Question?

how do i safely raise the humidity and keep it a steady temperature? with my heat lamp off my humidity is around 50 and with it on its around 40 but with it off my terrarium temp drops to 80 and with my heat lamp on its around 85+. what should i do?

Get rid of the lamp and get a UTH

i did get rid of the heat lamp and i have a UTH and i leave that on all day and my tank only gets to maybe 80F to 83F on the hot side and my cool side gets to 76F to 79F. ppl are telling me that it should be around 90.

is it on a T-stat ?

your talking about a thermostat for the heating pad right?

Yes thats what they are talking about. If you can't afford a thermostat at least get a rheostat, you should be able to find one at a hardware store pretty easily (and cheap). Just get something to control temps. Hopefully you are using something accurate to read the temperatures. Not a stick on thermometer, they give false readings most of the time considering they aren't actually taking the temp readings in the correct spot.

You could even make a rheostat if needed. i needed a temp fix and i happened to have everything i needed, an extension cord, a wiring box, and a dimmer switch. also electrical tape and a couple wire caps. there's probably a DIY somewhere around here too. But if you have the money get a thermostat, completely worth the investment. Good luck!

ok well i dont think i have those pieces but i will look. whats better to use a rheostat or a thermostat? what should the temperature of the heat pad be at? the one have now is is a flukers heat mat 7 watts 110 volts and .06 amps and its double insulated

i use a herp stat, its proportional like the rhoestat i built. I think a proportional t stat is the way to go, i believe its one the best things you can do for your collection, or even 1 snake. any proportional t stat will automatically adjust itself to stay at whatever temp youre looking for, as with the rehostat you will have to keep manually adjusting the out put.

ok so i will have to invest in a thermostat. what should the temperature of my heating pad be?

A thermostat is preferable. Try this one: http://www.amazon.com/Hydrofarm-MTPR...0858892&sr=8-1

You want the surface temp where the UTH is (right on the glass under the substrate) to be between 90-95*F. You must measure this spot with a digital probed thermometer or a temp gun. If you aren't using a digital thermometer with a probe then you aren't getting an accurate reading.

If your ambient temperatures are above 75*F then you really don't need a heat lamp. If you want to raise it a bit, use a low wattage red bulb. Any heat lamp will lower the humidity so avoid it if you can.

Alright thanx so much. A will get a proportional thermostat for my heat pad and a digital temp guage with a probe and a low watt red light for my lamp. My snake will only hide in one of it's hides no matter were I put it, it will always hide in it. Can this be bad if it's located on the cool side, or should I move it to the hot side?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Nick_bp

i did get rid of the heat lamp and i have a UTH and i leave that on all day and my tank only gets to maybe 80F to 83F on the hot side and my cool side gets to 76F to 79F. ppl are telling me that it should be around 90.

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You want ambient air in the low 80's (80-83). You want a hot spot in the low 90's (90-93). To create the hot spot, use the UTH and set the temp to 90. Place a hide over the UTH. The heat from the UTH will get trapped in the hide making a hot spot for the snake. Aside from the hot spot, you want roughly 1/3 of the enclosures floor heated for the snake to help with digestion and controlling body temp.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Nick_bp

Alright thanx so much. A will get a proportional thermostat for my heat pad and a digital temp guage with a probe and a low watt red light for my lamp. My snake will only hide in one of it's hides no matter were I put it, it will always hide in it. Can this be bad if it's located on the cool side, or should I move it to the hot side?

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You should have two identical hides, if they're the --->exact<--- same then he should move between them. Have one on the hot, one on the cold.
If he won't go between then, then the tank may be too big or open, you should add more cover.

Good luck getting those temps correct, he'll be healthier for it.

I dont know if different hides is really an issue. I used to keep mine in a 20g Long enclosure. Had an extra large exo terra rock hide on the warm end and a piece of PVC pipe on the cool end. He would go back and forth using both whenever he felt like it. He never seemed to just stick to one or the other.