Question About Tanks Vs. Rack System Setup

[Steve143]

So I just have a quick question about the rack/tub setup....in all of the threads Ive seen so far, everyone is saying that it is very important to have a warm side and a cool side so that the snake can thermoregulate, which makes sense. But how do professional breeders provide a warm side and a cool side without all the lights?

[Purrrfect9]

they use heat tape instead of lights. They work like under tank heaters do.

[lord jackel]

they use heat tape instead of lights. They work like under tank heaters do.

Most large breeders (and even some smaller ones) also heat the entire snake room. I do this too my room is kept at about 80-82 degrees (naturally in the summer) then I use heat tape on all the tubs to provide a hot spot gradient.

[tmlowe5704]

Same here. My herp room is kept at a constant 82* with my heat tape on a thermostat at 92*.

[Freakie_frog]

Same her my room temp is in the 80's and my hot side is in the low 90's

[tweets_4611]

So if you don't have a room just for herps, how do you get the cool side where it should be? A smaller amount of heat tape?

[Shaun J]

That would work. You would probably use another thermostat though, because you want to get that side at 82-84 and the warm side at 92-94. So basically you would have two thermostats. I do think there is a thermostat that can control two different heat sources at different temperatures. I'm not sure about that though.

- Hope this helps

[lord jackel]

So if you don't have a room just for herps, how do you get the cool side where it should be? A smaller amount of heat tape?

It will all depend on what your room temps are (bedroom or whatever). If high enough the one piece of heat tape might be enough to give you a temp gradient provided the air flow isn't excessive. If room temps are too low or you are running a fan with lots of airflow (which will suck the heat from the tanks) you can use another piece of heat tape and another thermostat to control the cool end.

You have to kind of play with it based on your setup and room conditions. If you give us some details we can help plan something out for you.

[Stewart_Reptiles]

Belly heat provides the temps of 90-94 on the warm side and then the temps on the cool side which should be 80-84 depends on the ambient temps of the room where you keep your BP.

The room where I keep my snakes is kept at 82 degrees year long.

[tweets_4611]

Well the room that I'm in stays below 80 I'm guessing. I'm not entierly sure, but I'm usually kinda chilly (I don't have any control over the temps in there). I'm not using a tub yet, but when I get more snakes I'm going to get a rack instead of the tank that I have my girl in now. There isn't too much airflow as long as your not right in the path of the vent, which a rack wouldn't be, so that should be pretty stable. I don't have any control over the room temps at all, so they will change some.