heat question

[treegirl]

I have my python in a aquarium and have an UTH on one side and a red heat bulb over top. The tank is tall so I thought having the lamp too would help hold in some humidity. I've also placed a large paperback book on the cold side to keep in some more heat---does this sound alright?

My python seems to be comfortable as she goes from one side to the other at different times of the day. I also have a temperature controller with a probe.

Thanks for your help...

d.

[Artemis]

Hi Treegirl-

Im a little confused, unless you meant that you thought having the lamp would help hold in heat. What size tank are you using?

A book on the cold side to hold heat probably wont make much of a difference. If your temps are right, then I wouldnt worry. If you use a screen top, your best bet is to cover the bulk of it with a thick towel, newspapers, or anything to help stop the heat from escaping out of the top.

Hope this helps-

Artemis

[MouseKilla]

I would reccomend ditching the light and the flipping the aquarium so that it opens in the front instead of on top. Prop up the ends of the cage with a couple of pieces of wood then slip the heater into the space created beneath the cage.

Setting it up this way will hold more heat AND humidity, not to mention saving you the cost of running that light and the pain in the arse of trying to make up for all the moisture it is burning off. If you have a tall aquarium you gain a bunch of floorspace in the cage too which isn't so bad either plus it's much easier to clean a cage that opens in front instead of one you have to reach into from the top.

The other way to go is to invest $20 in a rubbermaid and spare yourself a lot of hassle. Either option is better than what you're doing currently though, if you have winter where you are you WILL get bad sheds if you don't make changes.

[treegirl]

The idea of turning the tank on its side is brilliant... I will I would've thought of that before I put the UTH with a sticky coating on the bottom. :( It's attatched and won't come off.

Thanks for all the inforamtion!

[mykee]

Scratch that, and reverse it. Bulbs will not keep in humidity, they'll dry out the air. Also, if the UTH is functional, there is zero need for a heat lamp, unless your ball floats.

[Jeff_Favelle]

there is zero need for a heat lamp, unless your ball floats

...heh heh..... ;)

[MouseKilla]

My balls float in water.

[Tim_Cranwill]

Originally posted by MouseKilla
My balls float in water.

COOOLLL!!! I'm running upstairs to check mine NOW! :D lol

[Jeff_Favelle]

Kind of like little live preservers! Cool!

[Artemis]

Was that an intentional almost-willy-wonka quote there??

I dunno- I have a friend who uses the lamps, and I must admit the infra-red light gives his enclosure a cool glow. His temps are right, and he refuses the UTH because snakes cant feel on their ventral side or something like that.

Jeff- less subtle than usual ;)

Treegirl- if you cant turn it on its side, you definitely need to cover it. A lot of local shops will cut plexiglass, melamine and other plastics to your measurements, and will help hold in both heat and humidity quite well. A water dish with a larger surface area will, too.

You still havent said the size of the tank, I am curious to know :) I have found the 55g to be my biggest humidity challenge yet, and Im gonna make a humid hide.

Artemis

[treegirl]

it's a twenty gallon tank but it's deep not long. I'm going to invest and get a bigger tank when she gets a bit larger. I'm going to turn the tank on its side anyway and get a heating pad from Walmart or something.

I think my snake likes the heat lamp too because her favorite place to bask is on a large flat rock under the lamp.

It's is cool to be able to see her at night when she's most active. Snakes can't see the color red, isn't that correct? So to her it's dark ---or just a little lighter from the brightness of the bulb?

[Artemis]

Cool, sounds like a good plan, and 20g shouldnt be too hard to get everything all up to speed, especially if you are gonna turn it.

:)

Artemis

[Tim_Cranwill]

Originally posted by treegirl
I think my snake likes the heat lamp too because her favorite place to bask is on a large flat rock under the lamp.

That's because it's the only warm place for the snake to go... not because she "likes" it. I'm pretty sure she would "like" it more if she didn't have to sit out in the open while she digests each meal.

My suggestion would not bo to save up for a bigger tank. Save up for a custon SNAKE enclosure. You will probably get more bang for you buck that way too.

[treegirl]

i have an UTH with a temperature gauge and probe......she is stayes on the warm side of the tank ( on the ground ) a lot of the time too. I know she is warm enough--with the warm side being between 90-95 degrees constant.