help with temps in new enclosure

[jjziemann]

I need some help before I purchase my BP. Recently my husband said he was cool with me getting a BP, he prefers our reptiles have legs, he's not a snake guy- lol. (in my head: hurry run, get everything you need before he changes his mind!!!!) this has been one of the more difficult enclosures to hone in (and I have a custom chameleon enclosure with drainage and auto-mister -lol).

I want to make sure temps and humidity are spot on before I bring a BP home. I have had my tank up for a couple weeks. Humidity is steady at 60-70%, but I am struggling with temps.


Here's what I got:

I have a 36" long exo terra with foam back wall insert. Under tank heater (flukers) that covers slightly more than 1/3 of the tank, and is on a thermostat. I will attach pictures so that you can see the inside decor/hides and such. The substrate is 1/2 paper towel, this is on the warm side above the UTH to help the BP get his belly heat. The other half is moist but not overly, ReptChip (not the zoo med junk). On top I have tried several combinations to keep in the heat. Aluminum foil did practically nothing, leftover plexiglass from another build did ok, not great, and I'm currently trying out board insulation. I check my temps 2 ways, I have a Fluke heat gun, and I also have 2 thermometers inside the tank.


Here's my issue: we keep our house around 65 during the cold months and 70 during the summer. I can get the "cool" side up to 78-85, but when I do the "hot" side soars past 95 sometimes closer to 105. When I get the "hot" side dialed in the cool side barely hits 75. I'm losing my mind here. I have tried dome lights(both red and blue nighttime bulbs), currently running an exo terra hood. I cannot be the only person to use a glass exo-terra, what on earth.

I'm not the kind of person to buy a pet and figure it out later and I was hoping to pick up my BP at a local reptile show on Saturday. Does anyone know of a better combination (fixtures/bulbs/heater I've never heard of) that can help me to dial in the temps better? I hate heat bulbs especially the red ones, I hate the way they look and they blow so easily. I have looked at radiant heat panels but with that high pricetag I dont want to buy it and still have the same issue. Has anyone had this same problem and feel up to sharing their solution and possibly some pics?

http://s86.photobucket.com/user/jjziemann/library/

[tttaylorrr]

welcome to the forum! good on you for getting your setup dialed in before bringing your new bby home.

have you tried a CHE (ceramic heat emitter)? i don't like bulbs either but the CHE is a great compromise to needing to up my temps.

you could try placing styrofoam around 3/4 of the sides to insulate; i've seen that done.

also, i see the enclosure on the floor; heat rises. have you tried placing it higher on a shelf/dresser?

[jjziemann]

I will try using the board insulation on the sides, good idea.

It is on the floor, and only because I'm running out of room for tanks and this one is wider than my dresser- lol. We have a stand in the planning.

What brand CHE do you use? I gave up on them, I tried a flukers brand, a store brand, and one called fuxion (I think), none of them lasted more than a couple days. I swear if it screws into a socket- it comes to my house to die. I haven't tried those with this tank however those were all tried on some of my geckos.

[tttaylorrr]

I will try using the board insulation on the sides, good idea.

It is on the floor, and only because I'm running out of room for tanks and this one is wider than my dresser- lol. We have a stand in the planning.

What brand CHE do you use? I gave up on them, I tried a flukers brand, a store brand, and one called fuxion (I think), none of them lasted more than a couple days. I swear if it screws into a socket- it comes to my house to die. I haven't tried those with this tank however those were all tried on some of my geckos.

i just got the "bulb" on amazon (i believe it's 100W but my enclosure is 20gal) and ordered a fluker's dome with ceramic socket. it's been working fine for over a month so far but i don't see that as a permanent solution.

i'd reconsider the RHP. yes they're expensive but they WILL work. Pro Products is the brand you'd need for your setup. you have to call them but they'll ask you about your set up and tell you what you need (i've read this from others, i don't have one myself).

[Dawn1131]

I had the same problem. I put my dual heatlamp in the middle, with cardboard covered foil over both ends. My hot side stays 90 and my cool side stays 80.