Problems with BRB enclosure... Please help

SnakeyJay · 09-25-10, 11:19 AM

Hi everyone, my names jay and im new here. Ive joined because i thought this would be a good place to get some info from experienced owners... ive owned corns for a while now and have recently aquired a brb. Ive had no problems with his temperament as i expected a young brb to be nippy. However ive become concerned about the heat in his vivarium.. the thermostat above the heat mat is reading 25 and i cant get it to raise any higher !
Ive already moved the heatmat inside the wooden enclosure and installed a normal light bulb to try and raise the background temperature..Also, the cypress mulch substrate is drying out over the heatmat, even though i spray the viv often...
Can anyone help with this?
Snakey-jay-uk

infernalis · 09-25-10, 12:16 PM

presspirate · 09-25-10, 01:52 PM

Hello, and welcome aboard! Can't wait to see some pics of your snakes.

As to your heating problem in a wooden enclosure I'd suggest flexwatt heat tape, repti heat cable, or a radiant panel. Depending on the size of your viv, I don't think a heat mat will quite cut it as far as ambient temps.

For humidity, I provide humid hides for all of my snakes, and mist the enclosures daily around sundown.

SnakeyJay · 09-25-10, 03:03 PM

what about a spotlight heatlamp for a basking area as ive heard this helps the background temperature aswell..? the viv is 3ft lng, 18 inch wide..

marvelfreak · 09-25-10, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snakey-Jay-BRB

what about a spotlight heatlamp for a basking area as ive heard this helps the background temperature aswell..? the viv is 3ft lng, 18 inch wide..

Hello and welcome. This would help raise the temp. Just keep a close eye on it so it doesn't get over 87. And really watch your humidity as heat light dry the humidity much faster than heat pads. You can also put two water bowl in the cage. One at the warm end to help keep humidity up an one at the cool end for drinking and soaking.
P.S. love to see pics of your snakes.

SnakeyJay · 09-25-10, 03:48 PM

ill be uploading pics tomorrow asap... real glad ive found other enthusiasts on these amazing snakes.... anyway, the humidity level is fine atm as i spray regular throughou the day, but is the substrate above the heat mat supposed to be dry as this was worrying me.... also how could i run the heat mat, and bulb together on a thermostat without the light going out wenever it gets too warm?
i assume this would stress the snake out. x

Freebody · 09-25-10, 04:26 PM

oh yeah you came to the right place if you looking for fellow herpaholics lol Welcome to the forum, im looking forward to seeing pics of you collection

SnakeyJay · 09-26-10, 01:52 AM

the pics will be up later so keep checkin, just as soon as figure out how! so does anyone know what sort of bulb and casing to use in a 3ft wooden viv for a BRB xx