Some assistance...

[Faerie]

I have a close friend that I've known for about 15 years has accidentally aquired too many snakes for him to handle...as in he was handed a bunch of colubrids and told if he didn't take them, they would get flushed and he bought a tank at a convention and came home to realize there was a normal baby ball in it.

His poor girlfriend is a wee bit overwhelmed at the moment, as she's pretty frightened by snakes. I am going over Friday to meet these poor little guys and probably take home baby ball and MAYBE a baby Cali King. I realize that these could go in the plastic totes but A) I don't have any right now and B) I don't have suitable heat sources for 2 seperate totes.
What I DO have is a 20 gal tank and 1 UTH as I was considering taking in a ball at my next herp society meeting.

What I would like to know is this: is there any way to divide this 20g Long tank in two for the time being? I'm thinking divide in two, put UTH in the middle as a TEMPORARY solution. This would only need to be until maybe tax time or so when I could order a rack of some sort.

I'm honestly not 100% that I'm taking either snake, but I'd rather be prepared for 2 than none.

Any more ideas, please let me know

[PorcelainxDoll]

I wouldnt think housing 2 seperate species in the same tank would ever be a good idea. Even if its divided. Balls and king snakes have different husbandry requirements.

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[eskye]

I've used one UTH for two tubs before. Unless you can get a pretty solid material to split the 20 long in two that covers it completely and doesn't budge, probably just put two totes back to back with the uth on the side, or, if not that, under both of them. I'd only consider this if it was a sealed plexiglass divider and you were able to meet the right heat for each species on both sides.

If it's super temporary, say a few days to a week max, you could go without heat if you don't feed them. As long as they're kept warm enough, they should be fine. I've had to move so many times and I've had animals off heat between 4-7 days while setting everything up. Just don't feed them and you won't absolutely need the heat spot until you can get it.

Otherwise, just use two totes for now and split the uth between them or use handwarmers under the totes for a few days if you have them.

You could also consider using a dark tote and putting a light spotlighted at the side to warm it, or borrow a heated blanket/pad from any woman you know. Most women would have heating pads for that time of the month

I always try to keep extra heating pads on hand even with a rack system just in case. Things happen. I wouldn't worry too much, the important thing is making sure they have a tank in the first place! Sounds like he doesn't have enough tanks, so even in just a warm room they'd be better off.

A huge bag of hothands from costco is usually like 10 bucks. That should cover switching them out consistently for a week or so. Heat cable is cheap too.

[Faerie]

Thanks guys, I was pretty sure there wasn't a way to do that. I'd almost split my current ball's tank for temp instead, but she JUST got to where she's happy and doing well. I am NOT messing with the established ball to rescue others.

I have extra totes lying around, and being the kiddo's are so small may do as yall suggest and use two small totes (shoebox size?) and split the heat.

Here is the next question, my UTH is currently attached to tin foil and duct taped to the bottom of the extra 20g tank. I was thinking to take this off and use that to split heat, but I am really worried that with the size of the bins they'll be in, that's too much heat. I do have a human heating pad but I am really super worried about the fire hazard of this idea, and lasting a couple months on hot hands will be expensive in the long run. Any more ideas are welcome.

Again, this could all be for naught, but I want to be prepared in case I walk in and fall in love.

[Faerie]

Also, my room gets disgusting hot, but for keeping the rest of the house to temp, I deal. It gets where I sweat at night in there. Granted this wouldn't give baby ball belly heat, but I am considering the two totes in there, on a shelf nearish the vent (obviously not dangerously close). Would this work, esp if I added belly heat at food time?

[eskye]

Shoeboxes will work, and the boxes can just be moved farther apart if you want less of the heat pad on them. 1/3 of the box can have heat pad, so I doubt it's too much. I wouldn't trust putting them over a heat vent. They don't consistently produce the same temp air- if it's by thermostat the heat is based on ambient temps. Just use shoeboxes and a heat pad for now.

[Faerie]

Great! Thank you very much for your help, I really appreciate it.

[Andrew21]

kings and balls have different heating requirements. idk how you are going to heat both of them with just one uth comfortably. How hot is your room? if it's like 82 -86 the king can go without a uth. If it's hotter than that then I don't know how you survive in there. Lol

[Faerie]

A Cali King came home, he'll be in my hot ass room for now. The ball stayed for now, as he wants to establish eating better.