Heating for a 65 gal aquarium

[tideguyinva]

My BP is getting quite large now. He is 4 ft. Prolly almost 2 years old. I am moving him up to a 65 gallon domed front aquarium. The only heat source he has now is a 100 watt ceramic heat emitter in a 20 gallon aquarium. The temp gauges only read 82 hot side and 70-75 cool side. What would be good for heating the 65 gallon tank? Also where can I get what you suggest?

[littleindiangirl]

BP's need floor space. Not height. I would suggest investing in a cage made for snakes rather than an aquarium for fish. You snake would be likely to use the floor space much more than the height.

Bp's are also clumbsy climbers, and will hurt themselves if allowed to go to such heights.

Having a tall tank is also a lot harder to keep proper humidity and heat over a short but deep cage.

Check out reptilebasics.com, there are some very nice cages that will appeal to the eye and also meet all the needs for your snake.

edit: 82 is too cool for bp's. You really want to offer a hot spot of 90-92, and the ambients be in the 80's. Humidity needs to be around 55-60%.

[tideguyinva]

He is in a 20 gallon right now. I just got this cermaic heat emiter bulb but wanna take it back. The heat bulb was giving him the better heat than this ceramic one does with less wattage. I was using a heat bulb, but since I am moving him to a larger floor space and height tank I was needing heat ideas.

[littleindiangirl]

He is in a 20 gallon right now. I just got this cermaic heat emiter bulb but wanna take it back. The heat bulb was giving him the better heat than this ceramic one does with less wattage. I was using a heat bulb, but since I am moving him to a larger floor space and height tank I was needing heat ideas.

How are you measuring the heat and humidity? You have to meet the humidity just as much as the heat.

I can't even offer any advice as heating a 65 gallon fish tank is unpractical.

You BP will be fine in a 20 gallon long for the rest of his life. Why switch things up now?

[littleindiangirl]

Here is a post I think you should read. Although it is long, it is a FANTASTIC set up for a 20 gallon long tank with help on probe placements and thermostat settings, and ways to keep the humidity up to acceptable levels.
http://www.ball-pythons.net/forums/s...ad.php?t=56846

[tideguyinva]

I didnt know that. I guess I will keep him in the 20 gallon. So if I keep him in the 20 gallon can I get a ultratherm heat pad with a thermostat and use only that for the heat? humidity is with daily spraying usually and i have the aspen bedding. his sheds have been full length ones.

thanks for the link to the post.

[littleindiangirl]

It depends. Tanks are notorius for losing heat quickly, making it almost impossible to maintain the correct climate control.

I personally used house insulation board for the back 3 sides of my tank, and the half of the tank underneath to keep the heat in. The top was a special lid of perforated steel. While I still needed to mist everyday, I had zero problems keeping the hot end always around 90 degrees F, and the cool end at the 80's.

I used a coconut fiber substrate, and it was easy for spot cleaning, and visually appealing.

I had a 20 gallon tall tank, so it was much harder to keep the humidity in place, but the daily mistings two times a day did the trick. I also used an infrared heat lamp on the cool side to maintain proper heat gradient. While 75 is an extreme, always best to shoot for 80.

I wish I had a 20 gallon long tank for the extra floor space and to maintain the temps better, but I switched to tubs and havent looked back.

Tanks do take work and some upfront cash, but when they do it really does work. If I knew then what I do now, I would have bought a cage just like this one
Reptile Basics, 2 x 3 x 12 high.


Excellent design, made for snakes and keeping their proper temps.

[ChrisBowsman]

I fought either a 55 or 75 gal tank (not sure which) for a few months, never getting the temps or humidity to what they should be.

[tideguyinva]

I changed my mind and stayed with the 20 gallon as suggested. went with the UTH and the heat lamp things are looking good.