Reptile Tub for Blood Python?

[marvelfreak]

Hello! B Aller and LadyWraith are right the light are not needed and will dry out the air. Plus to much light can stress them out. I found over the years they do just fine with what light shines in the cage. I use a plastic totes with little air holes drill in the sides for ventilation. For heat i use UTH pads. They work just fine with totes. The UTH pads are safer than using heat lamps with plastic totes. The key is to use a thermostat. Plus with using a UTH you can simply move the water bowl close to the hot side to bump up the humidity if needed.

As for size i use a heat mate that will cover 1/4 to 1/3 of the bottom of the cage.
This is the kind and site i get mine from. Ultratherm Undertank Heater (UTH)- 11"x23" - Reptile Basics Inc

[Paratoxins]

Originally Posted by LadyWraith

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.

Ahh, I've never dealt with heat tape so I know diddly squat about it.

I figured the humidity had something to do with it. I'll use them for now and upgrade soon.

[Paratoxins]

Originally Posted by marvelfreak

Hello! B Aller and LadyWraith are right the light are not needed and will dry out the air. Plus to much light can stress them out. I found over the years they do just fine with what light shines in the cage. I use a plastic totes with little air holes drill in the sides for ventilation. For heat i use UTH pads. They work just fine with totes. The UTH pads are safer than using heat lamps with plastic totes. The key is to use a thermostat. Plus with using a UTH you can simply move the water bowl close to the hot side to bump up the humidity if needed.

As for size i use a heat mate that will cover 1/4 to 1/3 of the bottom of the cage.
This is the kind and site i get mine from. Ultratherm Undertank Heater (UTH)- 11"x23" - Reptile Basics Inc

Ok, thanks!

Now, what's a thermostat? When I think of thermostat I think of the thing on my wall that regulates my house.

[LadyWraith]

Originally Posted by Paratoxins

Ok, thanks!

Now, what's a thermostat? When I think of thermostat I think of the thing on my wall that regulates my house.

Same principle... you plug your heating device into it and place a probe that tells the thermostat when the spot you're heating reaches the desired temperature. There are different types... one that shuts off when the temp is reached, and ones that keep the temperature consistent without shutting off. Herpstat, Vivarium Electronics, etc. are a few of the brands available. On/off are usually cheaper than the variable ones. Some keepers feel one is better than the other but it's mostly just personal preference. I use on/off with no issues. If you are using belly heat, a thermostat is NOT optional... most unregulated belly heat gets way too hot and can burn your slithery friend.

[Paratoxins]

Originally Posted by LadyWraith

Same principle... you plug your heating device into it and place a probe that tells the thermostat when the spot you're heating reaches the desired temperature. There are different types... one that shuts off when the temp is reached, and ones that keep the temperature consistent without shutting off. Herpstat, Vivarium Electronics, etc. are a few of the brands available. On/off are usually cheaper than the variable ones. Some keepers feel one is better than the other but it's mostly just personal preference. I use on/off with no issues. If you are using belly heat, a thermostat is NOT optional... most unregulated belly heat gets way too hot and can burn your slithery friend.

I think I kinda get it. I saw the HerpStat someone installed on someone's custom here, so seeing it helped me understand a little. I'll price check, money is a little tight at the moment since I'm making payments and uave high rent.

[LadyWraith]

Originally Posted by Paratoxins

I think I kinda get it. I saw the HerpStat someone installed on someone's custom here, so seeing it helped me understand a little. I'll price check, money is a little tight at the moment since I'm making payments and uave high rent.

A cheap one is better than nothing. Hydrofarm fits that bill. You can get them on Amazon for about $30.

[SnoopySnake]

People have given you some great advice.. I don't have much to add, but Hydrofarm makes a nice digital on/off thermostat that is only around $35, I have one and it's been working great for me...I would also have to stress that you should ditch those analog thermometer/hygrometers as a digital one will do you much better.

[Paratoxins]

Originally Posted by SnoopySnake

People have given you some great advice.. I don't have much to add, but Hydrofarm makes a nice digital on/off thermostat that is only around $35, I have one and it's been working great for me...I would also have to stress that you should ditch those analog thermometer/hygrometers as a digital one will do you much better.

$35 ain't bad. I'd intended to run my test with the analogs and then ditching them. I honestly need a week or two to save up, my upcoming paycheck is the 6th but I got rent to pay so... There goes my paycheck, LOL. We've had some hardships, recently, that's to blame for the lack of savings :/

[Lankyrob]

Originally Posted by Paratoxins

I think I kinda get it. I saw the HerpStat someone installed on someone's custom here, so seeing it helped me understand a little. I'll price check, money is a little tight at the moment since I'm making payments and uave high rent.

I guess i will be the naysayer today, if money is too tight to get a thermostat then you cant afford a snake. Apart from anything else what happens if you need a vet visit?

[Paratoxins]

Originally Posted by Lankyrob

I guess i will be the naysayer today, if money is too tight to get a thermostat then you cant afford a snake. Apart from anything else what happens if you need a vet visit?

Any kind of animal related emergencies that may be unable to be covered by me are covered by my mother. I've faced criticism on this by people who seemed to think that means I lean on her for money, but it's more of we're a family that just helps one another, especially in the animal field. We're all avid animal lovers and would do anything for them.

The money situation, however, will be resolved in two weeks time, as my fiance has found a high paying job that pays weekly and we'll be saving from there. By the time January rolls around we should have roughly 2k+ saved up with combined paychecks. No, I'm not boasting, I'm just trying to show the money ordeal is very short term, we'll be fine by the time I actually get the snake.

By the by, does any one have experiences with Rodentpro.com? I was thinking about ordering bulk rats from them. We do breed mice(and also mealworms, just getting into dubias), but I wanted to feed rats for the higher muscle content as opposed to all the fat content that mice have.

[Paratoxins]

I'm gonna go ahead and order a thermostat. I looked at the Herpstat page but I can't see where I order one... and they had many options, like the Intro, Basic, 1, etc... Would the Basic do? I know it also had links to the setup procedure. Is that both for heat tape and mats? I'm thinking a mat may work if I find something to prop the tub up with so it sits over the mat but not directly on top of. If you all don't think that would work, then how does heat tape work and where would I find it? I have absolutely no experience with heat tape.

[LadyWraith]

I don't have any experience ordering Herpstat so I'm not sure about that. Yes, the thermostat will work for either heat option you choose. I'm not sure about the mats, but my tubs sit directly on the heat tape... doesn't heat anything but air if there is a gap. I buy my heat tape from the same place marvelfreak suggested for a heat mat. Reptile basics. I *think* the mats come ready to go... heat tape requires connectors and insulators... however, if you request it in the comments section of your order, they will put it all together for you so it'll be plug-n-play when you get it.

[Paratoxins]

Originally Posted by LadyWraith

I don't have any experience ordering Herpstat so I'm not sure about that. Yes, the thermostat will work for either heat option you choose. I'm not sure about the mats, but my tubs sit directly on the heat tape... doesn't heat anything but air if there is a gap. I buy my heat tape from the same place marvelfreak suggested for a heat mat. Reptile basics. I *think* the mats come ready to go... heat tape requires connectors and insulators... however, if you request it in the comments section of your order, they will put it all together for you so it'll be plug-n-play when you get it.

Oh, ok! I know nothing about it so it would be perfect if they set it all up. I think I may go with the Hydrofarm thermostat for right now and upgrading it a few weeks down the road to a Herpstat. I found the prices and the Basic is a little over $100.

[marvelfreak]

That's how I do my mats and never have had a problem. As for RodentPro I been using them for years and have never had a issue.

[Paratoxins]

I started looking at the heat tape section of the sight and got really confused. Is it the connection set I need to buy and leave a comment on or the 12" tape roll or something I'm overlooking?