Hi everyone! I'm brand new to the forum and also to owning snakes. I've done my homework and my ball has been vet-checked and everything's dandy. Except I need to boost the heat in my terrarium. It's liveable but should be warmer.
My setup pertaining to heating:
Exo-Terra's 18"x18"x24" glass terrarium, with the medium Desert heat pad underneath in one corner. I also have the small compact top with two Sun Glo bulbs in it at the max. wattage the top takes.
I have 2 temperature/humidity monitors: one of these mounted on the glass on the "cool" side (hygrometer, too), and a digital therm/hygro I've got just above the floor over the outer edge of the heating pad on the inside. So, middle of the terrarium in the back. Interestingly, they both tend to read about the same.
The heating pad is plugged in 24/7 and I never bothered with a thermostat so it should be at its maximum output, whatever that may be. I also have the heat up in my room all the time with the door closed. On warm days (15-20 Celcius outside) it's easy to keep the heat up around 85-87 Fahrenheit, where the vet said it ought to be, and I don't need to turn the compact top on. It often drops to around 80 or so at night (unless it's still really warm) and on cooler days, which have been the norm lately (and generally are, though more warm days are expected soon!)
The vet recommended the temperature increase to around 87 F because he suspects it may play a part in why he hasn't been eating since I brought him home a month ago. Warmer temperature would equal higher metabolic activity so my guy might actually be hungry. (There's other food-related stuff but I think I've got it covered.)
What do you suggest I do to help raise the heat and keep it stable? Switch up the bulbs in the compact top? Add another heat lamp? I have a desk lamp that takes up to a 60-watt bulb that could easily be placed to beam into the terrarium. Add another small heat pad? Maybe change the substrate to something better at heat conduction? I'm using plantation soil right now but have some coco husk that I thought I'd use when I change the substrate in a day or two. (I think it may be inappropriate for such a little guy but I'm not sure.)
Thanks in advance!
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