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Starter Kit or Buying Piece by Piece?

B

babebabe

New member
I think this question has been asked a million times, but I can't find the answer... so I am asking again. (Planning to get my first snake in October~) I am looking at Petsmart's starter kits and wonder if I should get them...

Zilla 10G
http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=4070845&f=PAD/psNotAvailInCA/No
Zilla 20G
http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=16657086&f=PAD/psNotAvailInCA/No
All Living Things 20G
http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=16624226&f=PAD/psNotAvailInCA/No
Zoo Med 20G
http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=16624076&f=PAD/psNotAvailInCA/No

I am going to be picking it up at store... so moving a 32lb 20G, tank, I will probably die. I am really incline to get the 10G tropical kit (since a hatchling / juvenile doesn't need all 20G yet).

Kit Includes:

10 gallon terrarium
Fresh air screen cover 20" x 10"
Screen cover clips
5.5" reflector dome
Day blue light bulb
Heat mat terrarium heater
Terrarium liner
Humidity & temperature gauge

As corn snake won't need the light, I will probably not install it. (Please let me know if I do need it... I have seen mixed information. Some says yes, some says no.) I might need another heatmat since this one doesn't have thermostat. I will probably use aspen or newspaper, so the lining will be useless. I will get another temperature gauge to measure the "cold side". I will DIY the water dish and hut.

Is there anything else I need? Do you think this kit is good enough? Have anyone used any one of the 4 kits above? Reviews from real users? (I just don't trust review from petsmart site anymore, sorry...) Should I get a kit or just buying tank, heater, everything one by one?
 
The kits include a bunch of crap you don't need. First of all, you'd be better off buying a 10 or better yet 20L Critter Cage, with the sliding locking lid. And a UTH, and a thermostat. you do not need lighting of any kind. The thermometers they include with kits are generally poor quality and inaccurate. You don't need a humidistat. Then you need a water bowl big enough for the snake to get into, and aspen for the substrate.

And decorations like leafy fake vines for hiding and hides. A baby is going to prefer toilet paper tubes or paper towel tubes over anything you can buy.
 
I agree with Nanci. There is a bunch of stuff in those kits you don't.

I would suggest the following:

- A 20L critter cage - This size would be ok even through adulthood.
- UTH. There are many different brands.
- a thermostat to regulate UTH - many people here like hydrofarm. These are available on AMAZON
- Bag of Aspen - I prefer the ZOOMED, its less dusty than others.
- A few hides. 1/2 coconut shells (store bought or home made) or toilet paper tube are excellent choices.
- A water bowl. I use small cat/dog bowl that have the little notch/hand hole on the bottom. These are great because they double as a cool hide. my snakes spend a lot of time under them.

approximate US costs.

Tank - $65
Aspen - $15
UTH - $20
Thermostat(hydrofarm) - $35
hides/bowl/Thermometer/misc - $20
TOTAL ~$155


hope this helps

-braingarble
 
At Petco, they are having their $1 per gallon tank sale (at least they were having it last week, and I think the ad is still good this week).
 
Whatever you do, do NOT buy the kit that Petsmart sells. It's got the heater, mister, light, humidity and temperature gauges but no tank (can't remember the official name of the producut). It is a very cheap product and quite frankly, I wish I had returned it with the receipt. I bought it and lost the receipt then went to return it and they only gave me half what i paid for since I had no receipt
 
Thank you all for the great ideas~
Is there a UTH that comes with a Thermostat or do i always have to buy them separately?

Also, is there a different between a fish tank and a critter tank?

(Yep, i realize they are dumb questions, but I am total beginner~)
 
I've never seen a package of uth and thermostat. Usually they are purchased separately. I believe the difference between critter keeper and an aquarium tank is the glass thickness. Critter keepers are not designed to safely handle the hydrostatic pressure of the water that an aquarium is. Critter keepers generally have a locking top as well.

-braingarble
 
Wow, it looks good just by looking at the picture. Everything you post looks so pro~

It's good to learn from someone with so much experience! My future snake will thank you. Now I have a much better idea of what to get and what budget i have. (Around $200 for setting up and getting my first Amel. Maybe cheaper if there is a sales for 20L tank.)
 
babebabe said:
Wow, it looks good just by looking at the picture. Everything you post looks so pro~
Click to expand...

I have a tendency to over think things and I love to research. There is nothing wrong with things that you find in big box stores, but sometimes there is a better, and/or cheaper solution somewhere else. For example, the Ultratherm UTH pads. They are cheaper than the Zoo-med or R-zilla pads, dont have "dead spots" and are proven item. Now, there is nothing wrong with the ones found in most petstores, I just find that product to be better. It's really just opinion...and on this forum you find many!!!:)

babebabe said:
It's good to learn from someone with so much experience! My future snake will thank you. Now I have a much better idea of what to get and what budget i have. (Around $200 for setting up and getting my first Amel. Maybe cheaper if there is a sales for 20L tank.)
Click to expand...

I Don't have that much experience, as much as I read a lot and have a bit of common sense. If it feels wrong, its probably wrong. This is a great place for information and most people here are willing to help. It wasn't that long ago that I was in the same place as you now.

If I was to offer one piece of advice, I would tell you to get your snake from a reputable breeder. There are several that are very active on this site. You will know that your snake is healthy and that it came from someone that took care before pairing 2 snakes together. Additionally, you can choose from many colors/morphs. I can personally recommend Don Soderberg from south mountain reptiles. His snakes are beautiful, he is a brilliant man and his customer service is off the chart excellent. His website is
http://cornsnake.net


Look around here too, many people posting/giving advice are breeders and produce beautiful, healthy snakes. Many of these Ads floating around this page are members of this forum.

I hope this help

-braingarble
 
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