Heat options

[Mimstrel]

I am preparing to transition my corn snake from the small snake rack that I keep my KSBs in, to a bioactive display vivarium.

I have only ever used UTH before, well that and the heat tape that is in the rack.

However, after a week of having the hardscape and some of the plants in place for the vivarium, I am forced to conclude that the UTH absolutely does not work for bioactive. The set up is a 20g long tank on the middle shelf of a steel bookcase. I have LED grow lights in red, blue, and white attached to underside of the next shelf up. The problem is that there's only 5" of clearance between the top of the tank lid and the bottom of the next shelf, and I'm concerned about putting a ceramic heater under there - because of the lighting, the books on the next shelf, and the heat being so close to the lid that I'm going to need to touch in order to access the viv. Does anyone have a solution for this set up? Or do I have to scrap it?

[MnGuy]

I think you have to move the tank or if the shelf is removable, take out the shelf over the tank. Five inches is not enough clearance for a heat bulb and dome. Good luck.

[Tsubaki]

Considered a RHP? My thinnest one is barely 1,5 inches thick and it mounts to the inside so you'd only need the top room for wires. This all being said, 20g will eventually be too small for a full grown cornsnake have you thought of that?

[Mimstrel]

I had not considered an RHP. It looks like (after a few brief moments of research) that might be an option.

I am aware that I will need to upgrade Wraith when he gets bigger. I have a couple of options for what to do at that time, but haven't settled on an option yet. Well, actually, I know what I'd like to do, but I can't figure out how to do it without breaking physics (and my budget), so since it will be a bit before he outgrows the 20g, that gives me some time to decide if I can solve that question, or if I need to go with Plan B.

[Tsubaki]

Alright, I hope you can get it to work for you