank, and drill holes in the plexi to ventilate, then put screen lid on top and lock

if you have a heat light that goes on top of the cage, just get the plexi cut to the light WONT sit ontop of the plexi...

if you have an UTH, set it up on a thermostat, and cut the plexi to fit...

does this makes scenes?

**Aaron_S** · 07-10-12, 08:15 AM

This is a lot of work just to make a fish cage habitable for a snake. I just prefer tubs.

DeesBalls · 07-10-12, 08:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aaron_S

This is a lot of work just to make a fish cage habitable for a snake. I just prefer tubs.

i do too now... tanks are a pain, BUT if you only have 1 snake, its not all bad....

... who here only has 1 snake? lol.

**Aaron_S** · 07-10-12, 08:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeEuGi

i do too now... tanks are a pain, BUT if you only have 1 snake, its not all bad....

... who here only has 1 snake? lol.

I know people don't start out knowing better but it's easy to learn and easy to remedy. There are still better options than a fish cage out there these days. You can buy or even make one.

DeesBalls · 07-10-12, 08:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aaron_S

I know people don't start out knowing better but it's easy to learn and easy to remedy. There are still better options than a fish cage out there these days. You can buy or even make one.

very true.. i thought fish tanks were the ONLY things you could use lol. but after some people teaching me other ways, i never use them.