Still having issues...

Ok, here's what you need to do:

1 - cover the back and both sides with some sort of background (for looks) then with foam insulation board. Glass does NOT hold heat on its own and needs help. This will keep the heat IN the tank. :)

2 - wet towels breed bacteria. For the screen top, treat with foil or plexiglass for optimum heat and humidity retention. I have a picture tutorial up in the caging forum on foil treating a screen top.

3 - change substrate to aspen. That Reptibark stuff molds and isn't too comfortable for the snake. :)

4 - you already know it, but you need two identical hides that are all-surrounding with one opening. Plastic plant pots and plastic bowls from Dollar Stores are great and cheap. :D

5 - you might want to add more plants or decor of some type to make the snake feel more secure.

These are all suggestions, of course, but they should help a lot in stabilizing your tank.

Here's an update:

After putting the probe under the substrate, the heat spiked. It is now 96.4, so I'm quite pleased. Also, I placed the AcuRite thermometer in the terrarium and the humidity went up to 58%.

I'm so happy, haha.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by rynpckrd

Here's an update:

After putting the probe under the substrate, the heat spiked. It is now 96.4, so I'm quite pleased. Also, I placed the AcuRite thermometer in the terrarium and the humidity went up to 58%.

I'm so happy, haha.

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:gj:

Since posting that everything had finally leveled out, I figured I'd update.

Atticus seems to be much more active since the temperatures actually started to get to where they should have been all along and it's definitely a relief to see him using BOTH hides and not just one. That had been an initial fear of mine that he wouldn't be interested in having a second place to hide, but he has definitely made use of them in order to regulate his own temperature.

Needless to say, I will definitely use this experience as a reminder that in the future, I should set everything up BEFORE I get the snake rather than consistently on the spot.