New RP

[craig]

Hey people, new to the forum along with a new RP (and my first)... i got him from www.exotic-pets.co.uk/ ... i have decided to keep him in a tub with a clamp down lid then move him into a viv when the time is right...
what would be a good amount of time to leave him to settle in before i started handling him?

Cheers
Craig

[craig]

Just seen this set up for £130 or so.. would look alot nicer than a plastic tub he should be able to stay in that setup for a while correct? then i could just build a bigger viv when its needed

* Flat Pack 24"x15"x15" Vivarium (Oak, Mahogany or Black)
* Light fittings + low wattage bulb
* Heat Mat 10x12"
* Habistat Temp Stat 300w
* Two Exo Terra Thermometer Liquid Strip
* Exo Terra Medium Reptile Cave
* Cork Bark
* Aspen Bedding - 11 Litre Bag
* Pot Water Bowl - 5" High
* AVS - Ball Python Manual

[John Pilling]

Hey Craig and welcome to the forum.

Ideally for a RP, 5-7 days, with 7 being prefered then just a quick 3-5 min handle then feed on day 8.

Plastic containers are great as i have 3 of my little corns in then, and the biggest tub is 10inches long, 6 wide, and 4 high, this will do my hatchlings till they get to about 2foot long, then they'll be going into a 24 by 12 by 18 high viv till they reach about 3-4 foot long before moving into a full size 3-4 foot long viv by 18-24 wide and 18-24 high.

The 2 foot viv you've mentioned will be perfect fo a BP till it reaches about 3-4foot long, just make sure their are 4-5 hides in if it's a little 1 as they do need to feel very very secure. Price wise, £130 is good for what your getting, especially as 11 litres of aspen is about £15 and the mat stat will be about £20 if bought seperate, and the AVS manual are £5.99 for most of the books along the range, so it seems loke a good deal to me.

Let us know what you diside, but i'd personally go for the viv option every time (just havn't got a small enough viv for my hatchlings at the min).

[craig]

lol yea was very tempting to try and handle him but i must resist =)

well seeing as theres some decent sized planks of chipboard in the shed may build a viv again, then buy a light fitting & bulb seperate... just a little bit of help needed on the bulb and fitting would this
www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?TabID=1&DOY=1m12&ModuleNo=26765&criteria=
With this www.everythingforpets.com/lucky_reptile_halogen_sun_spot_lamp.pet/use.id.5.item_id.7798.dept.980/ be ok?

Cheers Craig

[John Pilling]

Ok, i would set up with ceramics, as those can be used when you move up a viv size.
Here's a list of what i would buy for a RP if i already had the viv.
www.cornishcrispa.co.uk/product_info.php?cPath=21_49_165&products_id=2422 60 watt ceramic eliment
www.cornishcrispa.co.uk/product_info.php?cPath=21_49_165&products_id=2233 ceramic heating gaurd.
www.cornishcrispa.co.uk/product_info.php?cPath=21_49_165&products_id=2426 ceramic holder and clamp


Or for heat and light i would go for
light gaurd www.cornishcrispa.co.uk/product_info.php?cPath=21_49_169&products_id=1417
heaat light, 60w www.cornishcrispa.co.uk/product_info.php?cPath=21_49_169&products_id=538
Spot light fitting
www.cornishcrispa.co.uk/product_info.php?cPath=21_49_169&products_id=631

Of the 2 i prefer ceramics, but both do equally a good job as the other, and don't forget a pulse proportional thermostat (mat stat is no good for ceramics/heat bulbs) www.cornishcrispa.co.uk/product_info.php?cPath=21_51&products_id=332

[John Pilling]

Forgot to add, i use cornish crispa quite a lot and is an excellant reptile and fish shop with cracking delivery times.

[craig]

Awsome, thanks very much for the help... Ideally id like the heat aswell as the light so i just placed an order for those 3 items + the Pulse Proportional Thermostat.. where abouts would you fit the light dead in the center or off to one side?

Thanks
Craig

[John Pilling]

Off to 1 side so theirs a warm side and a cool side, i'll find a pic of my boa's setup to show you how mine, and most people's are setup.

Here's the left hand side of my largest boa viv

And here's his almost full setup (ceramic and light on the left out the pic)


Those are old photo's before i got the addons and moved them, here's the new location


As you can see in the above pic, the ceramic and light fitting is on the left hand side (thats an 8 foot long viv tho, for my 7foot boa).

[craig]

Nice photos/viv's, bet your electric bill feels it though lol... cant see nay in the pics but i take it the heatmats are at the bottom of the vivs with newspaper and the Aspen stuff on top?

[John Pilling]

Yeah all the heatmats are at the bottom of the viv's except in the big 1 which has a 150 watt ceramic heater (came with 150, 100 would be better tbh tho).