Two on the Way

[Scubadiver59]

Salutations!

New to the herp hobby and I went, excuse the phrase, hog wild, on what I thought I needed for keeping snakes after reading forums, blogs, articles, etc.

So, several $$$ later I have tanks, UTHs, proportional temp controller, lights, substrate, hutches, you name it; however, my lingering concern is how to set up the temperature zones correctly. I understand UTH in one corner, say for example left/back corner, but where to put the lights, especially a heat/basking lamp and daylight light.

I won't open up with my ascii-style drawings just yet--but I have them prepared--in the interest of brevity for this first post, but I will be posting them in here if nobody has any objections until I can post Visio drawings (JPG version).

BTW, I have a Hypo Sunkissed Corn & Blotched King, both females, coming in the mail on Wed, 01 March.

Thanks for reading!

[Minkness]

Hey there! Your set up sounds good so far. Pics are always helpful. Super excited to se eyour new babes when you get them!

[Scubadiver59]

|--------------------------------------|
|xxxxxx         wwwww            cccccc|
|xxxxxx         wwwww            cccccc| X = UTH/Hot Hutch
|xxxxxx         wwwww            cccccc| w = warm hutch
|xxxxxx         wwwww            cccccc| c = cold hutch
|xxxxxx                                | ~ = water dish
|                                      |
|                                      |
|                        ~~~~~~        |
|                        ~~~~~~        |
|                        ~~~~~~        |
|--------------------------------------|
                Fig-1

|--------------------------------------|
|  /---\  /---\                        |
| /     \/     \                       | NR = NightRed Incandesant (60w)
| | NR  ||  RS |                       | RS = ReptiSun 10.0 (23w) (sunlight)
| \     /\     /                       |
|  \---/  \---/                        |
|                                      |
|                                      |
|                                      |
|                                      |
|                                      |
|--------------------------------------|
                 Fig-2

So, based on my first post, here are some questions:

1. During the day, with the ReptiSun on--is the UTH enough to provide the temperature on the tank warm side or do I need a basking light? Can the NightRed light provide the heat vice a separate basking light. Seems like a lot of light fixtures if so. I bought Zoo Med Dome Combo's for my tanks but I can buy another dome if needed.
2. At night, if the NightRed light is placed over the UTH--do you lower the temperature of the UTH or keep it constant and just adjust the NightRed? Or should I move it more to the center (reverse the lights)?
3. Back to another night question--do I lower the temperature at the warm end at night; or again, keep it constant at 80ish? My house is 75F all year round due to my dogs so I exepect the cold end to get around that temp.

Once again, thanks for reading and for any comments on my concerns.

[Minkness]

Snakes don't really need lights, but everything else looks good!

[TRD]

As long as heat is on one side of the enclosure and properly controlled the delivery method doesn't really matter (mostly). If it's a glass enclosure and a species which burrows a lot, a UTH might be a good idea in case they can reach the bottom. Make sure the thermostat probe is connected properly for the UTH - ie. it's either between the UTH and the glass on the bottom (so outside the enclosure) or if not possible directly on the glass right above the UTH inside the enclosure and fixed there in some way to make as much direct contact as possible. Do not put the probe above the substrate with a UTH and a species which burrows into the substrate. You CAN do that but then you need a temp gun to accurately set the thermostat so it doesn't get too hot under the substrate.

PS. you don't need UVB light with Kings and Corns (ReptiSun 10.0)

[Scubadiver59]

Thanks for the reply!

I already knew to put the temp probe between the UTH and the tank (40gal Zoo Med and 20&40gal Zilla glass terrariums). All probes will be monitored and controlled with a Herpstat-6, and I have analog and other LCD thermometers available to use for double-checking temps/humidity around/in all the hides. I do have a laser thermometer I bought for my computer systems--I Fold/BOINC for science once in a while with my multiple computers and servers and used it to monitor chip temps.

I also understand that there's that question as to whether or not UVB is beneficial to snakes, but I'm going to use the ReptiSun 10.0 as the daylight and fill in any additional heat requirements with the red. If I ever decide to get into the four-legged reptiles, I'll always have one available.

Originally Posted by TRD

As long as heat is on one side of the enclosure and properly controlled the delivery method doesn't really matter (mostly). If it's a glass enclosure and a species which burrows a lot, a UTH might be a good idea in case they can reach the bottom. Make sure the thermostat probe is connected properly for the UTH - ie. it's either between the UTH and the glass on the bottom (so outside the enclosure) or if not possible directly on the glass right above the UTH inside the enclosure and fixed there in some way to make as much direct contact as possible. Do not put the probe above the substrate with a UTH and a species which burrows into the substrate. You CAN do that but then you need a temp gun to accurately set the thermostat so it doesn't get too hot under the substrate.

PS. you don't need UVB light with Kings and Corns (ReptiSun 10.0)

[Skipper7]

I understand why you're using some UVB. However, I wouldn't reccomend the 10.0. That is likely too much. I encourage you to use this source and find your snake species or species in similar regions to determine UVB strength. http://www.uvguide.co.uk/files/BIAZA...-19Oct2015.xls

[Scubadiver59]

Thanks!

I'll have to look at it when I get home since the government computers don't allow us to go to all overseas websites.

I looked at the Zoo Med guide for the UVA/UVB lamps and saw the depth chart (Ferguson Scale), so I'll actually be outside the range of recommended light height (relative to pet) since my snakes will be about 12-14in below the light (and Zoo Med puts max depth at 10in) unless they climb any branches I put in the terrarium.

Originally Posted by Skipper7

I understand why you're using some UVB. However, I wouldn't reccomend the 10.0. That is likely too much. I encourage you to use this source and find your snake species or species in similar regions to determine UVB strength. http://www.uvguide.co.uk/files/BIAZA...-19Oct2015.xls

[Scubadiver59]

Habitats up and running...using paper towels until I'm sure there are no mites (seems common in the forum). I'll keep the two girls on paper towels until they eat a few times, and there are no mites (!); then, I'll put in the substrate.

Temps with the Herpstat-6 are stable: ~85 on the pads, ~76-77 mid tank, and 74.x on the cold end (digital Zoo Med thermostats reading at the back of the cold-side hide). I don't have any H2O in the tanks right now--I need to clean the bowls and fill them--so the humidity is in the mid to upper 30s. I bought some sphagnum moss so I can add a bit of that to the Corn's habitat to up its humidity, but I'm hoping the water will add a bit of moisture and make up the difference w/o the moss.

I'll take pictures of the new arrivals tomorrow when then arrive via FedEx. In the meantime, here are some pics of their new homes...

[Scubadiver59]

Just shot the laser thermometer and it was only 83.8 on the paper under the hot hide...will have to bump up the temp a few degrees on the Herpstat.

Trial and error I guess....

[EL Ziggy]

Good job scuba. You are dialed in and ready to go. Your enclosures are going to look even nicer tomorrow!

[Scubadiver59]

BTW...since I'm guessing that my two new snakes were most probably kept in drawers, would it be a good idea to tape up some papertowels to the sides of the vivs (need to get used to using these new words) until they settle down?

Right now the sides/front/back are open, tho the back is facing a contractor-white wall.

[saturnascends]

Nice looking tanks. Today's the day! Looking forward to seeing the new family members!

[EL Ziggy]

Originally Posted by Scubadiver59

BTW...since I'm guessing that my two new snakes were most probably kept in drawers, would it be a good idea to tape up some papertowels to the sides of the vivs (need to get used to using these new words) until they settle down?

Right now the sides/front/back are open, tho the back is facing a contractor-white wall.

There are a lot of keepers that will cover three sides of the enclosure to help the snake feel more secure. It's definitely not a bad idea.

[Scubadiver59]

I've got some brown paper...I'll do that.

Originally Posted by EL Ziggy

There are a lot of keepers that will cover three sides of the enclosure to help the snake feel more secure. It's definitely not a bad idea.