Max temperature for BP - Page 3

Jeff_Favelle · 10-23-04, 06:45 PM

Know the difference in heat conductivity (R-value) between glass and even the thinnest piece of wood? BIG difference.

Ventilation? Intuitive, but I'll touch on it anyways. Open top, closed on all sides, air just rushes in and out. Fine for a species that likes that. Beardes and leos can live in that. Ball Pythons? Not the greatest. Just because you don't understand why we're all against it, doesn't make it ok. People do use them. I used to use them 12 years ago. They can work, they just aren't the best option. Some people come here loking for the best option.

So if the aquarium loses heat faster, leading to more heat being needed, and has a big open space at the top, what does that do for humidity?

Quote:

When was the last time you went to any store and found them selling rubbermaids?

LOL, if I'm at the mercy of what a PET STORE sells me for my caging options, I think I should just stop keeping reptiles right now. Some people are a little more progressive than the garbage that is offered at the local pet store. I see pet stores selling hot rocks, does that mean I use them in all my cages? They also sell ground up "turkey diet" for monitors and tegus. Do I buy it for my monitors? Nope.

joey · 10-23-04, 06:46 PM

I think it's just a matter of personal preference.

Jeff_Favelle · 10-23-04, 06:52 PM

Quote:

I think it's just a matter of personal preference.

Personal preference does not change the natural history of the animal. Fortunately (unfortunately, in my opinion) these animals have a wide range of conditions that they can stay alive in for a period of time.

BoidKeeper · 10-23-04, 06:59 PM

I use glass tanks on their sides, rubbermaids and visions. I have had no problems with my glass tanks laid on their sides. In the tanks laid on there sides I keep, boas, rainbow boas and ball pythons in them. As for whether or not I see my Balls, well when the sun goes down my Reguis roam and I have no problem seeing them. In my ball rack though wich uses a dark container I don't see a thing. Do I mind, not at all. Those snakes are for breeding. If I want to watch something I watch my Emeralds of Chondros.
Cheers,
Trevor

joebagadohnut · 10-23-04, 07:13 PM

I have a live plant in my corn tank right now, as well as one of his water dishes partly on the UTH. I keep some plasctic on top of the water, and the humidity is fine. Wouldn't a light on top of a water source just increase the humidity more?

I am being serious here, I don't know. I just purchased a lamp...
Everyone keeps saying the lamps dry out the tank, but what if a water source is below it?

BoidKeeper · 10-23-04, 07:27 PM

IMO lamps do dry out tanks. I do use them with my arboreal stuff. Well not lights but heat emiters. With my male emerald and biak chondro I use natural substrate and I spray them almost everyday in the morning. It helps to if you have a snake room and a humidifier. One fish tank in a cold bed room with a UTH and a heat lamp on top is probably one of the hardest set ups to maintain. It can be done but it is a lot of work.
Humidity is increased if it stays in the tank. With open to fish tanks it normally rises straight out the top.
Cheers,
Trevor

JDouglas · 10-24-04, 01:11 AM

I recently had my wife's six year old brother want a corn snake in an aquarium. I am also against the use of aquariums for most snakes so here is what I did. First I got him a 2 1/2 gallon aquarium. The first mistake people make is trying to put a baby snake in a huge aquarium. Second, I used a cobra heat pad on the bottom. Then I gave the snake one big hider made from a ceramic tube that I broke to fit in the cage and lay almost flat. Half of it covers the warm spot and half covers the cool spot. In an open cage like an aquarium snakes will not leave the security of their hide if they are too hot or cold. This hider allows the snake to feel secure and pick his temp under his hider. Last, I taped white basement insulating foam(the same foam I use to pack boxes when shipping reptiles) to fit all sides of the aquarium and also cut a piece to cover 90% of the top. It holds heat and humidity great now and I am sure the snake will feel more secure with most of the glass covered. If an aquarium must be used this works well but you can't see the snake becuase it hides all day and only crawls around at night so you might as well use a tub.

joebagadohnut · 10-24-04, 01:17 PM

for my corn, i put the exact same hide (an upside down flower pot) on the cold and the hot side......
I used to just have one, and he would only use it and never go from side to side.

atw · 10-25-04, 09:56 PM

I am new to ball pythons so I have really enjoyed this thread. I will be putting mine in a Rubbermaid that is for sure.

Jeremy,

Here are some links that may help you out if you decide to go down the Rubbermaid path:

http://www.reptileforums.com/articles/plastic_bin.htm
http://www.ball-pythons.net/Sections...27-page-1.html

This site also has a couple of good articles in terms of the overall care of a ball.

http://www.reptilerooms.com/Sections...-secid-18.html

One outstanding question I do have, however, is about under tank heating. If I am using a plastic container, would an under tank heat pad be considered a heat risk? Am I just being paranoid? I have read the instructions for an Exo-Terra heat pad and they advise against using the product with a plastic container. Is this a valid concern? Who are some other suppliers? Any preferences?

Thanks,
Adam

Jeff_Favelle · 10-25-04, 10:35 PM

If the heat pad gets hot enough to melt plastic, the point is moot because it is already hot enough to burn snake belly.

That's when a rheostat comes into play.

joebagadohnut · 10-25-04, 10:44 PM

hey adam, thanks for those sites on the rubbermaids.....

I am going to try the old saran rap on top of the cage trick for now...if the humidty and heat won't stay in, i'll upgrade to the rubbermaids.

There should be some air circulation between the bottom of your habitat and the table it is on. That is a definite must for making sure there are no problems concerning your UTH.

jeremy.

joey · 10-26-04, 05:19 PM

I also lay my tanks on their side and have had no problems keeping the temps/humidity levels right. My tanks are 20 and 30 gallons long so the distance between the top and bottom are shorter which seems to be trapping the heat well. I also have pothos plants to help with the humidity. The UTH are in the back corners.

I don't know guys, it's been working well for me.

joebagadohnut · 10-26-04, 06:47 PM

Do u have a pic or anything of your tank in it's side?
Where/how did u make a top for it?
I have heard some people talk about how they have sliding doors and stuff, but I have never seen them.
I know one guy who has his tank on it's side and the top is held on by bungy cords, but that looks stupid.

jeremy.

Jeff_Favelle · 10-26-04, 06:49 PM

Quote:

I don't know guys, it's been working well for me.

Nobody said that it didn't/wouldn't work.

joey · 10-26-04, 07:21 PM

I will take a picture tomorrow of my set-up. There is a sliding screen door that slides up and latches on the bottom. ..no bungy cords! Makes it nice to not approach my snakes from above, too. The door is very secure.

I can totally understand the sense in using rubbermaids if you are a breeder and/or keep a lot of snakes or if you just prefer them. I have four and I do watch my animals a lot. I like to sit in my 'snake room' to relax and watch them at night ( I turn a red light on ) .

So kudos to those of you who use rubbermaids. I'm not looking for an argument.