Tank setup

The wife and I are getting our first ball Nov.8 (going to show in Indy). We already have a 20gal long tank so that is what we will be using. But my question is what all do we need for the little guy. I know I want to use a CHE and two heating mats(ZooMed), I'll need a water bowl, two hides, and bedding. I also know that I will be covering 3 sides of the tank and covering at least half of the screen going across the top. Whats the best thing to use when covering the screen? Do I need a thermometer and a digital combo thermometer and humidity gauge or just one or the other? And what brand is best? Whats the best bedding for a tank? Do I need a moon/night light? Do I need a day light? Do I need a thermostat? If so, how many? Is there any thing else that we will need? Trying to keep the price as low as possible(low budget) but easy to maintain. This is our first BP and we plan on getting a 09 Spider or Pastel. Please HEEEEELLLLP!:rage::confused:

Hi,

Well unless your house is fairly cold I would recommend not getting the CHE and just using the two UTH's ( you might be able to use one and the CHE though). But your ambient temps would make figuring that out a bit easier.

I would use tinfoil to cover the outside of the screen top as it is cheap and effective and should last for ages. I would probably cover the whole lid area that didn't have lamps or heaters over it - but knowing how the humidity is in your area will help decide that too.

We normally recommend the acurite digital weather station with probe which reads temp at the probe tip and humidity and temp at the base unit and can be found in walmart and other stores for about $12.

I use newspaper as a bedding but aspen is also widely used.

Can you tell me the actual dimensions of the 20 gallon long? We don't classify tanks that way over here so I am rubbish at picturing it. :oops:

Normal light in the room will probably be sufficient so you should save some cash there. :gj:

But take that cash and spend it on a good, reliable thermostat. This is one area where you really don't want to skimp as it will provide the temps safely and precisely your snake needs for years and over multiple generations of enclosures. :)


dr del

Quote:

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Originally Posted by punisher_reborn

Whats the best thing to use when covering the screen?

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I cut strips of cardboard and wrapped them in aluminum foil...

pics are here:
http://www.repticzone.com/forums/mes...on/2/105/main/


Hope it helps... Rob

You can use one of the belly heaters under the tank and put one on the side of the tank . That way the side wall heater will keep the ambiant air temp up.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Vypyrz

I cut strips of cardboard and wrapped them in aluminum foil...

pics are here:
http://www.repticzone.com/forums/mes...on/2/105/main/


Hope it helps... Rob

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Love the cardboard idea, wonder if it would work with the installation you use for the bottom? Loved that too.:gj:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Darkice

You can use one of the belly heaters under the tank and put one on the side of the tank . That way the side wall heater will keep the ambiant air temp up.

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So I guess I would not need a light?:confused:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by punisher_reborn

So I guess I would not need a light?:confused:

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BPs are nocturnal.

They can benefit from a light cycle, but they dont necessarily need a light. Some people that use tanks have a red "night" style light so they can view the animal at night without bothering it. I think they may give off some heat. I'm not sure (as i've never used them). Just make sure to keep your eye on the humidity.

20gals are big tanks, just make sure your baby has plenty of tight fitting hides (at least 2--one on each side of the tank).

Covering 3 sides with dark paper will help him feel more secure.

Good luck!

OK OK OK OK..........so we have changed our minds. We are going for the tub solution for now. any advice?:please:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by punisher_reborn

OK OK OK OK..........so we have changed our minds. We are going for the tub solution for now. any advice?:please:

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Well a tub is fairly simple.

A UTH with a thermostat, substrate, water bowl, two hides, and some form of locking mechanism. Some tubs come with locking lids.

OK..... so my wife changed her mind once again...we sticking with the tank. I have already started setting the tank up, I have two UTHs one is larger than the other. Larger one for the hot side smaller for the cool side. Covered three sides of the tank with background. Have a screen which I'm covering with cardboard or black foam(craft store). Also using two thremostats for the UTHs and have a Fluker's digital thermo/humdid gauge. Have not got the thremostats yet does any one recommend any good ones; budget is low. Also want to use newspaper because I get it daily, but can I shred the paper or just lay it in the tank? Thanks for everyone help, cannot wait to get my new BP, counting down the days til Nov 8.:D

Cheapest thermostat is the reptitemp 500r, around $25. You should only need one though. Then get a dimmer for the cool side. Plug the UTH into the dimmer and the dimmer into the thermostat.

Cardboard over the screen will not help hold humidity, it will suck up the humidity and you will end up with damp cardboard. Go with either aluminum tape, foil or acrylic/plexi glass.

Hi,

Well depending on the sizes you might want to switch the jobs for the heatmats - you want the warm end to take up about a third of the tank and the cool end the rest.

You can just lay the sheets of newspaper in - I fold mine to the right size and have a couple of layers.

It depends on what you class as a low budget thermostat wise.

One possible idea might be to only buy one but make it a proportional one and have the cool end heatmat connected to a dimmer and then to the thermostat along with the warm end matt.

This would let you dial in the thermostat to the correct warm end temps and then simply turn down the dimmer until the cool end temps were what you need. :gj:

Plus you have a proportional thermostat so the temps will be a little steadier than typically provided by on/ off types. :)

For safety you can also put a dimmer in line with the warm end matt and dial it down - the idea of this is to limit the amount of overheating if the thermostat fails in the on position.

It means a little more tweaking in the initial setup stage but you have enough time to do it if you choose.

It is just a safety precaution so you certainly do not need to do it though. :)


dr del

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Kaorte

Cheapest thermostat is the reptitemp 500r, around $25. You should only need one though. Then get a dimmer for the cool side. Plug the UTH into the dimmer and the dimmer into the thermostat.

Cardboard over the screen will not help hold humidity, it will suck up the humidity and you will end up with damp cardboard. Go with either aluminum tape, foil or acrylic/plexi glass.

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So plug the hot side into the thremostat and use the probe for that side, and set it to about 95? Do I adjust the dimmer til it is about what 85-90? What is a good dimmer? Is the Repti Temp Rheostat good for this?:confused:

HELP!!!!!!!!! I have my reptitemp 500r with the larger UTH pluged in and it is turned all the way up, but it is not getting very hot. The smaller UTH that is plugged straight into the power strip is hotter. My digital temp gauge is reading around 75F & 57% humidity. Any reason why the UTH is not getting warmer, its been plugged up all day with no change. Please somebody help! Wife & I are getting our first BP this up coming weekend & I'm trying to get the tank just right.:please::please::please::please:

Where is the thermostat probe? What kind of thermometer are you using and where is it located?

probe is ontop of larger UTh inside the tank. Thermometer is in center of tank inside on back wall.

You should have a digital thermometer with a probe and the probe should be directly on the glass above where the UTH is. If it isn't in this spot you will not get an accurate reading.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Kaorte

You should have a digital thermometer with a probe and the probe should be directly on the glass above where the UTH is. If it isn't in this spot you will not get an accurate reading.

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this I totally understand, and plan on getting one, but the glass above the larger UTH is not heating up at all. It is plugged into the Reptitemp 500R which is turned all the way up to HOT, but nothing seems to be getting hotter. Everything is brand new.

Is the light on your reptitemp green, if not there's no power going to your uth.

If your not sure plug in a lamp turn it on and play with the dial on thermostat, you will see how it works.

Then set it using a thermometer next to you thermostat probe to get your temperature.

It sounds like either:

a) Your UTH is bad. Plug it directly into the wall to verify -- if it still stays cool, then it's bad.

b) Your thermostat is not kicking on at a high enough temperature -- move the thermostat probe away from the hottest point of the heat mat and adjust as necessary. I had to move mine near the edge.

You really need a good thermometer -- your hand is not good enough to dial in the temp.