Just a quick temperature question.

[Roadside Jerker]

I'm getting my first ball python on Tuesday and I am just getting temperature, humidity and other things correct beforehand. My question is about my hot side. I have a Zoo Med UTH and a hydrofarm thermostat. The thermostat probe is positioned where the UTH is set and the heat mat is over it stuck on the bottom. Inside the tank I have an Exo-Terra digital thermometer/hygrometer with a probe. The probe is positioned directly above the thermostat probe under the hide. I have the thermostat set to 93F and it works fine. My question is about the thermometer. It reads around 85-86F while the thermostat reads 93F constantly. I have roughly 1 inch of aspen and it feels warm but it may be good. I just want some reassurance that my temperatures are good. My cool side fluctuates from 76-82F and the humidity goes from 40-55% depending on time of day.

I also have one other question. I was going to get some sphagnum moss to put in the corner of the tank for humidity but none of the pet stores around here carry it. The gardening centers have moss called Sphagnum Peat Moss. Would that moss be fine to use in my snakes tank?

Thanks!

[The Serpent Merchant]

Your substrate layer is too thick, thin it out to ½" thick or less for the UTH to work properly. Otherwise everything sounds good.

The peat moss should be fine as long as it doesn't include any fertilizers/pesticides/fungicides.

[Roadside Jerker]

Your substrate layer is too thick, thin it out to ½" thick or less for the UTH to work properly. Otherwise everything sounds good.

The peat moss should be fine as long as it doesn't include any fertilizers/pesticides/fungicides.

I took a bit of substrate out and the temperature has gone up and is now hovering around 91F so I think it's fixed. Thanks!

My humidity is at 41% currently and not really going up. Is that too low? Because I know it should be around 50-60%. Also is there any way to know if there's anything in the moss?

[The Serpent Merchant]

40% is what I consider the minimum cage humidity, but if you can get it a little higher that would be better.

The packaging might say, but if you want to be sure you can always order it online from reptile basics or LLLReptile:

http://www.reptilebasics.com/substrate

http://www.lllreptile.com/store/cata...er-substrates/

[Roadside Jerker]

40% is what I consider the minimum cage humidity, but if you can get it a little higher that would be better.

The packaging might say, but if you want to be sure you can always order it online from reptile basics or LLLReptile:

http://www.reptilebasics.com/substrate

http://www.lllreptile.com/store/cata...er-substrates/

I have the top screen covered in aluminum foil and taped for minimum air and a damp towel on top. I am spraying hot water a couple times a day but I'll spray every 2 hours or so and fluff the aspen so it doesn't become moldy. I'll check around here and see if I can get the sphagnum moss with nothing in it but if not I'll just try and have some by the time he sheds the first time. Thanks!

[kylearmbar]

I keep one or my girls in a glass enclosure. I've had better luck with fling wrap around the top keeping in humidity, I have it coveted about 75% and my humidity usually stays at 50-60% misting every couple of days. I also have a rather larger water dish that takes up about a quarter of the space though. Also another tip for humidity is putting your water bowl partially over the hot spot.