First post ever...Aspen bedding solutions/heating pad?

[Makoma]

I am currently using a 20 long for my pair of Yellow Belly Pastels ( NERD line '09 juvs ) and my problem is they love to unearth their bedding and sit directly on the tank bottom which is too hot! I am getting pink tummies and some type of little warps on their belly scales which really bothers me. I take pride in the care I give my babies.

Ok so what I am wondering is if any of you on here have/had this issue? What steps have you taken to prevent it? Any info is greatly appreciated!

PS - My name is Mark and it is a pleasure to meet you all since I have been lurking on here for months and finally made an account!

[2kdime]

Are they being housed in the same tank? Thats a NO NO

To prevent burns, make sure NOWHERE in the enclosure, above the substrate or beneath it ever gets above 95.

[Makoma]

Even though they are babies it's an issue?

and yea temp is 86

[steveboos]

Welcome to the site Mark, I hope you enjoy it!

First off i would suggest removing the 2 and separating them into different tanks. Although it may seem like they are fine together, eventually competition will become a problem and one will go off feed, or they both will. Once you do that, the aspen bedding is fine, but you can just switch to reptibark which is a good bit harder to dig into.

[Makoma]

Well I have had them for about 4 months now with no issues aside from the pink bellies...both are on pups and slamming them w/o issue. I will go ahead and purchase another tank soon or get 2 10 gallons for a time since 20 long would be too big for one even though I gave them obstacles.

Btw they are Bullet and Domino Bullet has whats looks like the bottom of a bullet casing on his back and Domino has two dots on her neck and her pattern is rectangular at her neck and it makes it looks like a Domino.

[steveboos]

Well I have had them for about 4 months now with no issues aside from the pink bellies...both are on pups and slamming them w/o issue. I will go ahead and purchase another tank soon or get 2 10 gallons for a time since 20 long would be too big for one even though I gave them obstacles.

Btw they are Bullet and Domino Bull has whats looks like the bottom of a bullet casing on his back and Domino has two dots on her neck and her pattern is rectangular at her neck and it makes it looks like a Domino.

Very cool, pictures in the future are a must!

Yes usually they do fine now, but over time it will just become a huge problem and you want to be able to offer each snake 1 hide on cold side 1 hide on hot side, and you can't really do that with 2 snakes in the same tank. A 10 gallon would be perfect for a baby until they are about 500-800 grams.

[Makoma]

Well guys please don't flame me but I have 2 full grown adult regular balls, they are 5 and 5 1/2 years old and have been together since the 2nd was purchased in a 50 gallon now and to this date they have never had a feeding issue or any other issues actually...not even the burrowing into the aspen. I do have a totally separate tank for feeding them below their current tank however.