Swapped new BP over to tub instead of tank.

I would be concerned that this is too much heat in a small area. Tubs are such a small surface area that a lamp often produces too much heat. Did the thinner layer of substrate help? I don't like seeing over 94º anywhere inside an enclosure unless it is over head ad then not more than 100º. Less substrate should correct the hot side issues. I usually have only a small bit on the hot side. Less than a 1/4 inch. You might find that a towel folded on top of the lid to help some. IR guns can only measure surface temps BTW. When it gets quite cool out you may find placing a box around the tub so it is 6-10 inches larger one side open (box turned on its side) and adding a heating pad on low to the 'back' or ceiling' of the box will add to the air temp inside the tub. A dark blue bulb might as well but a dimmer would likely be needed.

Tubs simply do not have good insulation. Currently figure something out to get the right range when the snake gets a bit older and bigger close to adult size if you still have a single snake I would strongly suggest a 'reptile' enclosure they are designed for the purpose and usually are the easiest to maintain.

I feel like such a sh** pointing out out things like this but so few actually mention that temps can be hard in tubs located in cooler room temps. I am sorry for that. I run a rack in a cool room and it takes heroic efforts to keep it correct and stable. The PVCx enclosures I have look great and better yet are easy to heat efficient and do a decent job of humidity. It might be an option that will fit your needs in the future.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by kitedemon

I would be concerned that this is too much heat in a small area. Tubs are such a small surface area that a lamp often produces too much heat. Did the thinner layer of substrate help? I don't like seeing over 94º anywhere inside an enclosure unless it is over head ad then not more than 100º. Less substrate should correct the hot side issues. I usually have only a small bit on the hot side. Less than a 1/4 inch. You might find that a towel folded on top of the lid to help some. IR guns can only measure surface temps BTW. When it gets quite cool out you may find placing a box around the tub so it is 6-10 inches larger one side open (box turned on its side) and adding a heating pad on low to the 'back' or ceiling' of the box will add to the air temp inside the tub. A dark blue bulb might as well but a dimmer would likely be needed.

Tubs simply do not have good insulation. Currently figure something out to get the right range when the snake gets a bit older and bigger close to adult size if you still have a single snake I would strongly suggest a 'reptile' enclosure they are designed for the purpose and usually are the easiest to maintain.

I feel like such a sh** pointing out out things like this but so few actually mention that temps can be hard in tubs located in cooler room temps. I am sorry for that. I run a rack in a cool room and it takes heroic efforts to keep it correct and stable. The PVCx enclosures I have look great and better yet are easy to heat efficient and do a decent job of humidity. It might be an option that will fit your needs in the future.

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Thanks a ton for the information. The lower substrate helped a bit, but as said before it's the ambient temp I'm worried about.

I'm going to try out my idea, and keep a 60w bulb at a very low heat level. The lamp has a dimmer on it so I can keep it low and not overheat the enclosure. If it does indeed get too hot, I can just buy a new lid for this thing. It would only cost a couple dollars. I'm going to use small little spacers to get the lamp just above the screen so he doesn't reach up and touch the lamp sitting on the screen. The only goal is just to get some hotter air inside the enclosure, it only needs to go up about 4-5 degrees.

I'll just invest in a real snake enclosure when he gets a bit bigger or by winter time. Hell, if I can't get this at least reasonable I'll just try to pick one up sooner.

http://s9.postimage.org/4x74k2tn3/image.jpg
http://s10.postimage.org/yxlm2bxzt/image.jpg Little spacers so the metal isn't resting right on the screen.
http://s10.postimage.org/9c9e2has9/image.jpg



It's a 60w red night bulb. I have the dimmer set pretty low, just where the light starts becoming visible.

I'll check the temps in 1 hour and update this post.

Okay so...

http://s11.postimage.org/huasrtoc3/image.jpg RED: Ambient. YELLOW: IR on substrate





Two problems so far that I really see. Because of the light being where it's at, the top of that right hide plastic is about 95 degrees and most likely still rising. Also the humidity is at 77 on that left unit and 56 on the right unit. I think that having the light so close is making that water evaporate really quickly, and raising the humidity way too much.

Hmm you may try lifting the lamp up say 3 inches or so that will reduce that direct heat but with a little luck hold the ambient temps. It is quite likely about the RH perhaps a bit of space will help there some too.

I have the same tub setup as you do except for the light. I use larger tubs so the UTH doesn't cover so much of the bottom of the tub. I used balled up paper to cover up some of the space when my BPs were smaller. I close off the vents in the summer time in the room I kept them in. I hope you get it figured out. Tubs are so much better than tanks.

I have a heat like fan my parents use in the winter pointed at the tubs. Helps keep ambient in the low 80's.

Thanks for the suggestions guys.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by kitedemon

Hmm you may try lifting the lamp up say 3 inches or so that will reduce that direct heat but with a little luck hold the ambient temps. It is quite likely about the RH perhaps a bit of space will help there some too.

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Tried it, 20m in the temp was already dropping because not enough heat was actually making it into the hole. It must of been dispersing out instead of directly in.


The snake is in our most busy room of the house, but kind of in a corner of it so he's not super stressed. I don't really have a room I can put him in that I can bring the temp. in the room up to 80 in this apartment we have. I decided just to put him back in the tank for now, and I swapped everything over for him. I feel so bad moving him back and forth but as soon as I get it all set I will leave him alone for a week or so to calm down.

My girl loves to open windows when its cold out to save on AC, and she likes to keep the house around or under 70. I think he's going to be safer in the tank for now, temp wise. I'll get a third hide and put some moss in there for a good amount of humidity when he starts to shed.

I'm really disappointed because I loved the idea of the tub. In the next few weeks I may try to make some sort of box for the tub to sit in, and I already know exactly how to build the tub now. (without the heat lamp)

I was considering just doing the two UTH's with separate thermostats to control hot-cold, but this still won't really solve the ambient heat.

- - - Updated - - -

The tank seems so much easier for me to get correct now.


Left side is hot side, right side is cold side.

http://s10.postimage.org/y6dhverax/0715121601.jpg


Ambient temp is 81 on hot side, 80 on cold side.

Substrate temp is 91 under hot hide and 80 under cold hide.

Humidity is 50-60 (left is in 50's, right is in 60's)

(Probes are not in tank, since I'm using two)

I'll be doing a small amount of tweaking to the light, probably increasing the heat and moving it further to the left side, to get more of a gradient in ambient temp.

I have a heat like fan my parents use in the winter pointed at the tubs. Helps keep ambient in the low 80's.