Reptile Tub for Blood Python?

Paratoxins · 11-29-13, 10:33 PM

So, I'm no novice to reptile keeping, though I'm starting back with them after a long hiatus.

I'm pretty convinced my mother is, however, getting me a juvenile blood python, 2 - 3ft in length. I'm novice to reptile tubs, as all I used to utilize were glass tanks. I've found them to be unbearably clunky, heavy, and hard to keep with due to size, weight, substrate, etc.

I've built a tub for temporary holding until Christmas, but my real question is, would this tub be suitable for long term holding until it's time to buy a large tub and make adjustments?

Wanna say it's a 50 gallon tub. Ambient temp of 80 - 85F. Hot spot of 90F. It's bare for the moment but I intend to place a dark hide on each side and water in the middle. Paper towels or newspaper for substrate, humidity of 70%.

Will this, one, be acceptable temps and humidity for a Blood, and, two, could ut be used for long term until an upgrade in size is needed for a juvie Blood?

I would post pics if it would let me.

alessia55 · 11-29-13, 11:37 PM

You'll be able to post pics once you have 5 posts on the forum.

Paratoxins · 11-29-13, 11:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alessia55

You'll be able to post pics once you have 5 posts on the forum.

Ok, thanks.

Paratoxins · 11-30-13, 10:02 AM

Any opinions anyone?

LadyWraith · 11-30-13, 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paratoxins

I've built a tub for temporary holding until Christmas, but my real question is, would this tub be suitable for long term holding until it's time to buy a large tub and make adjustments?

I don't see why not. They do quite fine in tubs... had mine in one for almost a year until I just recently upgraded to a PVC enclosure. I switched really just for aesthetic purpose since there was nothing wrong with the tub setup.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paratoxins

Wanna say it's a 50 gallon tub. Ambient temp of 80 - 85F. Hot spot of 90F. It's bare for the moment but I intend to place a dark hide on each side and water in the middle. Paper towels or newspaper for substrate, humidity of 70%.
Will this, one, be acceptable temps and humidity for a Blood, and, two, could it be used for long term until an upgrade in size is needed for a juvie Blood?

Your temps and humidity sound good... what are the dimensions of the tub? As I'm sure you know already, blood's are very terrestrial and large bodied so length and width is more important than height. If the tub is a tad big currently for a juvie to feel secure, just add some cover space like extra hides.

Paratoxins · 11-30-13, 10:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LadyWraith

I don't see why not. They do quite fine in tubs... had mine in one for almost a year until I just recently upgraded to a PVC enclosure. I switched really just for aesthetic purpose since there was nothing wrong with the tub setup.

Your temps and humidity sound good... what are the dimensions of the tub? As I'm sure you know already, blood's are very terrestrial and large bodied so length and width is more important than height. If the tub is a tad big currently for a juvie to feel secure, just add some cover space like extra hides.

Trying to work my way up to 5 posts so I can post pictures, lol! I don't have measuring tape, but I do know it's a little tall for my liking, I know height isn't needed. If I were to guess... I'd say maybe 3ft long, maybe 2ft wide, and 2ft high... but don't take my word for that.

LadyWraith · 11-30-13, 10:44 AM

That sounds like a pretty decent size. My sub-adult is in a 4'x2' enclosure so it sounds like your juvie will be able to grow up for some time in what you have. I'd provide lots of cover... my personal preference is 3 or so hides and crumpled newspaper in between. They're definitely pretty shy and it will appreciate the extra hide space.

Paratoxins · 11-30-13, 10:45 AM

Well I'm at 5 now and it still won't let me post them

Oh well.

Paratoxins · 11-30-13, 10:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LadyWraith

That sounds like a pretty decent size. My sub-adult is in a 4'x2' enclosure so it sounds like your juvie will be able to grow up for some time in what you have. I'd provide lots of cover... my personal preference is 3 or so hides and crumpled newspaper in between. They're definitely pretty shy and it will appreciate the extra hide space.

Ah, ok then! I bought two smaller tubs and cut holes in them, singed the edges so it can't hurt itself. I'll maybe buy a small log to stick in the open space or something.

I'd bribed my fiance for some information. It's my understanding it's a female, 2 - 3 ft. long, fairly docile in temperament, and is a T+ Albino, hence why I avoided a bright white light. You could see this if it would let me post my pics

I'm told she should be arriving some time this upcoming week.

Paratoxins · 11-30-13, 11:12 AM

Let's see if this works... and if I can find measuring tape.

B_Aller · 11-30-13, 11:23 AM

all that ventilation will allow your precious heat and humidity to rise right out of this tub.
Modern husbandry technique dictates a closed top enclosure with the lights inside. Humidity attaches to heat, heat rises. what you have there is a meat dehydrator...not real nice to the internal organs of the animals living within.

Paratoxins · 11-30-13, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by B_Aller

all that ventilation will allow your precious heat and humidity to rise right out of this tub.
Modern husbandry technique dictates a closed top enclosure with the lights inside. Humidity attaches to heat, heat rises. what you have there is a meat dehydrator...not real nice to the internal organs of the animals living within.

Ok then, I know how to remedy that. Drape wet cloth over the ventilation cut out. Used to do it all the time over a screen top and it worked very well. I'm still letting the slight areas between the plastic and heat lamps go, though. I don't want there to be NO ventilation at all, just a little. Needs some oxygen flowing in.

I still need to test the humidity after putting in paper towels, water, and everything, see how it behaves with the heat/humidity ratio. Just too busy at the moment.

LadyWraith · 11-30-13, 11:32 AM

Inventive idea on the light setup. Are they both just for heat or is the bluish one UV? From what I have read/understand... UV can damage the eyes of some nocturnal animals and is usually not recommended. Hopefully marvelfreak will chime in... I believe he keeps his bloods in opaque tubs such as this and doesn't use any lighting at all. Just airholes from what I've seen. I'll warn you... the heat lamps as such can dry out the enclosure so you might need to monitor humidity closely for a bit to see if that's the case. A lot of keepers prefer belly heat for that reason. I'd ditch the analog stick-ons... they are notoriously inaccurate. I previously used Accurite indoor/outdoor digital thermometer/hygrometers. I place the actual unit on the cool side to read ambient temps/humidity and the attached probe on the hot side. I now just use a digital hygrometer in the enclosure and a temp gun to monitor vitals.

Paratoxins · 11-30-13, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LadyWraith

Inventive idea on the light setup. Are they both just for heat or is the bluish one UV? From what I have read/understand... UV can damage the eyes of some nocturnal animals and is usually not recommended. Hopefully marvelfreak will chime in... I believe he keeps his bloods in opaque tubs such as this and doesn't use any lighting at all. Just airholes from what I've seen. I'll warn you... the heat lamps as such can dry out the enclosure so you might need to monitor humidity closely for a bit to see if that's the case. A lot of keepers prefer belly heat for that reason. I'd ditch the analog stick-ons... they are notoriously inaccurate. I previously used Accurite indoor/outdoor digital thermometer/hygrometers. I place the actual unit on the cool side to read ambient temps/humidity and the attached probe on the hot side. I now just use a digital hygrometer in the enclosure and a temp gun to monitor vitals.

I planned on letting it run for a few days to monitor it. The lights are just for heat. The blue is a flood light and the red is a ZooMed infra red bulb. How does one use belly heat with these tubs? I thought UTHs couldn't be used with plastic.

I'll see if I can't locate a better thermometer/hygrometer, but I do know what I have now is working properly. I say this because, for a while, it was sitting in my car at about 30F, which the thermometer reflected correctly. The hygrometer said 60% after sitting indoprs, which is correct. Kentucky is actually a humid state. I placed them in the tub, switched the lights on, and the thermometer rose up while the hygrometer dropped down as the heat soaked up the humidity.

LadyWraith · 11-30-13, 11:57 AM

The problem with the stick-ons is not their initial effectiveness... it is their eventual demise. The higher humidity required for our sub tropical species creates problems with their internal workings. They may work now, but they WILL more than likely fail later. IMO, temp gun monitoring is useful regardless. It will let you know when you do end up with an equipment failure. I'm not sure what mode of belly heat others use, but my preference is Flexwatt heat tape on a thermostat. I'm not sure about the heat mat+tub equation since I've only ever used Flexwatt personally. I tape it to the shelf that my tubs are on.