First Tank Setup..Need Some Help

[Lioness]

hey everyone!!
well i just setup my first tank..and im going to a show on saturday and i plan on getting either a corn or a cali king of some type.
i have a few questions concerning the tank..
1. if i have a reptile heating pad on the bottom of the glass do i need a light/lamp at the top of the setup?
2. what exactly does heat tape do?..how would i use it if i needed it?..when would i need it?..and do i need it?
3. i read on another thread that a human heat pad might be better cus it has different settings..well how would i be able to use that if it has a wire that needs to come out of the tank..should i just stick with the under-tank repitle heating pad??

thanks!!

[BoidKeeper]

1. That all depends on the ambiant air temp in the room/cage. If the room that the cage is in is only 65 degrees then you'll end up with a hot spot that is too hot and a cool end that is too cool and a snake that is stuck in the middle. When using an UTH make sure you don't peel the back off and stick it to the glass. One you'll never get it off again if you need to move it to another cage and two it makes the hot spot way too hot unless you are using a thermostat or rehostat. Also make sure you put something like newspaper between the glass and the substrate because if the snake can get directly on to the glass above the heat it can be burned.

2. Heat tape is basically a home made heat pad. You cut it to the size you want and wire it yourself. You don't need it if you have a store bought heat pad.

3. Stick with the reptile heat pad. Heat pads for humans use more power and were never designed to be left on 24/7. Never put any eat source inside you cage, always under it or in the case of a heat lamp on top. If a herp can get in direct contact with the heat source there will be a burn eventually.
Great questions!
Cheers,
Trevor

[squeeker]

New to reptiles...

Maybe this is a dumb question, but... if you shouldn't stick the UTH to the glass on the tank, what should you do with it? Won't the plastic backing melt if you leave it on? And, won't the snake be able to burrow under the newspaper, and therefore still get burned?

Where would one purchase a thermostat or rheostat? I have read posts about wiring dimmer switches, but I am sort of electrically challenged...

Thanks!

[BoidKeeper]

what should you do with it?
Just lay it under the tank.

Won't the plastic backing melt if you leave it on?
No. They only get to about 135 degrees.

And, won't the snake be able to burrow under the newspaper, and therefore still get burned?
The possibility still exist yes however, if you put paper in first and then aspen or some other substrate on top then they usually only dig down under that and stop at the paper. Some do go all the way under the paper and that's why it's important for the UTH not to be stuck to the glass.

Where would one purchase a thermostat or rheostat?
You can get either at a pet shop. Wireing a dimmer is much easier then you think because you only have to cut one wire and hook the dimmer to it. There are pics of how to do it all over the place. I have taken pics of the process and could send them to you if you like.
Cheers,
Trevor

[Lioness]

thanks for ur help!! i really appreciate it!!

[Brandon Osborne]

You can also get ready to use plug-in dimmers at just about any large hardware store. They run about $15 and usually carry up to 1500 watts......you'll just have to check.

Brandon Osborne

[Lioness]

thanks!

[Lioness]

hey boid keeper..i have another question.
u said instead of sticking it to the bottom of the tank we should lay it at the bottom..?
what exactly do u mean??..my tank is on a stand.