I'm going crazy

Switched to a zoo med UTH, because the exo terra wasn't getting hot enough. The zoo med gets hot enough, except I can't get the substrate to heat up....I'm using repti bark for substrate, and inside of the enclosure, on the glass is getting to 100, but the substrate stays around 80. I'm going crazy, because if I thin it out more, I'm afraid he will get burned.

What other substrates would you recommend for me, that are good at conducting heat and retaining humidity...

thank you

I would thin it and use a rheostat or thermostat. You should have one on the UTH either way if you don't...

I am using a thermostat...I cranked it up as high as it will go, because I've thinned it out to the point where if he moves it, he will get burned, so I need something else...because this isn't working.

You don't need the top of the bedding to be hot.

Dial down until it's 86-90, or thereabouts, on the glass and leave a few inches of bard above it.

The snake will make itself comfortable.

You could also turn down the pad and add a heat light on the same side.

Red bulbs or ceramic if you use heat from above.

Yeah, I'm using the heat light now.....we just turned on the air conditioner, and my room dropped 10 degree's, so its just wreaked havoc, on my normal husbandry.

Is aspen a good heat conductor?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Keyboard Warrior

Switched to a zoo med UTH, because the exo terra wasn't getting hot enough. The zoo med gets hot enough, except I can't get the substrate to heat up....I'm using repti bark for substrate, and inside of the enclosure, on the glass is getting to 100, but the substrate stays around 80. I'm going crazy, because if I thin it out more, I'm afraid he will get burned.

What other substrates would you recommend for me, that are good at conducting heat and retaining humidity...

thank you

---

You need to turn it down so the hottest it gets on the glass is 95 degrees, no spot in the enclosure should allow the snake to get burned.
Turn it down and thin out the substrate or switch to cypress or aspen if you want the heat to penetrate the substrate better.
Or when you get tired of fighting the issues with tanks join the keepers who have switched to tubs because they just plain work better ;)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Keyboard Warrior

Yeah, I'm using the heat light now.....we just turned on the air conditioner, and my room dropped 10 degree's, so its just wreaked havoc, on my normal husbandry.

Is aspen a good heat conductor?

---

wood in general is a good insulator. plug the vent for the cold air for the room the snake is in. fixes the ac problem, if it gets too hot, open the door or unplug the vent.

get your temps to around 94 on the glass and use a thin layer of bedding, about all you can do. This is one of the reasons i switched to back heat.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by snakesRkewl

You need to turn it down so the hottest it gets on the glass is 95 degrees, no spot in the enclosure should allow the snake to get burned.
Turn it down and thin out the substrate or switch to cypress or aspen if you want the heat to penetrate the substrate better.
Or when you get tired of fighting the issues with tanks join the keepers who have switched to tubs because they just plain work better ;)

---

haha I'm getting to that point. I'd really like to get one of those reptile display cages...but they're so expensive...

But for now, I think I'll go buy some aspen, and turn it down.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Keyboard Warrior

haha I'm getting to that point. I'd really like to get one of those reptile display cages...but they're so expensive...

But for now, I think I'll go buy some aspen, and turn it down.

---

Yeah I got tired of tanks after having 4 snakes, such a hassle and always fighting humidity and proper heating, you couldn't pay me to go back to tanks :P
Sounds like your on the right track though.