What's a good first timer snake?

[Unique]

So I should just use a heatpad? How do I make one side like 80 the other one 90 with just a heatpad?

 

[herpfreak]

I find that if I use a heat pad to get the warm side to 90*, the cool side stays around 80*. Use a thermostat or a rheostat (dimmer) to hook up to the heat pad. Rheostats are around $10, but you have to dim it manually, wait an hour, take the temp, and adjust it again, which can be a pain. For a good thermostat, you'll want to pay at least $60, but it automatically adjusts the temps.

 

[Unique]

I'm going for cheap atm. So I'll just get one that I have to adjust myself. The snake can bask on a heatpad? The Ball python setup kind of confuses me everyone does it different, would it be fine if I used a heating pad and a light? Put the heatpad under then hide and light on other side? Is it true they can see red bulb like a beardie or is that wrong?

 

[herpfreak]

Yes, everybody does have different opinions.

You can use whatever combo of heat elements you want, as long as the warm side is 90-95* and the cool side is 80-85*. And as long as any lights are on for 12 hours, off for 12 hours. (Cage temps can drop 10* at night, but a nighttime drop is not necessary.)

Apologies; being a beardie slave, I do sometimes call the warm side of the enclosure the basking side or the basking spot.

Unless I am mistaken, snakes can see red lights. I'm not positive, though.

 

[Unique]

A normal bulb should be fine right? And can I just turn the light off and leave the heat pad on and the snake can sleep on that? Btw I was watching your videos on youtube, they're pretty cool.

 

[herpfreak]

A normal bulb should be fine right? And can I just turn the light off and leave the heat pad on and the snake can sleep on that? Btw I was watching your videos on youtube, they're pretty cool.

Yep.
Thanks! I haven't posted on YouTube in ages... I should get back into doing that.

 

[Unique]

Too bad I figured out my thermometer has two probes but they're not both temperature ones humidity which I know I need but I got a temp gun too so I'll just put the probe in the hide and measure the light temp with temp gun. And I still can't find the 10 gallon lid clamp thingies.

 

[lacy_black]

I have my hamsters in aquariums, it's easier just to use duc-tape to keep the lids secure then those annoying clamps.

 

[Unique]

Snake is a little stronger then a hamster

 

[Dave94]

You SHOULDN'T go cheap on heating and thermostats. Not worth the risk of your snake.

 

[Unique]

Met cheap as in not gettin another thermometer and not spending a bunch on the rheostat.

 

[herpfreak]

True. If you're going to get a thermostat, you want to get a top notch one.

Rheostats are also an option.

These are $10 at Lowes. I use these for the snakes' UTHs and Budo's halogen lamp. They work fine as long as you keep a close eye on the temps and adjust them as needed.

 

[Unique]

I was going to get the repti-temp rheostat its 14.39 has two plug-ins and has the adjustable knob thing. Probably going to just have the heatpad on it since I have a lighting fixture with a dimmer. And I'm going to order both of those books from petmountain, they will probably have conflicting information though.

 

[lacy_black]

Pretty sure I know a snake is stronger then a hamster. But I also happen to know duc-tape is stronger then most snakes.

 

[Unique]

Duc-tape is a pain to get off tho.