My tank is driving me *expletive* crazy!

[bushonk]

A few weeks ago I purchased my first bp. I was thrilled, she's beautiful, she eats like a champ, she's very docile, blah, blah, blah...

Unfortunately, I went with a glass tank for her housing. This was at the advice of the pet store folks, who I should not have listened to. BAD, BAD, me. I bought larger, thinking I would add foliage, etc. in the middle (in addition to her hides) so that she'd feel secure until she got bigger, and she seems to be doing just fine curled up in one end or the other.

But the temps! ARG! Her cool end is doing fine-ish (fluctuation of 3-5 degrees throughout the day) but I am having a ****ens of a time keeping my hot end where it needs to be. It is my own fault for buying a beautiful and seemingly non functional aquarium *smacks self on forehead*. Her aquarium is placed in the lowest possible traffic area of my home, and the part that has the least amount of temperature fluctuation.

I started with just a UTH alone, but it wasn't providing enough heat at all. While the probe I had on top of it was reading decently, it was only warm directly on top of the UTH (rather than warm end/cool end), and she seemed uninterested in spending any time in a hide positioned over the UTH. I moved her hot side hide from over the top of the UTH, to just being on the "hot side", except once I moved it the hide's temp went back down to an ambient 85ish (basically, UTH was only making itself warm).

Soooo, I got a heat lamp. Snakey girl loves the hot side now, and will actually split her time between warm and cool hides. Problem being, the heat lamp produces way too much heat, especially with the top covered with foil in my attempts to keep in humidity. I've been turning the thing on and off, on and off, throughout the day, but it's frustrating as hell. And the lamp creates too much heat with the foil on, period, but with just the UTH enough heat isn't generated on her warm side to keep the temps where she needs them.

I'm sorry, this is a dreadfully long post. I'm trying to include information that anyone might deem as useful to give advice. Basically I'm just wondering if I should get a second UTH and try that out (on the side, in addition to the bottom), or if a regulatory thermostat is the best idea here, or if I should just scrap the whole stupid setup and put her in a tub? I like the glass tank for aesthetic reasons, but the snake's health is way more important.

I'm sure I'm also asking a question that's been asked 100 times. I did see the lovely sticky on a glass tank setup, with foil, and light, and UTH. Unfortunately my similar setup is not yielding great results and I'm wracked with guilt about it...

[bushonk]

I probably just need a herpstat, don't I? Leave it to me to pick the longest way to say something...

[td30]

I probably just need a herpstat, don't I? Leave it to me to pick the longest way to say something...

Yes, a thermostat will do wonders for you. I highly recomend the Herpstat as well. I prefer the ND model. The only way I was able to keep my ambient temps where I wanted them was to heat the room (more like a big closet) with an oil filled heater. After I figured it all out, I was very happy that I didn't ditch my tanks for tubs.

[sweety314]

If your room temps DON'T jump around much, then you can get by with just a rheostat (a light dimmer). Find the sweet spot on the dimmer switch and leave it. BUT that will ONLY work best in a room that has consistantly steady temps. Otherwise, you're dinking w/the dimmer as often as the off/on of the heat lamp.

Heat lamps, or CHEs WILL work, but they MUST be on thermostats to keep them from getting TOO hot. Your UTH should be on one too, just to be safe. So for that, yes, you'll need the herpstat with two separate controllers.

[frankykeno]

You might want to look into plastic tub housing. It is so much more stable for these snakes. A lot of folks don't like the look of it but there is one brand out there that for me anyways, has all the benefits of plastic with the clear view of glass. It's called Iris. It's not as easy to find as Sterlite or Rubbermaid but can usually be located at stores like Bed, Bath and Beyond, OfficeMax, Target, etc. You can often find a choice between a white lid or a clear one (I believe these are called their ClearView line). Just melt in some ventilation holes, put an under the tank heat source in place and you are good to go. With any tub you need to address the issue of the lid and any give it has that might allow your snake to escape. You can deal with that through the use of binder clips, C clamps, etc.

It might be well worth your time to use a tub for now and worry about fussing with that tank later on when your snake is bigger and already fully settled in.

For heating options check with Rich at www.reptilebasics.com He can set you up with something that will work with your housing choices. A great guy, knows his stuff, ships fast and backs everything he sells up with the best customer service out there.

[starmom]

I think what Jo said holds a lot of merit. Housing young ones in tubs seems to really allow them to thrive.
I remain unconvinced that a jerry rigged fish tank works for snakes unless you have really good luck; *cough cough Adraina and Butters cough cough*
If you talk to Rich, or go to his website, I would suggest you also look at his cages for when your snake is a little older and more secure. I have these http://www.reptilebasics.com/2x3-Cag...h-p-16286.html and I love them. They work really well and are made for snakes. They look great too!!!

[butters!]

imo keeping a glass tank is not that difficult even w/o a thermostat.i am in the basement and its very cool down here,around 70 at all times.i have a glass tank almost on the floor and have takin the temps outside the tank and it is 67 to 69.with a uth and a dimmer,an d a inferred light on a dimmer the hot stays from 90 to 93 and cool is 81.humidity always above 48%.to the original poster stick with it,tinker until you get it right and if you cant ill be more than happy to buy your stuff from you or you can take it back,buy a tub that is not very pleasing to the eye.

[butters!]

I remain unconvinced that a jerry rigged fish tank works for snakes unless you have really good luck; *cough cough Adraina and Butters cough cough*

oh my friggin god! jerry rigged? lol,my wittle feelings are hurtin.i'll admit the middle tank on my rack is a tad jimmied.the light from the tank below heats up the floor and ambiants in the middle tank.but hey,i didnt have to buy another uth and a dimmer!i still have one uth in the middle tank but it runs on the lowest setting and stays at 91 to 93.call it wat you will but i call it economical.

[starmom]

I remain unconvinced that a jerry rigged fish tank works for snakes unless you have really good luck; *cough cough Adraina and Butters cough cough*

oh my friggin god! jerry rigged? lol,my wittle feelings are hurtin.i'll admit the middle tank on my rack is a tad jimmied.the light from the tank below heats up the floor and ambiants in the middle tank.but hey,i didnt have to buy another uth and a dimmer!i still have one uth in the middle tank but it runs on the lowest setting and stays at 91 to 93.call it wat you will but i call it economical.

You know I love you Butters

[Argentra]

LOL Same here. And my tanks are not 'jerry rigged'!!

A tank can work, sometimes better than a tub, with just a little extra effort. Of course, I'll be the first to say that everyone's home and snake is different and sometimes a tank just doesn't cut it.

Get a good thermostat, make sure the tank is in a good location with all the 'proper' measures taken, and see if things improve. Hopefully they will.