Re: Getting the temps right
Quote:
Originally Posted by
The Serpent Merchant
Ok if it is only 95 up top that's fine as long as the ground temperature is between 88-92.
By careful the "reptile specialists" at most pet stores have no clue what they are talking about. The people here on BP.net usually are much more knowledgable.
This. The "specialist" at my store didn't even mention thermostats for my UTH... good thing I have a little common sense and am lucky enough to have easy access to the internet.. or I could have been scratching my head while my snake was burned.
Re: Getting the temps right
So here is what I did and it works great.
First I covered 3 sides of the tank with aquarium background (the only good item I have found from Petsmart) just to make it look nicer for me to look at.
Second I took some cardboard and cut it to fit the 3 covered sides. Then I taped one side of the cardboard with foil tape to reflect heat back into the tank and taped the cardboard to the 3 coverd sides of the tank as seen below.
http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot...83841836_n.jpg
As for the screen top I purchased a peice of plexi from HomeDepot and cut it to fit just inside the slider top for my tank. Drilled a few holes in it for ventilation and one large hole for the CHE. Taped a portion of it with foil tape and left the back untaped for the tank light. I do like to see my snake when she is out
http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot...64496118_n.jpg
Heat is supplied from a 60W CHE and Flexwatt 11 taped to the bottom. The CHE is set at about 50% on a lamp dimmer from HomeDepot (plan to get a dual T-stat for it in the future) The Flexwatt is set on a Vivarium VE 300 T-stat set to 96F. This keep my hot spot at 91F and ambient at 78-81F as room temps fluctuate a little. My Snake seems to love it she just got a great checkup from the vet and is eating like a pig. Hasn't refused a meal yet. As you can see in the photo below room temp was about 68f and tank temps were exactly what I wanted them to be. Hope this helps out and feel free to ask me any questions you might have.
http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot...38874278_n.jpg
Looks nice as well
http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot...84084614_n.jpg
