Setting up for my new snake!

[Cory Luttrell]

Hey everyone,

First off I would like to say I'm brand new to the forum so if I'm in the wrong section or anything bear with me. I take criticism well so don't be afraid to tell me if I'm being stupid

Anyway, like in the title, I'm getting an 18 month old California kingsnake soon. I paid the store in advance and asked them to hold it while I made sure the cage was set up properly.

It's a 20 gallon long critter cage. I bedded it with 3-4 inches of aspen for burrowing purposes. I have all the basic hides and a water dish. My main question is termperature. All I have for temp. is a 75w bulb sitting on the screen. The warmest spot in the tank reaches 83F and the coolest is 66F. I know these are cool (like cold) but the room is in a basement and the weathers been chilled recently.

Are these temperature okay for the next month?
Should I get a stronger bulb?
Should I add a heating mat?

I'm not too restricted on money so any suggestions are welcome.
Thanks in advance

[TheWinWizard]

You need an uth with a thermostat set for 85 degrees. The uth by itself will burn the snake as it gets too warm.

[Cory Luttrell]

You need an uth with a thermostat set for 85 degrees. The uth by itself will burn the snake as it gets too warm.

But I thought snakes could moniter themselves. Like leaving an area if it gets too warm or returning when cold.

[Skittles1101]

No, my small UTH was reading over 130* before I got my dimmer. You need either a dimmer ($10.00 at Home Depot) with a temp gun (to read temps accurately) OR you need a thermostat. Can't argue with this..
http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...-me...(graphic)

THAT is a burn from a UTH.

[TheWinWizard]

Indeed, with a dimmer you have to keep checking the temp as it will vary depending on the room temp, a thermostat will adjust accordingly so you don't need to check as often. Here's an inexpensive one that I own that works well. http://www.amazon.com/Hydrofarm-MTPR...1141025&sr=8-2

[Cory Luttrell]

HOLY CRAP!
So glad I decided to consult ya'll before I actually got the snake. I'd feel awful if I caused that to happen to her. So this raises questions...
How does that thing work that you showed me?
Do I plug my mat into that, and then put a sensor near it, and adjust accordingly or what?

[TheWinWizard]

You plug the uth into the thermostat and tape the sensor to the uth. The uth gets attached to the bottom of the tank.