My adopted BP and a few questions

[FL_LeoGek]

Hi all,

My name is Chris and my BP's name is Memphis. Let me start by saying this is my second BP. My first BP Nikki, female, was just shy of 4 feet when I had to find her a new home. My landlord caught me hiding her, younger single days renting. I had a female friend who had multiple reptiles, so Nikki went to a good home.

That said, I am now older married and living in my own house. My wife does not like sankes, but our 13 year old has wanted one since she was 3. My wife found an ad for Memphis and told me we should adopt him (supposedly a him).

I paid a $50 relocation fee for Memphis, his tank, stand, UTH, 2 hides and a large bowl.\ Well worth it to me. Memphis's old owner had him for about a year and a half. He is somewhere around or over 3 and a half feet long and looks great. I am aadding pics of him and his home. Just brought him last night and he looks pretty relaxed today.

I am wondering if I should replace the hide on the right as it is opened on the back and right side. I am thinking of trying to find another one like the one on the right. I also have to get a thermometer/humidity gauge.

Any suggestions???

[JeffJ]

the hide on the right should be fine. line the rear and left and right side with black posterboard and then insulated it with foam or cork. this will hell keep temps proper and will close off the open rear of that hide

[dreese88]

You can replace it, but if you want to cover three sides of the tank that is an option too, and one that I did at the recommendation of others. That way that hide is no longer open and Memphis feels a bit more secure.


Just curious, but what are you using to control the UTH?

[FL_LeoGek]

Just got home with 2 probed thermometers and a stick humidity gauge. Not alot of choices at either Petco or Petsmart. Tomorrow I will go to the local real pet store, Carol's Critters.

I will find something to cover the back and sides of the tank.


Hot side is 91 under the substrate and cold side is 77 under the substrate, humidity is only 45, but I did just mist and move the water dish over towards the UTH. I will probably plastic wrap the screen top to see if that helps.

I do not have anything controlling the UTH it is plugged straight into the wall. Any Suggestions???

[llovelace]

You will need a rheostat to control the temps on the uth home depot has a levitron slide lamp dimmer for around $9, that will work, what part of Fl are you in?

btw

[Kaorte]

Just got home with 2 probed thermometers and a stick humidity gauge. Not alot of choices at either Petco or Petsmart. Tomorrow I will go to the local real pet store, Carol's Critters.

I will find something to cover the back and sides of the tank.


Hot side is 91 under the substrate and cold side is 77 under the substrate, humidity is only 45, but I did just mist and move the water dish over towards the UTH. I will probably plastic wrap the screen top to see if that helps.

I do not have anything controlling the UTH it is plugged straight into the wall. Any Suggestions???

Get a thermostat. If they don't have any at your local reptile store, order one online and use a rheostat (light dimmer) temporarily. I am on my iPod so I don't have my massive link list. ):

[llovelace]

I would loose the stick humudity guade they are so inaccurate, home depot also has accurite thermometer/hy
grometer with a probe in their garden dept. around $12, so you could return the sticky and 1 of the other thermometers

[llovelace]

or keep them for the next snake

[FL_LeoGek]

You will need a rheostat to control the temps on the uth home depot has a levitron slide lamp dimmer for around $9, that will work, what part of Fl are you in?

btw

I'm in North Florida (aka Lower Alabama). I was actually going to replace the stickon with an airtemp/humidity digital, only reason I didn't get it earlier was cause it only measured air temp, now I realize I need air temp.

Guess I need a thermostat and a UTH for the cool side since the temp is dropping now that my AC is on? Can I get away with the smaller ones or do I need the larger one since I am only trying to warm the cool side a little?

And if my hot side is staying between 90 and 92 do I need a thermostat for it?

And does the foam board go inside or outside?

Thanks,
Chris

[Bloodsong]

Foam board on the outside is best so that a moving snake does no damage. For a thermometer/hydrometer I would suggest going to Wal-Mart and getting and indoor/outdoor thermometer combo for like $15. Check here for a thermostat. I just use the $30 one and find it accurate to within 2* F.

If your cold side is getting too cold you could try a two thermostat set up with some 4" flexwatt on the cool side.

Bloodsong