Brazilian rainbow boa temperature issues

[cactus683]

Hello,I'm kind of new to this forum stuff, hope I'm in the right sextion.i have a new baby brb,10 gallon tank, under tank heater, humidity is good just having trouble keeping the Temps up.i have them at 75 on the floor on top if the mulch but it's a little cooler as you get higher into the tank.

[kwhitlock]

What are you using to check your humidity and temps?

[cactus683]

I'm using an indoor outdoor digital and 2 dial gauges, the dials look like there workijg correct. I'm just worried abut the ambient, even though the snake is a ground dweller

[sharthun]

Hey and welcome! More details about your setup and pics would help. Are you using a thermostat to control the heat?

[toddnbecka]

Using a small (8W) Reptitherm UTH mat? That's about all the warmer they get, pretty worthless for anything other than corn snakes. I use ceramic heat bulbs for my boas to raise the ambient temp, with larger UTH's (larger tanks than 10 gallons too) on the warm end. I made some stands from aluminum strip to hold the ceramic sockets (cheap at Lowe's) for the heat bulbs, and set them on the screen tops. The ceramic doesn't actually come in contact with the screen. They do dry out the humidity a bit, my basement is 75% ambient but around 50% in the tanks with the heaters, so I use bowls of gravel and water over the UTH's to raise humidity in the tanks a bit.

[cactus683]

The ground heat isn't good enough? I have it 75 on the mulch at the ground and she don't even like staying on the hot side

[kwhitlock]

Don't use a ceramic bulb for a BRB..you will be non stop misting.

How much substrate do you have in your enclosure as far as depth goes? Some BRB's like to burrow if yours doesn't maybe leaving less substrate will help.

[cactus683]

Mine so far loves to burrow, she's under there all the time except night, I have about an inch and a half 2 inches since u heard they loved to burrow.

[kwhitlock]

How are you controlling your UTH? Thermostat or something else? I would try and possible bump your hotspot up a smidge. However, make sure that you are not going to make to hot, anything over 85 to a young BRB, can kill them. Mine tends to like the warmer side, 83ish is where he tends to enjoy.

Also check your temps at the bottom of the enclosure that it isn't getting so hot it can cause harm.

[mrgrimm]

...especially if the snake burrows under the substrate and comes in direct contact of the bottom of the enclosure where the heater is mounted. Top of substrate may read 75F but an inch under on the glass it might be more like 100F!

That is why it is nice to have a pinpoint IR temp gun to quickly check different areas of the setup. You can get one for $20-$30 and find all kinds of uses for it for a long time.

[kwhitlock]

...especially if the snake burrows under the substrate and comes in direct contact of the bottom of the enclosure where the heater is mounted. Top of substrate may read 75F but an inch under on the glass it might be more like 100F!

That is why it is nice to have a pinpoint IR temp gun to quickly check different areas of the setup. You can get one for $20-$30 and find all kinds of uses for it for a long time.

^ this was what I was trying to say! Only had 3 hours of sleep yesterday was a little out of it! Highly recommend getting an IR temp gun

[cactus683]

Yea im going to pick one up friday, I have it on a temp controller from zilla.The bottom by the glass is around 80 from what the dial gauge said when I measured thr other day she doesn't burrow all the way down to the glass though.

[cactus683]

Also I just checked the temp again at the very bottom on glass is 75

[kwhitlock]

Be very careful..dial gauges are not what one would describe as the most accurate thing in the world. Digital probe or IR gun will really only give you an accurate reading.

[Snakesitter]

A lot of good points here.

In sum:

Don't trust those little pet store dials. They are the government statistic of the reptile world. ;-)

Aim for a temp gradient of 82F warm end to 72F cool end. Use an undertank or radiant heat panel element to heat, as bulbs can dry the air. Part of your challenge may be the glass tank; they hold heat poorly. They can be insulated, but it can be tricky as it can cause temp spikes at first.

Humidity is key. Little rainbows need 90%+. Add a mosit hide if you have not already.

Thick substrate is fine. Just keep an eye on temps at the glass level as well. Anything over 85F is bad.

No harm done, but for future reference, we do have a formal "epicrates" section, which includes rainbow boas. It makes it easier for later visitors with questions to find the right material.

Good luck, and please let us know if you have any more questions!!!

[cactus683]

So for the insulation part,do you recommend doing a side at a time to see how the temps react or do the 2 sides and the back at once?I have the ambient at 70 exactly right now,if i turn up the heat pad more it going to rise the temp at the glass where she burrows thats what im worried about,plus shes been staying on her cool side.

[Snakesitter]

I would take it slow and do two sides to start. Take measurements often for the first few days. Better safe than sorry.