Getting my first noodle Tuesday!

Do you have a thermostat hooked up to your UTH? what is it set at? I keep mine at about 101 so keep my surface temps on the hot side between 88-90. How are you measuring your temps?

i have a thermostat hooked up to the UTH, i had the thermostat maxed at 108 and in tank temps were still low. i think the UTH may be too small. i bought the one for the 10-20 gal tank but it was smaller than i expected it to be. i got the CHE in the hopes i could turn down the UTH a bit so its not running maxed 100% of the time. i have a thermometer with a probe on the hot side and an acurite thermometer with humidity gauge on the cold side. Thermostat probe is between the UTH and the base of the enclosure.

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Originally Posted by oropher101

I just bought a CHE today with a lamp and a stand (WHY ARE STANDS SO EXPENSIVE!) as my temps were too low after running the UTH for about 24 hours. also i was originally using newspaper for substrate, swapped to half eco earth and half reptibark and that helped my humidity alot. my humidity is sitting at a solid 60, i just need to get my temps up higher. For reference pre-CHE i was sitting at about 76 cool side and low 80s hot side. its too low. i'll see where everything is at after i get home from work with the CHE and see if its going to be enough of a difference or if i should return the glass and swap to tub.

i may also just throw my space heater in my room and call it a day, idk lmao

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That's the exact substrate mix I started off with! My humidity is too high granted so I've switched to a bit more reptibark and less eco earth now which has helped me.

I heated the room a bit at first, but the big thing was adding the CHE plus the foam. The foam seriously really helps!

This is the foam I am talking about if you are not sure what kind I mean:

https://www.homedepot.ca/product/owe...dge/1000436411


Also holy cow. Yes stands are super expensive...

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Originally Posted by oropher101

i have a thermostat hooked up to the UTH, i had the thermostat maxed at 108 and in tank temps were still low. i think the UTH may be too small. i bought the one for the 10-20 gal tank but it was smaller than i expected it to be. i got the CHE in the hopes i could turn down the UTH a bit so its not running maxed 100% of the time. i have a thermometer with a probe on the hot side and an acurite thermometer with humidity gauge on the cold side. Thermostat probe is between the UTH and the base of the enclosure.

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Does your thermostat have multiple outlets? I have my UTH and CHE both on the same thermostat, with my probe below my hot spot on the glass. That way neither of them are running 100% and they help balance eachother out.

One thing I should mention though is I got a very tiny 4W UTH and placed it on the side of my viv on my cold side. That raised the ambient temperature to the correct level for both sides for me.

Also, if you do not already have one, an infrared thermometer gun is SUPER helpful for this sort of thing, especially since you may need to put the thermostat at a 'higher' temperature to reach your desired temperature inside.

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Originally Posted by OkamiFlautist

Does your thermostat have multiple outlets? I have my UTH and CHE both on the same thermostat, with my probe below my hot spot on the glass. That way neither of them are running 100% and they help balance eachother out.

One thing I should mention though is I got a very tiny 4W UTH and placed it on the side of my viv on my cold side. That raised the ambient temperature to the correct level for both sides for me.

Also, if you do not already have one, an infrared thermometer gun is SUPER helpful for this sort of thing, especially since you may need to put the thermostat at a 'higher' temperature to reach your desired temperature inside.

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Unfortunately, my thermostat only has one outlet. I got a cheaper one to hold me through until tax time, when I plan on upgrading everything to the setup I originally had planned. I'll be getting a herpstat then. And no, I sadly don't have an infrared thermometer yet. I'm waiting on payday to pick that up. Its a planned expense, I just ran out of funds in the short time I had to put everything together.

I'll look into getting some of that foam. It was something I was considering to "black out" the back and sides of the enclosure anyway, as I currently have the enclosure sitting right next to my computer. I should probably turn that thing on too, it puts out some decent heat, might help the ambient a bit lol.

Good news, i got home last night and checked my temps and the ceramic bulb worked. 89 warm side, 81 cool side and 40% humidity. Ill have to spray to keep the humidity up, but thats normal

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Originally Posted by oropher101

Good news, i got home last night and checked my temps and the ceramic bulb worked. 89 warm side, 81 cool side and 40% humidity. Ill have to spray to keep the humidity up, but thats normal

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Yay!

Sent from my Pixel 3 using Tapatalk

great to hear! can't wait to meet your new little guy!

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Originally Posted by Southpaw91

great to hear! can't wait to meet your new little guy!

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14 hours!

:welcome: You can always insulate a glass tank (with all sorts of easy & cheap materials) that add privacy as well to the back, sides, part of bottom (don't cover the
UTH) & even partway on the bottom-front if you like, just leave a big "picture window" on the front. ;) This will help keep warmth inside & most snakes appreciate
the privacy too. If you want a prettier look, install scenery first, then insulate behind it...you can use foam board, poster board (has rigid foam center), corrugated
cardboard, peel & stick carpet or cork "tiles", thin cork (sold on rolls for making your own gaskets & such, or maybe in a craft store), etc. You can be creative when
keeping snakes as long as what you use is safe & healthy (if in contact w/ snake). Never use tape of any kind INSIDE though, where the snake can touch it...as the
heat &/or humidity can make it loosen, then stick to your snake with disastrous or challenging (at best) results after your snake uses the heat source to "hot glue" it
to himself...ask me how I know, lol.

This is why we have a forum: shared experiences means sharing what works & what doesn't, & we all want to help prevent mistakes so you & your snake have an
easier time. So don't be shy, if we can help you, just ask?

I'm sure the snake you're adopting had very good reasons for being labeled a "biter" before...fear & stress makes for a defensive snake, can't blame them one bit.
Seems you already understand that, so I have a hunch you'll do great. :snake:

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

:welcome: You can always insulate a glass tank (with all sorts of easy & cheap materials) that add privacy as well to the back, sides, part of bottom (don't cover the
UTH) & even partway on the bottom-front if you like, just leave a big "picture window" on the front. ;) This will help keep warmth inside & most snakes appreciate
the privacy too. If you want a prettier look, install scenery first, then insulate behind it...you can use foam board, poster board (has rigid foam center), corrugated
cardboard, peel & stick carpet or cork "tiles", thin cork (sold on rolls for making your own gaskets & such, or maybe in a craft store), etc. You can be creative when
keeping snakes as long as what you use is safe & healthy (if in contact w/ snake). Never use tape of any kind INSIDE though, where the snake can touch it...as the
heat &/or humidity can make it loosen, then stick to your snake with disastrous or challenging (at best) results after your snake uses the heat source to "hot glue" it
to himself...ask me how I know, lol.

This is why we have a forum: shared experiences means sharing what works & what doesn't, & we all want to help prevent mistakes so you & your snake have an
easier time. So don't be shy, if we can help you, just ask?

I'm sure the snake you're adopting had very good reasons for being labeled a "biter" before...fear & stress makes for a defensive snake, can't blame them one bit.
Seems you already understand that, so I have a hunch you'll do great. :snake:

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Thank you for the response! ive read the "no sticky near the noodle" warnings :D. I have a feeling the snake wasn't well taken care of by the previous owner, it was seized along with multiple other animals and the previous owner is now incarcerated. Id be willing to bet at a minimum the husbandry was off. That would explain the stress and defensiveness. Luckly the shelter did at least a little research, tank is too big, only 1 hide, but the temps and humidity were right. I feel like I can give the little guy the best chance to thrive. I am going to have to work with feeding though, they've been removing him/her to feed, so im not sure if it is going to have a good "in tank" feeding response. But one thing at a time. for now, ive got the temps and the humidity set up and places for him to hide, so im sure everything else will fall into place with time and care.