Temp Prob

Julius2314 · 03-25-13, 03:09 PM

Hello All, I just got my flex watt heat tape and stuff today. And 2 new containers for my snakes. All is quite well, Humidity needs to decrease a little bc of the new damp sub straight. But the main problem I am facing is the hot side is exactly 90F. And All the way on the other side is 75. All I am using is the heat tape. I want to stay away from light and things that kill the humidity. Any one have a good way to deal with this? What do you guys use besides the flex watt?

mykee · 03-25-13, 05:35 PM

A warm, draft-free house.
I slap myself in the head when people complain about the cool side of their enclosure being too cold, onoly to find out the enclosure is either near a drafty window, or the temps in the house are like 65.

Julius2314 · 03-26-13, 08:07 AM

Lol I know this, I was asking if there is anything else you guys use to aid the heat tape, or is just heat tape ok?

stephanbakir · 03-26-13, 08:37 AM

Use a RHP... they are amazing if your house temp is too cold.

Terranaut · 03-26-13, 09:16 AM

I too am sold on the rhp. I love them. The biggest difference for me in controling my temps was building myself a reptile room. Mykee is spot on with keeping the ambient temps correct and constant. I also do a facepalm when I read "the cool side is only 70°" and find out its in a 65° room sitting on a concrete floor or something. Can you post a pic of your viv from a few feet away so we can see it's location? Maybe we can spot the problem over guessing what it might be?
I will bet it's just something small you overlooked.

NCHornet · 03-26-13, 10:44 AM

All I use is heat tape and it works fine as long as the room enviorment is correct as wall. The snake will go to where it feels comfortable. If you feel the cool side is to cool you can get another section of tape and use a different thermostat to control it, but I think you are fine, although you didn't say what you were keeping in it. If it is the ball and corn in your sig they both require different temps and humidity.

Julius2314 · 03-26-13, 11:04 AM

maybe to many holes? sorry for being newbie just never used anything besides a light

Julius2314 · 03-26-13, 11:08 AM

yes corns hot side is 85 deg F and ball hot side is 90F. I am mainly concerned about the ball's cage, because I think the corn is ok with 75F cool side. the corn has many more holes so less humidity, at 45%. The ball's 70% I only have 2 tstats and both are being used. starlight container. This is temporary till I build something nice. Hopefully by the end of April ill have a good setup. I will be acquiring another snake in a few weeks. And I want to build something really nice for all of them.

Terranaut · 03-26-13, 12:52 PM

So you have a 15° drop over 18" of tub?
What is the room temp and how are you measuring you temps in the bins?

Julius2314 · 03-26-13, 01:13 PM

25'' x 16'' x 8'' tub. Room temp goes from 68 to 70. I know heat tape alone will not create an Ideal temp for the whole tub in this drafty cool room. I measure with a temp gun. Thank you all for info btw

Terranaut · 03-26-13, 01:30 PM

I would get a heater for the room and/or get some styrofoam insulation and put a piece under the tubs and lay one on top. This will make a huge difference right away. But seriously that room is way to cold for reptiles and is the source of your problems. I keep my reptile room about 75-77 in winter and it hits 85 in the summer during a hot day. Maybe put the snakes in a different room until summer?

Julius2314 · 03-26-13, 02:16 PM

Thank you. I will do as suggested

NCHornet · 03-27-13, 10:21 AM

Temps and humidity are the key to being successful in this hobby. I keep my boas in a finished basement room that also houses our hot tub. Even with a commercial dehumidifier in the room I can keep the humidity between 60% to 70% and temps in the enclosures 90 on hot side and 78 to 82 on the cool. These temps are measured with a heat gun aimed at the floor of the enclosure. This is a huge mistake that many people make. They buy gauges and mount them on the wall of the cage, but this isn't where the snake lives. You must measure temps where they live, which in on the floor of the cage for most boas. You can then watch how your snakes place themselves in the cage and adjust temps as you feel is needed. My boas will always go to the hot side right after eating as this helps digestion. Then after a few days they will hang out more in the middle or even over on the cool side. If your snake never occupies a certain area of the enclosure you have to ask yourself why.