Getting ripped off or the necessity?

Raan · 10-24-11, 01:41 PM

I am new to getting a snake, and have been doing my research for a little while. I went into a store today that seems very knowledgeable and friendly.He told me if i needed help that he would even help me set the tank up if I brought it in. He was telling me for a ball python, just a baby still very small all I will need is a 10gal tank, also I will need a day time and night time heating lamp, as well as a UTH. I am wondering if all 3 of the heating requirements are true or just something extra and not needed. Please feel free to give you 2 cents.

alessia55 · 10-24-11, 01:45 PM

I have two ball pythons and they are quite happy with a UTH each. They do not have lamps. I have my baby bp in a 10gal, and my adult in a 40gal. Although ball pythons as babies are small, they will grow quickly to be between 3-5 ft (though 5ft is not common), and will be pretty girthy. Be prepared that your ball python will eventually outgrow that 10gal tank. Make sure you get as much information as possible before bringing the baby home so he can be happy and healthy

You're doing the right thing by posing your question here!

ZARADOZIA · 10-24-11, 02:11 PM

This is a "per person preference"

I have a UTH, day (UV) lamp and night (ceramic) lamp for my BP. But her viv is much larger than it needs to be for her, so this keeps the temps just right. When Sasha was in a 10 gal tank, I only used the lamp and 4 watt UTH.

Wait a couple of days (if you can) and give all the others a chance to chime in. Each of us has our own preferences.

Gungirl · 10-24-11, 02:42 PM

This also depends on what temps your house is kept at. If this snake is going to be in a cold house you might need more heating than others do in a warmer climate. I use flexwatt and a radiant heat panel to ensure that my Balls viv stays right where it should. I do not have mine in a fish tank, I have mine in a custom made wooden viv. I would say set it up without the snake in it and place the heating elements on it with appropriate thermostats and see what you need. Add and take away until you can sustain the proper temps and humidity.

snake man12 · 10-24-11, 02:56 PM

I just have a uth and thats it. But my corn lives right next to her and he has a lamp so its pretty light in there

dnhhensley07 · 10-24-11, 03:21 PM

We have a baby ball and we have a small heater on the side of the tank and a med one under one corner. Right now we are drying him out because of RI so the heat lamp is on, otherwise he sits in a nice cozy room with natural light. He seems happy enough and we've had him for 2 months now. Growing like a weed.

**millertime89** · 10-24-11, 03:29 PM

odds are, if you're buying the BP from the store, you're getting ripped off already.
Otherwise, its all about the setup, like someone else suggested, get the tank set up a few days in advance and adjust until you get the temps where you want them.

Raan · 10-24-11, 04:52 PM

now I thought i had a 10 gallon tank kicking around but turns out I dont, I have a 5g
(16"L x 8"w x 9"h) and a 30g that I believe is pretty close to 2ftL x 2ftw, do you guys think I can start him off in either of these two?

Gungirl · 10-24-11, 04:54 PM

I started my BP out in a 4ft x 2ft x 18" home made viv. I put about 8 hides in it and lots of ground cover. If you can use the 30 gallon and maybe partition it of to only about 1/2 you would be best. If you can not and you want to use the entire thing, make sure you give the snake a lot of hides and ground cover. Also in a glass tank you want to cover 3 sides with something to allow the snake to feel more secure leaving only the front of it open.

blindfireak40 · 10-24-11, 04:55 PM

I would start him in the 30 gallon, just make sure to provide LOTS of hiding spots/ground cover so he feels secure with the bigger space.

Snakefood · 10-24-11, 05:36 PM

depending on the climate where you are will depend if that screen top will be enough to keep the right humidity for BP's, especially if you are using the lights.

Lights dry up the humidity and CAN create a bad shed, and probably other problems that I'm not aware of. So if you live in a relatively dry climate, you will want to either cover 2/3 of the screen top or get a different lid altogether.

Raan · 10-24-11, 06:00 PM

I live in Ontario and its gonna be winter soon, so it will probably be rather dry air most of the time. I was thinking a half plywood top half screen top, and then for the colder weather even though the heat will be on using the under tank hearter and lamps. And then just giving it a test run for a week before I pick up the snake.

And I have a gf who takes more interest in decorateing the tank then the snake so im sure we can manage to get lots of hides in there

ZARADOZIA · 10-24-11, 06:12 PM

Word of advice, be sure you have the UTH plugged in for at least 24 hours with all the substrate already in place before you place the snake inside. Some of the UTH's get up to 110 degrees fahrenheit (43.33 C) and with substrate in place, it holds the heat in and becomes hotter. Also be sure you have a good probe temp gauge because it is extremely important to know the exact temp where the UTH is. Leave the probe there for at least 10 minutes to get a good reading.

Snakefood · 10-24-11, 06:13 PM

putting together a nice show tank is very enjoyable and since the snakes hide alot, especially babies, it gives you something to look at!!

Lankyrob · 10-25-11, 05:12 AM

I started my BP off in a 4ftx2ftx2ft viv with PLENTY of hidey places and just use a Ceramic Heat Element that is heavily guarded so that snakey cant get burned by it. The most important piece of equipemtn no matter what you use to heat the viv is a THERMOSTAT!!! Dont put any animal near a heat element that is not controlled.