Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I definitely have a few questions since this will be my first experience breeding ball pythons ever. I have asked about incubators in a previous post and rack systems. I have decided to do both of these myself. I have watched videos on how to gut the wine coolers and install the heat tape. I think I can manage that.
I have also watched videos on contructing my own rack system. Some I am not to fond of. I want to make all the sides enclosed so that it retains heat and the ones I have seen all have open sides and backs. Which I am sure is fine for the snake, but if someone told me that it was fine then it would make me feel better.
With all of that said my questions are this... When I purchase everything needed to add heat to the rack such as the flexwatt heat tape, the clips to add to the tape so I don't get shocked etc. will I just put the temp probe into one of the tubs, run it back to the thermostat and set the thermostat for the temp I want and that's it, the one temp probe will make it so the rest of the bins stay around the same temp? Also when I set up the incubator, is it a good idea to use the space at the bottom of the wine cooler to place a metal container with water to keep up humidity? With that metal container in the bottom producing humidity, will it be enough humidity to keep from having to ad water to the vermiculite? If not, how much water should I add to it? I have heard to just add water to it and then squeeze it in your hand so that it is just damp. When placing the eggs into containers do I keep a lid on the container, no lid or have a lid and drill holes or punch holes into the side of the containers? I think lastly, I know I will need a seperate thermostat for the incubator, but will I need to get a digital thermometer/humidty gage for the incubator or will the temp probe for the thermostat be adequate? That's all I have for now.

As for your rack question I wouldn't put the thermostat in the tub I would just run it along side the tub to the back where the heat tape is at and tape it along the side so it doesn't move, do yourself a favor and buy a laser temp gun, CSerpents sells them for like 30$ but I'm sure you could find them elsewhere probly lowes or Home Depot and I just get everything running and ill crack a tub open enough to stick my hand in and measure the temp at the back, and the front you can't just point it at the front and adjust until you get it set where you like it. The snakes will tell you too, if they thinks it's too warm in the back they will all stay at the front of there tubs, if its too cold the will stay on the heat all the time. As far as the incubator goes there's so many different ways people do it, I heard perlite is better than vermiculite, if you want to do it in the substrate like that you add water little by little and get it to the point where you can squeeze it and it'll clump but no water will drip when you squeeze it hard, or you can get the plastic light diffuser and cut it into pieces that fit in your tub and you can make the perlite however wet and put the plastic on top and the eggs on that so they aren't actually touching the substrate, and once a week crack the tubs open to get some fresh air in there, and there should be know need for the water bowl. But everyone does it a little different, it's all trial and error in the beginning.

Oh and btw some thermostats will sway 3 degrees in either direction so be careful not to put it too hot, if I set mine at 91 it'll go up to 94 or down to 88 before heating back up.

Thanks for the feedback.

I used thermostats from BoaPhile ....a double thermostat....I didn't trust just one....(but have used the single later on)...I had it set for a 1 degree variance....so set at 91 it would get to 90 then click on....91, click off.......

.....I had the probe along the tub side ,directly ON the heat tape, all taped into place....

.....I used vermiculite , or vermic and perlite mixed, and set the eggs directly into it...I also used the cheap HovaBators....for 20 years....(4 of them )....did I lose eggs ? yes, did I lose alot ? no, was it my fault always? yes....

.....if you use boxes for eggs.,...lid on , one to three small holes in top or side....

.....B O O K s ....Lots of BOOKS....

.....

.....people need herper friends near their homes....to visit and bug all the time......

....
-----
........JY

I put my probe on the heat tape and then tape it down and then tape it down and then tape it down again.lol be sure to use good quality tape because if comes off.....its not a good thing. I use aluminum tape for ductwork. Get a good temp gun and check inside the tubs and adjust your thermostat accordingly. As far as the incubator, I was told to put pastic bottles with water on bottom to help regulate the temps. I do and it works for me but I didn't try it without so that might work to. I read a thread on here a couple years ago about using light diffusers on the bottom of the tub and adding water half way up and then setting the eggs on the diffusers. That's what I do and have hatched out 8 clutches so far with all healthy babies so I haven't had to try vermiculite or anything else. Hope this helps.

.............

If I recall correctly, Spyder Robotics/Herpstat actually has a warning in their FAQ specifically warning against aluminum tape as it can distort the readings from the temperature probe.

Just a heads up.

In a related note, I prefer proportional thermostats.