a few questions

i am buying my tank stuff first before i get my bp. obviously i have the required equipment, but i do have a few questions regarding the setup.i bought the exo terra because i need the front opening doors. its the 18x18x36 (DxHxW). how thick do you make the substrate? i'll be using coconut husk and moss because i have some from my crested gecko. i plan on putting newspaper down first, then the probe, then husk.

Usually a good rule of thumb is an inch to 2" of substrate.

thank you. in regards to newspaper,probe,husk thats ok?

It is always best to put the temp probe on the glass so as to avoid any risk of the snake getting burned; balls are known for getting under newspaper!

If you're thinking of heating with a UTH, I would put only about an inch of substrate in the tank. I think any more than that and the substrate will hold in the heat.

It's good that you're getting the thermostat, hides, temp and hygrometer gauge, etc., prior to getting your snake. This way, you'll be able to start running it and smooth out any glitches that happen along the way :gj:

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Originally Posted by starmom

It is always best to put the temp probe on the glass so as to avoid any risk of the snake getting burned; balls are known for getting under newspaper!

If you're thinking of heating with a UTH, I would put only about an inch of substrate in the tank. I think any more than that and the substrate will hold in the heat.

It's good that you're getting the thermostat, hides, temp and hygrometer gauge, etc., prior to getting your snake. This way, you'll be able to start running it and smooth out any glitches that happen along the way :gj:

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thank you starmom. so the probe on glas then the paper, then husk.

i have 1 question about the temp gradient. the hot side is suppose to be 90 and cool side 80. w/ winter just starting here my room is around 70-73 should i buy another uth and control it down to 80?

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Originally Posted by lpnaz480

thank you starmom. so the probe on glas then the paper, then husk.

i have 1 question about the temp gradient. the hot side is suppose to be 90 and cool side 80. w/ winter just starting here my room is around 70-73 should i buy another uth and control it down to 80?

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You also need to remember that, in addition to the warm side being 90-94F and the cool side being 80-82F, ambient temps ought to be around 82F.

You can put insulation around your tank and this will hold in some of the heat.

I can't answer your question as to whether you'll need another UTH or not. Every environment is different and so you'll need to get your tank up and running and then figure out what you need to tweak or add.

Remember though: UTH's do very little to raise ambient temps :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by starmom

You also need to remember that, in addition to the warm side being 90-94F and the cool side being 80-82F, ambient temps ought to be around 82F.

You can put insulation around your tank and this will hold in some of the heat.

I can't answer your question as to whether you'll need another UTH or not. Every environment is different and so you'll need to get your tank up and running and then figure out what you need to tweak or add.

Remember though: UTH's do very little to raise ambient temps :)

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i plan on gluing cardboard to the sides. it already has that cork background. also will be wrapping some foil around some cardboard and putting it on the screen leaving some space for air to circulate

Cardboard is not a very good insulator; have you thought about cork board or the pink rigid insulation?
Foil for the screen seems to work really well for Argentra and Butters- the glass tanks Queen and King!!!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by starmom

Cardboard is not a very good insulator; have you thought about cork board or the pink rigid insulation?
Foil for the screen seems to work really well for Argentra and Butters- the glass tanks Queen and King!!!

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corkboard it is...
so when i get the ambient heat up to 82, i don't need a uthb for the cool side correct? wouldn't the belly temp on cool side be around the ambient temp?

No, not really. UTH's and Flexwatt don't really do much for warming the air. The belly heat from the warm side will provide the temp gradient or the belly heat on the cool side.

The only product that I have found that works for raising ambient temps is the radiant heat panel.