hi help please

[sneakysnake]

ok im new here my names Misty i got my baby girl monday.Shes in a 40 gallon criterzilla on aspen bedding, with a climbing tree, huge hide water dish a gradiated heat rock i have a 100 watt nightime bulb on in evenings. In daytime a 150 watt blue daytime bulb picking up a undertank heater tomorrow i have put a lot into her and want her to be happy n healthy wanted her over10 years .Shes 8 months old about a foot on frozen/live pinkies ate tues i am stressing her tank heats low do i need to get a python mat or undertank heater her tank is at 75.6 too low i know:unhappy::sad: i dont want to lose her i know over worrying what dpo u suggest going to pet store asap tomorrow please respond oh i got a bookSnakes A Complete Owners Pat Manual Barrons

[Norm66]

Pics? First off, the heat rock isn't a good idea. They get too hot and have caused some pretty gruesome burns on snakes over the years. Personally I think it's a sad joke that they're still sold because I've never once seen them recommended by anyone with any experience at all.

Second, an UTH will help in that at least there will be a spot on the floor that is warm enough for the snake but it doesn't do much for ambient temperature.

To keep heat in you can cover part of the screen top, I used to cover all but where the lamps were with aluminum foil. This will keep heat in as well as humidity (which is also probably low this time of year).

You also really need a thermostat for your heat but if you're using a bunch of different heat sources it might be difficult. Some pics of your setup will help one of the more experienced folks help you out more specifically. I'm sure they'll be along soon. :)

[Lankyrob]

Any heat source NEEDS to be thermostatted, definitely DO NOT USE the heat rock.

I cant understand how you cant get the heat up with those bulbs??? I have a 150w ceramic heat bulb in a 4footx2footx2foot wooden viv and it rarely turns on as the heat is retained in the enclosure - also if all the heat is escaping then the humidity will be escaping too which is also a pretty major issue.

It needs to be minimum 55% and if the snake is in blue it needs to be 65%.

If you can post pics of the enclosure it will help us help you help your snake. :)

[alessia55]

Yup, I'm going to basically reiterate what's been said.

1. Take the heat rock out of the enclosure ASAP. It can burn your snake's belly.
2. Yes, get an under tank heater. More importantly, though, connect it to a THERMOSTAT. This will control the temperatures of the heat mat so that it doesn't get too hot (without regulating them, some can easily get up to 130F or hotter!).
3. Is her tank a screen top? Does it have a mesh top? If so, you need to cover most of it so that you'll be able to trap humidity in better, and increase the ambient temperature. Cover it using saran wrap or towels. Leave some space for air flow.
4. Do you have a hide on each side of the tank?

The best way for us to help you is if you post a photo of your set up so that we can visually see where you might need to change things. Help us help you ;) :)

[Norm66]

More on the UTH....For a short while I ran a UTH on my 20 gallon without a thermostat and it actually got hot enough that the tempered glass bottom cracked. That's hot. My snake was OK because there was a thick layer of newspaper with a layer of cypress mulch over that but it still scared me when I discovered it.

so yea, thermostats aren't optional.

[theapexgerman]

yea get rid of the heat rock cut the cord and use it as a decor piece some one else said that and yea you really need a thermostat and a temp gauge and a hygrometer gauge those 3 you need for any type of reptile

[sneakysnake]

ok yes its a screen top she has a huge hide on the far right a kidney shaped water dish a large climbing tree maybe to large she has two lamps the one on far right has a daytime bulb 150 watts the one on far rleft is her evening bulb shes on aspen shavings i wil not get them again its what they were all on the girl that waited on me yes was inexperienced the heat rock is coming out asap, i sure dont want her burned she has a small digital thermometer 77.2 on her hot end i just checked a 40 gallon criterzila as the climbing tree takes up a lot of room should i get a smaller one n more hides i got her on monday i will get tinfoil when store opens its 1:15 am lol when a friend comes with her phone cam ill take a pic how do i post it my house is somewhat chilly but not awful heats cranked in my bedroom ewhere shes at shes seems quit comfy n is more active this last night or two im happy for thaty i love her dearly ty for all the help and im learning more daily what a great resource this site is

[Lankyrob]

77f is a cool end temp rahter than a hot end temp, you really need to get the hot end up to 90f. Certainly dont feed the snake whilst it is that cold as it wont be able to digest properly without the correct temperatures :)