UTH and heating troubles

[Jessimica]

Hey everyone,

I won't be getting my BP until next week, but until then I am working on getting temps perfect.
I have a 40 gallon terrarium, and I have a UTH which I have temp set to 92 farenheit. But the substrate is only reading at 78 farenheit.
I've got a 1/4 inch, MAYBE a 1/2 inch of substrate in there. It is repti-bark which I MUST use because I am from a very, very dry part of the world and I need every ounce of humidity that I can muster.

So in summary:

UTH set at 92, but my tank's heat range is currently 78 (hot side) and 68 (cold side)
How far up can I turn the UTH before it is dangerous? Please offer suggestions. thank you.
also how important are ambient temps? I've been told they're not really a big deal? My room is about 70 degrees.

thanks for the help

edit: I've been told that lower nighttime temperatures are okay for BPs. all of these temps were taken at night.

[Spencer88]

you could go up to 95* I wouldn't go past that though. 70* is a little low. I would try to get it around 75*

[KMG]

A ambient temp of 70 is to low. Your ambient needs to be 77-82.

The hotspot substrate needs to be 1/4 inch or less. The temp should be fine then.

Repti-Bark is not great for humidity. Cypress mulch is a much better choice. Also be aware that Repti-Bark will stain things red when kept damp.

[Jessimica]

A ambient temp of 70 is to low. Your ambient needs to be 77-82.

The hotspot substrate needs to be 1/4 inch or less.

Repti-Bark is not great for humidity. Cypress mulch is a much better choice.

Unfortunately no store near me carries cypress. Funnily enough, none of them had even heard of it. Oh Canada...

How would you suggest raising ambient temps? I've been trying to avoid a heat lamp. My ambient temps notably warmer during the day, but it's night now.

edit: the tank has nothing in it aside from substrate right now, I'm going to fill it with plants and hides, I'm hoping that will help me trap some heat

[KMG]

Unfortunately no store near me carries cypress. Funnily enough, none of them had even heard of it. Oh Canada...

How would you suggest raising ambient temps? I've been trying to avoid a heat lamp. My ambient temps notably warmer during the day, but it's night now.

edit: the tank has nothing in it aside from substrate right now, I'm going to fill it with plants and hides, I'm hoping that will help me trap some heat

Your probably gonna need a lamp or che. My home stays at 68 and I have a 40 gallon tank in my living room. I have a uth, 100w che hot side, 60w cool side. I made a cardboard cutout and covered it with foil to trap heat and humidity, cutting a window for each heat source. With the addition of moss in my hides and misting once to twice a day my snake sheds great. I'm not totally sure that the misting is needed. I have an automatic mister because I have live plants so its actually for them to keep them watered.

During a shed I keep the moss damp and during regular times I make it damp and then allow it to dry out before making it damp again.

[Jessimica]

Your probably gonna need a lamp or che. My home stays at 68 and I have a 40 gallon tank in my living room. I have a uth, 100w che hot side, 60w cool side. I made a cardboard cutout and covered it with foil to trap heat and humidity, cutting a window for each heat source. With the addition of moss in my hides and misting once to twice a day my snake sheds great. I'm not totally sure that the misting is needed. I have an automatic mister because I have live plants so its actually for them to keep them watered.

During a shed I keep the moss damp and during regular times I make it damp and then allow it to dry out before making it damp again.

Thank you, this is great info. I may look into a CHE this week. My milk snakes always struggled with their humidity, so I've been avoiding lamps. But I think in a place so cold I might just have to put up with spraying twice a day!

again, thanks very much and I will be sure to keep you updated on my progress!

PS: do you keep your CHE's on all night? to me it is very tempting to put a 100w CHE in the middle of the tank. it is not a very tall tank, only 13"

[KMG]

Both heat sources stay on 24/7. My che has been running non stop for over two and half years. I like it cold so the two tanks in my living room have lamps and che. The rest of my collection is in its own room which is heated by a oil heater.

[Jessimica]

Both heat sources stay on 24/7. My che has been running non stop for over two and half years. I like it cold so the two tanks in my living room have lamps and che. The rest of my collection is in its own room which is heated by a oil heater.

thanks to your great advice, I installed a CHE and to my delight the terrarium temps shot up dramatically. I toned it down with a dimmer, so it's appropriate temps now.

thanks again!

[KMG]

Glad to hear that!

[Tiffanie]

Repti-Bark is not great for humidity. Cypress mulch is a much better choice. Also be aware that Repti-Bark will stain things red when kept damp.

Currently using Aspen Bedding for our little Boston and having a hard time keeping the humidity up. We have a large tank (38X16X18) which I know is prob half the problem. He hasn't has a shed yet since we have had him which has been about 3 weeks. I was thinking of switching the bedding when we take down and clean the tank next week or so. Trying to figure out which would be the best kind to use. I have read threads that Cypress mulch although not as near toxic as pine or cedar, cypress does contain tannins that over long periods can have negative effects on snakes including loss of appetite. Another thread said that it can be very sharp and injure the snake and has caused indigestion problems. Trying to do my research but still so undecided and now even more confused as to which one to switch him over to