1st timer. Please help

[Chronix]

I bought a Mojave ball python. He's still young. I have him in a 10 gallon tank with good substrate. Plenty of stuff to hide and climb in. I am having trouble with his temperatures. I know he's supposed to have a hot zone ranging from 80-95 ( hotter in one specific spot as a basking area ) and a chill zone set at around 75 degrees. I have a 75 watt over tank lamp as well as a medium heating pad under the tank where the light is. He seems to only hang out inside his cave in the dead middle of hot and cold zones. I right now I can't get my tank thermometer to break 80 and I'm worried about him. Brighter light is bad cause the tank is so small.. And the under heater is practically garbage. Please help me out

[kwhitlock]

What are you using to measure the temperatures with? A digital thermometer with a probe is the best way to go, anything that sticks on the glass isn't the most accurate. A picture of your setup would probably be a good way for us to help you out. Also do you have a thermostat hooked up to any of your heating stuff?

[sharthun]

Yeah the problem is the small tank. You can't get a good temperature gradient with a small space.(hot and cold side) I would ditch the heat lamp and get a thermostat connected to heat mat and a larger enclosure. You can house small snakes in large enclosures with plenty of cover.Balls need some humidity so the heat lamp just dries things up. If it has a screen top you need to cover at least 75% of the top of the screen to hold in humidity. You will be fighting an up hill battle with a small tank. Post pics of your setup and others will chime in and help.

[dbank999]

+1 on too small of an enclosure.

Petco is having their $1 per gallon fish tank sale, so there is an opportunity to get a new tank for about used prices.

Nearly everyone on here disagrees with the use of glass aquariums for a means of housing.

(They lose heat, 100% percent visable from all sides, doesn't hold humidity, etc)

I have used tanks, and IF modified appropriately, they work fine for certain species. (in reference to what Sharthun said above about covering the screen lid)

You can also use a rubbermaid tub for a lot cheaper, but you won't be able to enjoy viewing you ball python, although they tend to hide all the time anyway ;)

Also, if its the heat pad that comes with the starter kit - toss it and buy a new heat pad. I bought the kit awhile back becuase it was cheaper to get the whole thing for a few of the things I wanted/needed. Heat mat never went above 80*F and that was running it WOT (wide open throttle, or full blast, for you non-petrolhead folks)

[Chronix]

New 20 gallon tank. Added moss for humidity. Blacking out back and two sides to hold temp and moisture. Covering the top ( except the lamp ** unless u can teach me how to ditch the lamp ) 100 watt day lamp , 100 watt night red ( as shown ). Humidity sitting @ 50% on the cool side. I just can't get my damn hot side to touch or stay at 90 degrees. Under his cave and toward the middle are to UTH pads. *** PLEASE EXPLAIN HOW A THERMOSTAT HELPS AND HOW IT WORKS *** cause I feel like these pads aren't 90 degrees. Please help u guys

[aRepDysfunction]

an unregulated heat pad will pass 120 degrees. i have seen some hit 150. you dont need to measure the air you should just be ensuring that the bottom of the tank where the pad touches is hitting 90.

[aRepDysfunction]

A thermostat is a regulator, you plug the heat pad into it and attach a probe to read the temperature on the heat pad, the thermostat shuts it off or moderates the power when it hits the right temperature ensuring it doesnt go too high or too low

[sharthun]

You need a thermostat and ditch the heat lamps. Connect heat mat to theromstat like mentioned above. Adjust the theromstat to get the desired temperature where the snake hangs out on the substrate.

Good inexpensive thermostat is a hydrofarm: I have 4 of these and they work great!

Amazon.com: Hydrofarm Digital Temperature Controller for Heat Mat: Patio, Lawn & Garden (http://www.amazon.com/Hydrofarm-Digital-Temperature-Controller-Heat/dp/B0047KKOMI/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1396360606&sr=8-2&keywords=hydrofarm+thermostat)

Better, but more expensive theremostat is spyder robotics:

Spyder Robotics (http://spyderrobotics.com/home/products.html)

[dbank999]

+1

Vivarium Electronics is a good company as well.

The most basic one they have (model VE-100) is about 85 bucks.. Will do what you need for the heat mat.

[sharthun]

+1

Vivarium Electronics is a good company as well.

The most basic one they have (model VE-100) is about 85 bucks.. Will do what you need for the heat mat.

Yeah forgot about VE!!

[Terranaut]

Aquariums are ok for some species but ball pythons or other snakes needing elevated humidity do not do well in aquariums. If you insist on using it cover the top with foil. As said before ditch that ligjt right away. It will cause that cage to be a convection oven and make snake jerky. Keep the humidity above 60%. Ensure it stays there and doesn't bounce around as the tank dries out. If a pet store sold you the light as "the right equipment" take it back and get your money back. Please ask anything you want to know here and not at the pet store. Good luck and enjoy your new hobby.

[Chronix]

I got it right finally. 75-80 bounce around for cool side. Hot side air reads 90-95. And he still has his heat pad under the tank where his cave is. But now u all have me worried about an unrestricted heat pad being too hot. I fell the substrate and spot he chills in and it feels nice and cozy. Not savage hot. I KNOW I have to buy a probe thermometer or a temp gun. As well. I have a day and night bulb for controlled heating. But I turned that f**king tank into a jungle. Saran Wrap and plexi glass coupled with the moss and frequent mistings have my humidity up to 70%. Again though. Please tell me if I'm all screwed up

[Mikoh4792]

Are his heat sources hooked up to a thermostat?

[Terranaut]

He has said no not yet. If you can get another hide for the cool side and that thermostat I think your good to go. Keep an eye on the humidity. If it goes from 70-40% or something between mistings then youbstill need to fix the venting. If it holds. ....you all good.

[Chronix]

I guess this is an uphill battle for life. I took away one heating pad ( the lower temp one ) because it was like 100+ on the heat surface the other day. Made my adjustments and he's happy now. I can't find a thermostat anywhere to Include online. How much are they? And I plug my pad into it and then it into the wall? How does it work exactly. And how bad is an unrestricted heat pad?

[sharthun]

I guess this is an uphill battle for life. I took away one heating pad ( the lower temp one ) because it was like 100+ on the heat surface the other day. Made my adjustments and he's happy now. I can't find a thermostat anywhere to Include online. How much are they? And I plug my pad into it and then it into the wall? How does it work exactly. And how bad is an unrestricted heat pad?

I posted a link above for a couple thermostats. The hydrofarm works great for the money. You plug your heat pad into the thermostat. The thermostat has a temp prob that you put between your heat pad and bottom of tank. Then measure surface temp of substrate of hot side where snake hangs out. Adjust the thermostat to get desired temperature. Thermostats are a necessity! No overheating!

[xSerpentGoddess]

I use a pad that covers a little under half the tank with a hide over the pad. They have to be happy because I think I have an accidental clutch on the way..

Fluker's heat pads are the best. The ones that stick on go bad way quicker. And if you pull them off they're ruined and can over heat. I have seen so many bad zoo med and exoterra heat pads and not a single fluker's. And I don't use a thermostat on mine. I would use a med flukers on a 20 gallon.

[sharthun]

I use a pad that covers a little under half the tank with a hide over the pad. They have to be happy because I think I have an accidental clutch on the way..

Fluker's heat pads are the best. The ones that stick on go bad way quicker. And if you pull them off they're ruined and can over heat. I have seen so many bad zoo med and exoterra heat pads and not a single fluker's. And I don't use a thermostat on mine. I would use a med flukers on a 20 gallon.

Ultatherm heat pads are the only heat pad that I would use without a thermostat or at the least, a rheostat. Why risk overheating and possibly burning your animal.

Ultratherm Heat Pads (http://www.reptilebasics.com/ultratherm-heat-pads)

[Terranaut]

Why are we discussing heat pads. He has two so should we be discussing why he needs the thermostat?
You need a thermostat for the pad for the same reason as your house. If your furnace ran on high all the time, how hot would your house get? In this case the snake will overheat and could die or be burned. Get a cheap thermostat. $30 is nothing. Hydrafarms work great. Get one.

[Chronix]

I have a fluker's and a UTH pad. Only using one though. Now, on to this thermostat. I plug the pad into it. But what powers everything? Do I plug the thermostat into the wall? Also. The unrestricted pad that lays under his hot side and his house is a nice comfortable low warm. He loves it. He is active at night and I think he's perfect now. He goes to his cave to chill. Warm up when he's cold and chill when he wants to. So I think I got it right now. However if one or more of you say I MUST have a thermostat... Then, I will.

Next question. How the hell do I keep a stable 60-66% humidity?

[Tonka14]

The thermostat plugs into the wall outlet and your heat pad will plug into a power outlet that is on the thermostat, that is how it will turn the heat pad on and off to regulate the temp of the heat pad. It is a MUST HAVE for any type of heating for reptiles. Do not use multiple heat sources with a single thermostat. If you have some basic building skills build a lid for the tank and toss out the screen one. So to put it basic, 1 heat pad, 1 thermostat, and a lid for the aquarium that isn't screen.

[Starbuck]

In the interim you can cover some percentage of the screen lid with Satan wrap or foil (60-80 percent?) And/or provide a humid hide where the snake can retreat to a very high humidity microenvironment.

[Terranaut]

In the interim you can cover some percentage of the screen lid with Satan wrap or foil (60-80 percent?) And/or provide a humid hide where the snake can retreat to a very high humidity microenvironment.

I would be very careful using Satan wrap....might even use Saran wrap instead. No pesky fire or brimstone or anything ;)

[sharthun]

I would be very careful using Satan wrap....might even use Saran wrap instead. No pesky fire or brimstone or anything ;)

Lol missed this! :p

[Starbuck]

I would be very careful using Satan wrap....might even use Saran wrap instead. No pesky fire or brimstone or anything ;)

LOL i think samsung may have some explaining to do regarding their product/personal endorsements...... lol yes i would think saran is a safer bet for sure ;)