Temp and Humidity Issues

you should find out the surface temperature directly above the UTH if you havent already. to do this simply tape down a thermometer probe directly to the glass on the bottom of the inside of your tank. now using tape inside the enclosure is usually not recommended but if you use aluminum foil tape and stick it down properly it will never come off. if you dont have this tape or dont want to use tape then figure out a way to keep the probe fixed to the glass so that you can find out the exact surface temperature that your snake may come into contact with.

Foil tape is not a good idea inside and should only be used OUTside the enclosure. The only tape that should ever come near the inside of an enclosure would be painters or artists tapes...since they're so weak. And then ONLY when you've exhausted all other ways to keep things in place.

The two best ways to secure the probe are suction cups and hide weight. Those little suction cups from crafts departments with the little hooks work wonders when you bend the hook around the wire. That way the sharp end of the hook is out of the way as well.
If the bottom of your enclosure just won't take the cups, then just place the hide over the wire. Granted, you might have to be repositioning the probe depending on how much your snake likes to 'redecorate'... but that's a ton better then having a snake stuck to tape.

Thanks for the idea :D

foil tape is probably the best tape to use inside the enclosure because of its strength. have you ever used it? if you have then you would understand how difficult it is, even for the keeper, to pull off of whatever surface it is applied to. for that reason i say use it because there is no possible way that the snake could ever remove and get stuck to the tape.

any other tape that could be removed from its stuck surface would be dangerous in my opinion, for various reasons, but i have never used other types of tape and dont have first hand experience.

but because i have used aluminum foil tape inside rubbermaid tubs for years now and have never had a problem and never will have a problem, i can safely say its safe to use.:)

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Originally Posted by bigballs

foil tape is probably the best tape to use inside the enclosure because of its strength. have you ever used it? if you have then you would understand how difficult it is, even for the keeper, to pull off of whatever surface it is applied to. for that reason i say use it because there is no possible way that the snake could ever remove and get stuck to the tape.

any other tape that could be removed from its stuck surface would be dangerous in my opinion, for various reasons, but i have never used other types of tape and dont have first hand experience.

but because i have used aluminum foil tape inside rubbermaid tubs for years now and have never had a problem and never will have a problem, i can safely say its safe to use.:)

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I don't know if I will even need tape (I have a nice heavy hide) but I will check out the foil tape :D

Never say something can 'never happen'...it will.

I use foil tape in abundance on the outsides of glass and plastic enclosures alike. Mostly to tape the UTH on and the t-stat probe to the UTHs. Through this use I know two things about it:
It is VERY sticky with sharp edges.
It can roll up from the corners with a lot of movement and debris.

Now, I don't know about you...but my snakes love to move around at night. Any bedding you use can get onto the edges of the tape, causing the stickiness to reduce and the edges to roll up with movement. I would NOT want my snakes coming in contact with that stuff, since it's hard to get off my own skin. :)

I prefer being certain of safety over having to occasionally reposition a thermometer probe.

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Originally Posted by Argentra

Any bedding you use can get onto the edges of the tape, causing the stickiness to reduce and the edges to roll up with movement.

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doesnt happen.;)

and as you have said youreself, you have no experience using the tape within the enclosure so you can take my word for it or not.

dont use the tape if your not comfortable doing so. simple as that. but please dont tell me that something will inevitably happen due to your opinion of improper husbandry practices.

put it this way, i love and care for my snakes probably just as much and as well as you do for yours and im just as certain for their safety as you are for theirs.

thanks!:)

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Originally Posted by Kaorte

I don't know if I will even need tape (I have a nice heavy hide) but I will check out the foil tape :D

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hey sorry to take your thread so off topic here.;) as long as you can accurately determine the temperature that your looking for then thats great. also if you decide to foil tape it down then make sure the surface is clean, dry and clear of debris for maximum tape strength. i always do that just to be safe.;)