Newbie with a newbie heating problem - HELP!!
I am getting my first ball python on Friday. I have been setting up the tank and everything looks nice, but I am having a problem with heating. It's around 72 degrees in my house. My new baby is 1 month old and I will be putting him in a 10 gallon tank with a screen lid. I put a towel over the lid to see if it helps with the heat, but it's not doing much. The hot side atm is 87 and the cold side is 73. I do have an appropriate sized uth (zoo med brand) on the hot side and I bought a thermostat for it. I am heading to the store tomorrow to look for a heat lamp with a red bulb as a backup source, I just need to know what watts to look for. I could really use the suggestions! Also, I have a zoo med digital thermometer for each side of the tank. My question is: Where do you place them? I've read in the hides on the surface of the substrate, as well as burying the probe. Which one would give me a more accurate heat signature? Is there a way to set up the UTH and the lamp so it won't overheat my new snake? Thank you for reading, sorry it's so long!
Re: Newbie with a newbie heating problem - HELP!!
Hi,
Check out the glass tank sticky. :)
In cold room I also insulate the bottom, back and sides of the tank with either cork sheeting or polystyrene.
I also tend to use a high rated bulb then dim it down with a rheostat as they last longer that way. ;)
Try and get the temps right inside their hides as that is where they will probably spend most of their time once they have settled in.
Hope that helps a bit.