Heat Questions in Colorado

[Gomojoe]

I am going to be buying my son a ball python for X-mas. I am currently getting the terrarium together so that I can ensure that it is working correctly before getting the snake. I keep hearing mixed advice on what I should do regarding heating. Guys at work told me to just throw in a heat rock and your good to go (I won't be going with this advice). Anyway the advice that I'm leaning towards right now is to put an UTH under a 3rd of the tank and hook it to a thermostat with the probe inside of the warm side hide. One issue I have is choosing the thermostat. I have reef aquariums with live coral and have learned the lesson of using cheap parts and then paying the price later. So I want to get the right thermostat now. Then the other issue I have is that I live in Colorado where it can get pretty cold in the winter. In my house I typically run my thermostat at 64° during the day on weekdays and every night, then run it at 67° the rest of the time. So given the ambient temp in my house I am concerned that the 16W UTH will not be sufficient. What advice do you guys have?

Here is what I have so far:

[blushingball419]

As far as good, reliable thermostats go, I've heard that Herpstat and Helix are the best, with Ranco and Johnson not too far behind. You should definitely go for a proportional thermostat over an on/off if you're looking for the best. I would suggest getting a good digital thermometer/hygrometer and/or a temp gun too while you're at it, those dial ones you have usually aren't as accurate.

Glad to hear you won't be using a heat rock An UTH is the best to start with, and with the set-up you have it looks like a heat lamp might be the only way to effectively raise the ambient temp... unless you can get a small oil-filled heater to place near the enclosure? Heat bulbs will ruin humidity and you'll have to mist more often and cover the screen top with plexiglass, but it seems like the best option with such cool temps.

Other than that, once you get some fake plants/branches to put in there, your set-up looks good to go

[kitedemon]

Running a set up with cool rooms can be challenging. Herpstats VE300+ Helix or ecozones are all great thermostats basically the same differing menu systems ect. but great solid tools. johnsons and rancos are on off type that will work but often struggle in cool conditions so I'd go proportional all the way they offer the most flexibility.

Cool rooms may need a second UTH for the cool side. If you have done you research (I feel like you have or are currently) you know that the cool side temps should be 80 hot side 90 and ambient air temps in the 78-85 range. To achieve this it is likely you will need to add insulation to the tank and also likely a second UTH (herpstat makes a unit that has 2 probes and will control dual sources) It can be a hard balance to manage. Very do-able, just a balancing act.

[Batman003]

I too am from CO. I put a foam type shelf liner on 3 of the 4 sides of the cage, and then put 3-5 layers of tin foil over the top (I'm useing a 55gal tank). I dont have a problem with the heat or humidity.

[Gomojoe]

Do the proportional type thermostats work with any UTH?


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[snake lab]

If your doing a terrarium in cool rooms then you want a proportional thermostat like a spyder or a helix. I use johnsons on some racks and helix on others. No difference at all in performance out of my racks but proportional is the way to go with tanks. Uth is the way to go. You dont want heat rocks at all. They dont do a thing for temps in the tank.

[kitedemon]

Yes proportional units will work with UTHs most heaters in fact they don't work with lights however the lights will strobe and flicker like crazy.

[blushingball419]

Cool rooms may need a second UTH for the cool side.

Or that. I obviously forgot to put my brain in before I logged on yesterday But yes, if you end up getting a high end proportional that has 2 probes, then having a second heat mat set to maintain the cool side temp would be ideal. And yes, they will work with any UTH, however, every brand is a little different as far as how fast they heat up and heat output, so I would recommend getting two identical ones.

[Gomojoe]

So should these mats be the manufacturer suggested size that only covers a third of the tank? Plus I'm thinking of getting the hepestat II is there a better place to by from or go straight through spyder?


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[kitedemon]

Dion at spyder is wonderful to deal with I have never seen much price variation so I'd deal with him directly.

If you do choose to run a dual system you would run a hot spot of 1/3 and a cool end of 1/2 to 2/3 . Basically most of the tank. Going with the HS II is a good (great) choice. It is perfect for your needs and would serve other needs in the future.

If it were me I'd look at a uth as it is easy and simple for the hot spot but I might go with heat cable for the cool end heater. The cable can be re jigged if needed and can be altered if needed too (like run along the back if the ambient air temps becomes an issue) It allows flexibility in set up and spacing if that is needed. I usually will suggest things that expand options rather than limit them.