New to snake ownership - advise needed

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Originally Posted by M.P.C

You can up ambient heat using a light dome with a dimmer switch to controll temps and a che, only issue you would run into is having to make a hole for it and adding screen to prevent your little buddy from touching the che... also if you go this route make sure the light socket is ceramic, not plastic or metal as the che can get hot enough to melt them

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I did think of this but I want to avoid using a CHE due to limited space in the viv and heard they dry out everything a bit too much.

Might think of something I can use to absorb some of the moisture

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Originally Posted by Davidpearl

I did think of this but I want to avoid using a CHE due to limited space in the viv and heard they dry out everything a bit too much.

Might think of something I can use to absorb some of the moisture

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You dont want to put it inside the tank, you would place it ontop and outside the viv where the snake cant touch it, i didnt see the post where you moved the water and dropped humidity, was gonna say the che can drop your humidity back down without having to move or change anything else inside the cage

Quote:

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Originally Posted by M.P.C

You dont want to put it inside the tank, you would place it ontop and outside the viv where the snake cant touch it, i didnt see the post where you moved the water and dropped humidity, was gonna say the che can drop your humidity back down without having to move or change anything else inside the cage

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Sorry but I am not quite following you on the placement of the CHE - so I would place it outside the viv on top, how would that influence the humidity?

Excuse my ignorance.

Yes you rest it ontop of the cage, they lower humidity by drying out the air, but with the water bowl over the heat matt and you not having a screen top you should have zero issues keeping humidity within range

Quote:

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Originally Posted by M.P.C

Yes you rest it ontop of the cage, they lower humidity by drying out the air, but with the water bowl over the heat matt and you not having a screen top you should have zero issues keeping humidity within range

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So my viv has a glass top does this make a difference? - sorry if I'm sounding stupid

After moving all his stuff around to move the water bowl off the heat mat to lower the humidity, Arnie was more active last night but I have woken up him sitting on the wood above the hot hide as opposed to hiding in either the cold hide or hot hide......am I to take it that he most likely does not feel sure in either or the temperatures are now off and he may not know where to go or is a little stressed?

Or am I just over reading the situation?

Below is a picture of Arnie outside the hot hide thay I suspect he spent all night there. I think he is not sure about the new layout and may feel insecure, either thay or the temperatures are off.

This picture shows the new humidity at 70% after the reshuffle and the inside air temperature of the hit hide at 81f.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y11...pshqip7qdp.jpg

Below shows the temperature inside the hot hide just under the substrate

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y11...pssmc7w5es.jpg

Am I just being a super worried and panicky parent?

No, you're not. Now is the time to learn how to provide the proper care and run all your equipment. I've been keeping a dedicated snake room for almost two years and about every three months I run through everything. Check every wire, probe placement and heat gun every tub. Back when I started I did that daily and logged that information weekly to see how my room changed over time. I still check ambient temps and humidity in the room and one tub in each rack daily, just to keep a daily eye on things.

Just have fun with tuning the viv until you get it the way you want.

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Originally Posted by SamO

No, you're not. Now is the time to learn how to provide the proper care and run all your equipment. I've been keeping a dedicated snake room for almost two years and about every three months I run through everything. Check every wire, probe placement and heat gun every tub. Back when I started I did that daily and logged that information weekly to see how my room changed over time. I still check ambient temps and humidity in the room and one tub in each rack daily, just to keep a daily eye on things.

Just have fun with tuning the viv until you get it the way you want.

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I re-jigged the hot hide back to how it was before and he has found a new hide under a long log we had in there so at least he can get settled there instead of being out in the open.

Its not so much about how I want it, I want it perfect for him as he is the one who has to live in it :) He is so precious and as its my first snake I'm like a worried parent and want to make sure everything is perfect for him......I know snakes are resilient but he is my little boy!!!!

I am still thinking of ways to drop the humidity slightly but not really come up with any.

Hah, yes by saying "the way you want" I assumed that would be what is perfect for your snake. This month I went through my whole room, found that the ambient temp has been a bit too high and made some adjustments. It's one of those never ending quests to make conditions just right for our snakes. That is part of the fun, albeit worrysome at times.