Another question...

[ayobreezie]

I'm debating on getting a Rubbermaid or a cheap glass aquarium for my 2 1/2 foot ball python.. how would I heat a rubbermaid w/o melting it or anything?

[ayobreezie]

I think the rubbermaid will be cheaper and will probably be better.. since it's less transparent.

[ayobreezie]

And also, I use newspaper or reptibark at the moment.. wondering what kind of substrate could I switch to? Would I be able to use dirt?

[Kobi Baby]

I would go with a glass tank but that is just me. Many people on here use rubbermaids for rack systems, and they use flexwatt and foil tape I believe. But many of them also keep these racks in "snake rooms" with a higher temp than the regular living area, so that the ambient temp is higher, and the heating doesnt have to be outsourced quite as much. But to set up a rubbermaid with say a CHE or a sticky heater, I dunno. JMO, and I have no scientific proof to back this up, but even if your heating elements do not melt the plastic, all plastics have MI's that release toxins at certain points. I work for ExxonMobil, at the polyethylene plant, and all we do is plastics. not sure which grade rubbermaid containers are made of, but many plastics have a very low MP and can emmit chemicals when heated to a certain point....hence the new outbreak of information about microwaving your foods in plastic containers or with saran wrap.

	Ceramic Heat Emitter Ceramic Heat Emitter: A porcelain heating device that screws into a standard porcelain incandescent socket

[Kobi Baby]

Dirt can harbor bacteria so be careful where you get it from if you use it. Don't get it out of your backyard or anything lol...jmo.

I use aspen bedding (and many people do not like aspen, I know) because my BP likes to burrow and its easy to spot clean, and not expensive to fully replace on a regular basis.

	Ball Python The Ball Python (Python regius), also known as the Royal Python, is a ground dwelling snake native to the savannahs and rain forests in western Africa, predominatly the countries of Ghana, Togo, and Benin.

[X-Factor]

Originally Posted by ayobreezie

I'm debating on getting a Rubbermaid or a cheap glass aquarium for my 2 1/2 foot ball python.. how would I heat a rubbermaid w/o melting it or anything?

I use Sterilite tubs (same thing essentially) for 3 of my 5 snakes. It works awesome frankly. Holds heat and humidity in VERY well. I just use a normal reptile heating pad partially under one side (depending on the dimensions) and put it on a thermostat. Tubs can be over heated VERY easily so you need to watch it and play with it to get a good temp variant.

Originally Posted by ayobreezie

I think the rubbermaid will be cheaper and will probably be better.. since it's less transparent.

DEFINITELY cheaper....

Originally Posted by ayobreezie

And also, I use newspaper or reptibark at the moment.. wondering what kind of substrate could I switch to? Would I be able to use dirt?

For my sterlite tubs I just use paper towels. Works fine for me. I don't think I would use dirt or any other substrate in a tub....

[ayobreezie]

Hmm.. well, I got'a look into heating a rubbermaid. Don't wanna melt one.

[WVW]

i wouldnt use dirt, ever. for any boa/python