New Owner Introduction

[Jammonlee]

Hi all, well not technically a new owner yet as I haven't received my girl, but the purchase was made and awaiting confirmation for shipment.

My name is Ryan, I'm glad to have found this site as I have already used the BP care sheet to get myself familiar with enclosure setup.
I do own one very giant dog and in the past have owned a veiled chameleon. Not that chameleons are the same, but I am familiar with the importance of temperature and humidity ranges.

I purchased a baby pastel (appears to be black and yellow) female today from LLLReptile. I did business with them with my veiled chameleon and was very pleased.
With 4 days estimate until arrival because of the weekend (expecting shipment on monday and arrival on tuesday), I've got the basic setup for a home complete and am currently experimenting with the temperature and humidity levels.
I've got a 20 gallon terrarium, a basking light raised off the enclosure to keep the highest point in the cage at a steady 89-90 degrees and provide some light because her home is in a walk-in closet. 2 hiding enclosures, one on the left (cool) side and one of the right (warm) side. The warm side has an UTH to raise belly temperature. I have a thick layer of aspen substrate spread out (1.5-2"). Two fake leaf vines attached to the back of the enclosure as well as a long vine twisting from the left to the right side of the cage going from top to bottom and one water bowl placed on the cool side. I have an analog thermometer attached to the cool side which i will remove when i purchase another digital. I also have a digital thermometer/hygrometer, the temp probe is on the bottom of the terrarium located directly above the UHT covered with substrate. The humidity probe is like in the middle of the tank halfway from the bottom. I dont currently have a thermostat, I will pick an inexpensive one up from the store tomorrow along with another thermostat/hygrometer.

My current daytime reading are (digital readings):
49-52% humidity at the middle of the terrarium.
89-90 degrees at the highest point in the warm zone (basking) about 12" from the light source.
82 degrees under the warm hiding spot above the UHT (probe on glass bottom under substrate)
For some reason my temp reading under the cool side hideout is 87 degrees? (probed above substrate)

Are these pretty reasonable readings, besides the cool side? I'm not sure what the problem with that is?

I'll be getting nighttime readings throughout the night and will reply to this topic with my findings on that.

Its great to be a part of the community!

[BCS]

The cool side may be reading wrong because you are using an analog thermometer. It could explain a lot. The temperatures seem fine. Try to get the hot spot a little higher to about 88F. Humidity is a little low. It should be about 60% and raised to 70% when in shed. many people say a male can live in a 20 gal for his entire life but a friend of mine has a 1500g male. Not all of them are small, so be prepared to have the possibility of an update in size.

[Jammonlee]

Thanks for the tips. I purchased the 20 gal with the expectation of upgrading to a 40 when the money is available. as far the temperature? I should raise the belly temp to 88F? how do you propose doing that with raising the ambient temp up?

i took the digital probe and moved it to the cool side and got those awkwardly high readings. Im going to sit the probe there overnight and see if there is a difference, current readings were with the probe at position for an hour.

As far as humidity, i'll check placement of the water bowl and see if it can increase some. if not, i'll add some moss and go from there

thanks again

[Albert Clark]

The numbers sound reasonably good , but I didn't get where the probe is for the thermostat. Did you dial in the temperature on the thermostat? The thermometer probe that is on the glass above the uth is ok but it might get you inaccurate readings if the probe gets wet or soiled by urine or feces or water. The thermostat probe should go on the outside of the tank in between the bottom of the tank and the uth. Don't tape over the sensor, only over the sensor wire.

[Jammonlee]

The numbers sound reasonably good , but I didn't get where the probe is for the thermostat. Did you dial in the temperature on the thermostat? The thermometer probe that is on the glass above the uth is ok but it might get you inaccurate readings if the probe gets wet or soiled by urine or feces or water. The thermostat probe should go on the outside of the tank in between the bottom of the tank and the uth. Don't tape over the sensor, only over the sensor wire.

The probe for the thermometer is on the inside of the tank, directly above the UTH lying on the glass. I'm not sure if all of the probes are as thick, but the one on mine has the thickness of a large nail, if that plays any part in not placing it between the UTH and glass.

[Albert Clark]

That probe is for the thermometer but I am referring to the probe for your thermostat. Thermometer measures temperature , thermostat regulates the temperature. Two different things.

[BCS]

That probe is for the thermometer but I am referring to the probe for your thermostat. Thermometer measures temperature , thermostat regulates the temperature. Two different things.

OP said he has yet to get a thermostat.

[Jammonlee]

OP said he has yet to get a thermostat.

I'm pointing towards the herpistat Intro+ to regulate the UTH, but I may need to add a fogger because I'm having trouble with humidity. Are there any other wallet friendly thermostats that can control two units, an UTH and a fogger besides the Herpistat 2? I just added some moss to the cage and put the water bowl a little closer to the heat in hopes of creating some evaporation. I'll monitor a little more to see what the humidity looks like, i may not need to control humidity with a thermostat.

I've also determined that i had a faulty Thermometer/Hygrometer. I knew it was giving me funky readings. I purchased a new one along with an infrared thermometer and the readings are more accurate now.

Question before I make a thermostat purchase. If I have the probe for the thermostat on the outside of the glass between the UTH, what do i want to set that at? The temperature now on the glass is 120F and my infrared reader is showing 88F on top of the substrate.

[frostysBP]

YOU DONT WANT THE TEMP ANYWERE. CLOSE TO 120. THAT WILL BURN YOUR SNAKE IF IT BURROWS DOWN. SET THE TSTAT WHEN YOU GET IT TO 90 ISH AND MEASURE UR TEMP FROM GLASS. AND GET IT TO 90. u may have to set the tstat to 92 94 to get the 90 Mark.

Sent from my LGL15G using Tapatalk

[Albert Clark]

OP said he has yet to get a thermostat.

Thanks for that. I must have missed that info on the thermostat BCS.