Getting a Ball Python

I'm picking up a juvi ball python (lady at the pet store says it's between 12-15") tonight and I have limited cash ($50) to get all of the needed supplies for it. 20 gallons are $40, so that's pretty much out of the deal. Can I use a large, clear RubberMaid container? If so and if I can use it with a heat lamp, how would I do it? Would I have to modify the container and put a screen lid on it somehow?

I'll probably end up cheaping it out with newspaper for substrate, a ZipLock container for a water dish, and I'm not sure what I'm gonna do for a hide yet.

So I'm stumped with the container, heating, and hide situation.

Any help is appreciated!

Thanks!
Brandon

upside down ice cream tub with an entrance will work as a hide. heat it with a desk lamp?

A lotta people us rubs with a heat mat, works perfectly fine to be honest.
You dont really need a bulb a mat should just bout do the trick

If you want a heeatlight I cut out a hole at the top, took a screen from the windows(the ones that prevent bugs from coming into your house) then I cut the screen and put it on the whole, and got cardboards and glued it around the hole with the screen inbetween which locked it in place.

Thanks, guys!

I picked him up a few-hours-ago and he's 20" and the coloring is very solid! His personality, so far, seems to be great!

I got a 10 gallon tank for him for now b/c it's all I could afford. I bought a metal light dome thingy at a hardware store along with a 75W plant light, which seems to be doing the trick.

I setup a cardboard hide on the one side, a long cardboard roll from end-to-end for him to climb on, a deli container for water, and aspen bedding.

He seems to be pretty happy. I even got him to eat a mouse a lil while ago

The light is on the opposite side of the hide. Is that alright?

I had a ghetto setup for a while.

Cardboard won't hurt.

I had him in a 10G as well.

It's all good.

Cool.

He's really active. Right now he's actually in his hide for once lol.

I wanna hold him again, but I've read that I should wait at LEAST 24 hours - if not 48 - to hold him again.

What should I do to regulate temps? My room is a bit chilly at night ;x

Put him next to a heater.
Get a heatpad.

Yeah, wait 2 days atleast.
For a bigger meal, 3

'gratz on the new addition brandon.

Venom wrote:

Put him next to a heater.
Get a heatpad.

Yeah, wait 2 days atleast.
For a bigger meal, 3

80-85F isn't hot enough? That's where it's at.

Oh then, don't worry about it.

I also have a dimmer switch hooked up to the light so that I can dim it a bit and keep it slightly cooler @ night

I fed him last night around 10ish. Could I hold him once 24 hours has passed? It wasn't a huge meal or anything; I barely noticed a bulge.

He's resting in his hide in a ball -- so cute

From when I used to keep snakes, I would always wait a few days before handling after a feed, to be on the safe side.

I've read 24-48 hours for most snakes ( this was actually specific for BPs ), but I wanna hold him so bad since I just got him, ya know?

Yeah, I was like that too when I got my young cali king, he was tiny... even my sister (who is scared of reptiles; 'specially snakes) thought he was cute.

i like lizards more

i like scops more!

I like girls more.

I like them all.

I don't like spammers; particularly in my topics.

86F is okay during the day, right?

Yes.
85 is good for digestion.

75 to 90 is the range.

Warmer temps for digesting.

Great. Thanks.

What's it mean when they keep glass dancing? They wanna come out and be held or something? lol

It just means they're exploring their new territory. Like scorpions do.

Once they get used to it they chill in their hides.

Mine just ate a big fat rat. mmmmm

Here's the lil guy:







Bahaha!

I just made a coconut hide for him and stuck a branch in thurr

Awwwww, he's a cute little guy.


smaller than I expected.