New setup

Ambient temperatures are locked in at 90 degrees with rheostat i am super excited! (My acu.rite thermometer shows high and low temps so I'm glad i can monitor the drop in temp if it ever does *Knock on wood* hopefully it wont!)

Bought my cables for my Ranco Thermostat today as well. So as soon as that comes in the mail i will have that wired up and have my electrician neighbor look it over :gj: . So i am thinking by this next weekend i will have my snake if not sooner depending on how fast that Ranco ships!

That my friend is too high for ambient temps! 80 not 90!

The tub enclosure debate is curious I actually don't find a massive difference between cleaning the rack and enclosures. The rack takes about 1 1/2 to 2 hours to clean for 4 snakes and the enclosures are about 30 min (x4) to do. Not much of a time saving. I have a science background and that makes me a bit OCD with cleaning. The rack has the most in accessible bits ever the tubs are easy ish but snake contact area of the rack is very very slow to do and very awkward picture laying on you back scrubbing a 6 inch opening that goes as deep as you arm can reach. NOT FUN. After 3/4 of a year with the rack I am not sure of any time saving space saving but not time or heating dollars.

AAHHH!!! 80 damn turning the rheostat down now LOL. See kitedemon this is why i do test runs and trials before i by my snake :O lol. Safety first!

First off Alex.


Second have you studied a handful of care sheets?

http://www.theurbanpython.com/caring-ball-python

http://www.ballpython.ca/care.html

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...ius)-Caresheet

http://www.vpi.com/publications/the_...hon_care_sheet

I have read multiple care sheets, some better than others. Tank is now at 82 degrees and stable! Going to walmart to pick up batteries for my second thermometer as well as a misting bottle. When the ranco comes in the only question I have is what type of tape to use I was going to go with just electrical tape but might use something else open to suggestions.

Thank you alex!
Mike btw =] nice to meet you!

Again this is why I ask questions and do research before purchasing any animals. Once my tank is fully set up I will again refer back to the care sheets and triple check everything.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by AMBiEN22

I have read multiple care sheets, some better than others. Tank is now at 82 degrees and stable! Going to walmart to pick up batteries for my second thermometer as well as a misting bottle. When the ranco comes in the only question I have is what type of tape to use I was going to go with just electrical tape but might use something else open to suggestions.and triple check everything.

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The tape I recommend is aluminum tape that you can get at home depot and probably walmart. You don't have to worry about it softening up with the heat eventually, and it's sticky as hell!

Yeah I figured the heat would demolish the electrical tape so I'm going to look for that aluminum tape our possibly use duct tape?

So here is a little update for you guys i will snag a picture and edit the post to upload in like 5 mins!

Ambient Temperatures: Hot side 82 Degrees, Cold side 74 Degrees.
Basking Spot: CURRENTLY UNAVAILABLE (Waiting for Ranco Thermostat to come in the mail)
Humidity: Ranging from 22-26% (Bought a squirt bottle from wal-mart today, thing was broken! FAILS!)

Still need one more hide and maybe some more decor =). Question though is my cold side to cold? Kind of answered my own question please correct me if i am wrong. The whole tanks ambient temps should be 80-85. The quote "Cold" side is just the side of the tank where there is no basking spot. SO my UTH provides the hot side belly heat and the cold side is just no belly heat but 80-85 degree ambient temp.

Picture before modification.
Picture after modification.

Hmm... didn't give me an option to edit oh well here is the new photos!

Before modification:
http://i351.photobucket.com/albums/q...r2/Snake/a.jpg
http://i351.photobucket.com/albums/q...r2/Snake/b.jpg
After modification:
http://i351.photobucket.com/albums/q...r2/Snake/c.jpg
http://i351.photobucket.com/albums/q...r2/Snake/d.jpg

With the new top setup the ambient temps on the edges of the cage are in normal ranges now =) so whole cage temp is approx 81.5 degrees.

No duck tape it breaks down under temps. Aluminum tape (HVAC or automotive sections) Check the temps on it, the tape should be at least 150ºF

The temps will change once you add the UTH. Ambient temps are a bit more complex than it may seem.

First how are you measuring the ambient temps? the Accurite? If so that will work check both low and high the critical one is low at or near the substrate. The thing to remember that most don't think of is that snakes have a very very long lung. It runs over half the body and the ambient temp the air temps are what the snake breaths and the lung will heat or cool the core temp. A high ambient combined with the thermal gain from the skin the core can be warmer than expected.

An ambient temp in the low 80s is about right but even in the high 70s will be fine but too high and the snake simply cannot cool down. Thermal regulation is exactly that regulation it requires a shift in temps low to high, which seems simple on paper but isn't as easy as it seems. for example a snake that sits on the cool side all the time the logical thing is to reduce the cool side temps. Right? Not always the warm side maybe producing a warm air current (something to think about how is the air going to move inside the enclosure?) that is heating the ambient temps while the substrate stays cool, causing higher than expected core temps in the animal.

So far things sound about right but the UTH will change the whole works anyway so don't fret too much until it is fully on line and give it a day to 'settle' in. On/Off systems need a bit more time to stabilize as they work on an average of high / lows. Not my fav type, read 'control freak' here. Whilst waiting I really recommend running the uth wide open for a hour or more and check the MAXED out temps. I like to know how far the temps will run, I try to match heating power with the max possible temps and try to get them so a max run will produce less than terminal temps no higher than 100ºF (95-7 preferably) if I can. I'll sometimes add a spacer to manage it.

I'd also recommend some cover to make a little snake feel safe, they really want to feel like they are watching you not you watching them. I have covered three sides and the top with photo images of out of focus grassy stuff to enclose it more.

http://images42.fotki.com/v1374/phot...sLounge-vi.jpgHosted on Fotki

Here is one of my side turned tanks finished with Lucy happily at home (lit for the photo op...) She is very small and disadvantaged as she is a twin and was mis formed in vitro. She only has one eye (this is her good side... :P ) And a bit of an odd shaped skull and short tongue, it barely clears her mouth at all just the tips. She was assist fed for 8 months of her life (pinky pump...) and fed pinky mice after than she is not eating on her own and actually putting on some weight although she is still very small (245 at one year old) She started about the size of a corn snake but was quite feisty despite her small size and that is what saved her from I don't think she will make it euthanasia. She is one of the sweetest snakes I have ever encountered especially as she smells by bumping her nose to things so she nose bumps you when you hold her. :P

Alex

Aww that sounds like an amazing snake, and its awesome that you are kind enough to assist feed her and help her out! I agree with you once the UTH comes in it will change the game up again =/ lol. My neighbor uses a ranco for his snakes UTH and i hear a lot of people use them to. So i am hoping it will keep my temps in the correct range. Tried searching for that article that you mentioned could not find it but then again i just woke up and i have school shortly lol.

Little status update:
Scheduled Delivery:
Wednesday, 02/09/2011, By End of Day

So I'm thinking I'll get my snake on Saturday. Sorry about sloppy post i am exhausted.

So as i said i aim for this Saturday unless something happens or needs to be done. But for now here is an update! attached some extra photos cause my backyard looked pretty lol.

Ambient temps:Note temp dropped too 77 because of sprays and i experimented with the humidity
81 degrees all around little hotter under the light but where the warm side is going to be reads 81, the cold side reads 80.3 so not too far behind.

Humidity: Note the low was because i just started spraying the desert today!
Got my spray bottle as you can tell! :gj: about 55% right now will take an average as the days pass and i continue to spray. Going to invest in a plexi top real soon lol.

Basking Spot: Still N/A tomorrow the T-stat is coming in.

Pictures!
http://i351.photobucket.com/albums/q...-50-48_255.jpg
http://i351.photobucket.com/albums/q...-51-01_513.jpg
http://i351.photobucket.com/albums/q...-51-10_140.jpg
http://i351.photobucket.com/albums/q...-01-31_807.jpg
http://i351.photobucket.com/albums/q...-02-21_689.jpg

I'd recommend a second hide identical to the first one. One on each side of the cage (hot & cold side).

Quote:

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Originally Posted by JasonGranger

I'd recommend a second hide identical to the first one. One on each side of the cage (hot & cold side).

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That will be purchased when i go to pick up my snake :gj: (previously stated in this long thread). These updates are just for people following my story feel free to jump on the band wagon :D .

Stress tested my UTH today to see what it is pushing when plugged into the wall. With an elapse time of probably only 5 minutes it was at 98.2 degrees. So good news is i know it will be able to get hot enough =). So when the Ranco T-stat comes in today i will be all set just some simple wiring and then a tape job to the bottom of the tank =P. I will post some pictures of the process not too man =P mainly just finished product.

As i am sitting here typing this the UTH is already at 102.1 degrees so as i can clearly see a good t-stat was a good investment!

Well the t-stat come in today! Was very easy to wire and get set up. Didn't have any major issues at all! I am very busy tonight though so this post is going to be lacking a lot of extra info! will inform your all more tomorrow night! Just bare in mind the tank was stripped down and everything reset so temps are funny!

PICS!
http://i351.photobucket.com/albums/q...-37-53_793.jpg
http://i351.photobucket.com/albums/q...-37-47_363.jpg
http://i351.photobucket.com/albums/q...-42-48_953.jpg
http://i351.photobucket.com/albums/q...-09-06_492.jpg
http://i351.photobucket.com/albums/q...-08-36_103.jpg
http://i351.photobucket.com/albums/q...-09-16_149.jpg
http://i351.photobucket.com/albums/q...-09-26_182.jpg

Tomorrow i'll post an update of all the temps and more accurate readings. Tonight i have to Finish a lab report, do a pre-lab report, and study for an exam wish me luck! :please:

Note that the coralife corded prove thermo is under his hide ish area to get an accurate reading of the substrate and what hes going to be feeling belly heat wise. The Ranco has a digital ready but thats really just telling my what temp the heat matt is at under the tank. The accurite will be measuring the "cold" side aka the ambient temps.

Like i said crap post but some pics to give you all an idea of whats going on.