Howdy 8)

2spookyshota · 05-23-13, 10:47 AM

Hi there! This is my first time on a snake/reptile forum but i'm sure i'll meet lots of friends!
As for my owning reptiles, i am soon going to own a normal male baby ball python

I'm super excited and i'm not sure if this is the right place to post questions but i have one question on heating pads.

I've read that you need a 'light dimmer' for heating pads(as well as a heat lamp which i'm probably not going to get unless needed).

But the question is, would i need a light dimmer if i had about an inch of aspen bedding in my 10 gallon glass tank? I don't want my snake getting burned 8(
Where can i get one of these light dimmers if i do need one??

infernalis · 05-23-13, 02:17 PM

sSnakeSs.com - Rules

Concept9 · 05-23-13, 02:26 PM

Good afternoon and welcome.

Personally I would use a pulse proportional thermostat such as a Herpstat.

If you decide to go with a dimmer, make sure you have a thermometer on it and/or check it with a temp gun often.

CK SandBoas · 05-23-13, 02:53 PM

Hi there, welcome to the forum!

Lankyrob · 05-23-13, 04:29 PM

Welcome to the forum, i would never recommend using a dimmer, get yourself a decent thermostat instead and breathe easier

Trent · 05-24-13, 08:23 AM

hi and welcome!

Donnie · 05-24-13, 11:03 AM

Hello and welcome

possum · 05-24-13, 04:08 PM

Welcome 2Spookyshota...Using a glass tank with 'insulation' in it (the aspen traps the heat in) the glass will get hot enough to burn your snake, should he burrow & lay on it. You might think a snake would avoid that but many have been injured (getting burned) from hot rocks & other UTH heat. They don't seem to realize until too late. And most UTH gets WAY too hot for snakes, like 110+*. Another reason you want to dim the UTH is that some ppl have cracked their tanks accidentally when their snake spills a bowl of cold water onto the very HOT glass!

Also, while you might be able to "get by" with a dimmer control (aka "rheostat" from hardware store/lamp department), a thermostat is preferable because many UTH heaters resist dimming. They either go on, or off....too little power & they fail to come on. Or they may work fine for a while, but with a minor power fluctuation, your heat pad will go off!

One less expensive thermostat that many are happy with is the Hydrofarm digital heat mat thermostat (-developed for horticultural use with warming pads for plant roots) -easily available on Amazon. FYI-I've used Flexwatt for decades, and it too was first intended for use by plant nurseries. (until word got out & we pesky herpetoculturists "took it over" LOL!) Hydrofarm is based in Petaluma, California...look up Hydrofarm - Hydroponics Wholesale, Grow Lights, Indoor Gardening and Horticultural Products and no, I don't have stock in the company!

2spookyshota · 05-24-13, 04:56 PM

Thank you all for the info and warm welcomes!!
I'll definitely be looking into getting a good thermostat for my tanks heating pad

2spookyshota · 05-24-13, 05:00 PM

thanks for the welcome

possum · 05-24-13, 08:26 PM

Since you sound as though you want to learn the right ways, I should tell you that though you can 'get by' with a 10 gal tank for a little while, you'd be better off spending more on the right cage for a BP to start with. They need warmth and humidity...you will lose most of both in a glass tank, unless you insulate the glass from the outside (say with cardboard or foamboard covering 3 sides & part of the 4th) and cover most of the screen top with something that won't allow moisture to escape. (ppl use plexi or foil etc). And btw, I mostly use & greatly prefer glass tanks for many reasons, but I keep mostly colubrids & desert boids and I have over 26 years experience keeping many snakes & many kinds. Also, a 10 gal tank is too small to allow even a small BP to thermoregulate very well...they need both a warm side and a cooler side to escape the warmth as needed...there just isn't room for that in a 10 gallon. For your best success with this snake you should look into investing more money on the right caging, even if that means waiting a while for the snake...the snake will fare better in the long run and you will enjoy better success.

smy_749 · 05-24-13, 08:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by possum

Since you sound as though you want to learn the right ways, I should tell you that though you can 'get by' with a 10 gal tank for a little while, you'd be better off spending more on the right cage for a BP to start with. They need warmth and humidity...you will lose most of both in a glass tank, unless you insulate the glass from the outside (say with cardboard or foamboard covering 3 sides & part of the 4th) and cover most of the screen top with something that won't allow moisture to escape. (ppl use plexi or foil etc). And btw, I mostly use & greatly prefer glass tanks for many reasons, but I keep mostly colubrids & desert boids. Also, a 10 gal tank is too small to allow even a small BP to thermoregulate very well...they need both a warm side and a cooler side to escape the warmth as needed...there just isn't room for that in a 10 gallon. For your best success with this snake you should look into investing more money on the right caging, even if that means waiting a while...the snake will fare better in the long run and you will enjoy better success.

glass tanks are not the best for that...the humidity all leaves via the screen top, and while glass can be insulated, it (& I love & use mostly glass tanks, as I have mostly colubrids and 26+ years experience!)

What is your proof that glass is not a good insulator? 10 Gallons is about the same size that many people use in their tub systems and move them up to bigger tubs when they outgrow it, so whats the difference (not saying whether I agree or disagree, but most keepers keep them in small tight enclosures and have great success)

possum · 05-24-13, 08:34 PM

P.S.- if you do get a plastic cage you might also check into a radient heat panel ('RHP') that installs in the cage-ceiling instead of UTH, but either will work, & UTH is definitely more budget-friendly.

possum · 05-24-13, 09:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smy_749

What is your proof that glass is not a good insulator? 10 Gallons is about the same size that many people use in their tub systems and move them up to bigger tubs when they outgrow it, so whats the difference (not saying whether I agree or disagree, but most keepers keep them in small tight enclosures and have great success)

http://www.ssnakess.com/forums/pytho...ere-first.html

smy_749 · 05-24-13, 09:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by possum

http://www.ssnakess.com/forums/pytho...ere-first.html

That doesn't show any proof that glass is not a good insulator. Having an open top, Which glass enclosures typically do, is bad for retaining heat. But thats irrelevant because so is plastic and wood and everything else with an open top. Glass actually has pretty good insulating properties, I believe even better than plastic if I'm not mistaken. As for the security issue, that is a simple fix with some tape and construction paper.