Heating problem

Hey I just got a ball python and I have a wired topped 10 gallon tank. I bought an exo terra heat emitter 40w pt2044 and my heat is only up to 80. I'm assuming this is bad

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Originally Posted by dynomik24

Hey I just got a ball python and I have a wired topped 10 gallon tank. I bought an exo terra heat emitter 40w pt2044 and my heat is only up to 80. I'm assuming this is bad

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Yes. The hot side needs to be closer to ~90 and the cool side needs to be ~80.
Do you have an under tank heater as well? Are you checking your humidity? What sort of set up do you have?

Check out this caresheet: http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...ius)-Caresheet

I have a 10 gallon glass wire top tank. I don't have an under tank heater and as soon as I used the heat emitter my humidity went to 37

What are you using to measure temperatures/humidity? and where is it placed?

I would recommend getting a UTH (regulated with a thermostat) for the hot side. I keep my humidity at around 50%, how are you measuring direct hot and cold temps, ambients, and the humidity?

I'm useing a digital thermostat and humidity gauge. No I don't have a UTH.

A digital thermostat or thermometer? where is the probe placed?

is it one of the dial hygrometers?

It's digital not a dial. And the entire thermostat is inside the tank under the lamp

The heat emiter will suck the humidity out like a sponge. I still recommend getting an UTH to reach that ~90 hot spot. For humidity, you can use a larger water dish. You can also cover up the screen lid with tin foil, plexiglass, or damp towel.

Sent from my ADR6300 using Tapatalk

so it is a thermostat (it is regulating the heat source... not just telling you what temperature it is = thermometer)

It's a thermometer

This is how I got my glass tanks to work back when I used them.

http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/...t/bd98c3f5.jpg

There is a heat lamp with a 75 watt infrared heat bulb

http://www.petsmart.com/product/inde...uctId=11147193

Paper towel substrate

2 identical hides from reptile basics

http://www.reptilebasics.com/hide-boxes

a ceramic water dish (heavy so the snake cannot tip it over)

Not in the picture but very important is a probed thermometer

these are the best, they cost $12 at Walmart and will tell you 2 temperatures (hot side and cool side) as well as humidity.

http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/...nt/photo-3.jpg

hot side needs to be between 88 &92 degrees while the cool side needs to be between 78 & 82 degrees. 40%-60% humidity normally and 60%-80% during shed.

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...p-w-pics-*DUW*

I would take a normal school binder and cut off the flat parts that enclose the papers. Then get some tin foil and simply choose a bottom and cover the entire flat part with tin foil and place them ontop of the screen top. this will keep in the heat and humidity from escaping. helped me a ton when i first started! I have a 20 gal long; I use a 50 or 60 watt (cant remember which one) and a uth being controlled by a thermostat. It has worked beautifully for me.

I ended up getting the heat up to where it should be but now I'm low on humidity

that's the sacrifice most people have to make. One of the reasons why I switched to PVC Reptile enclosures. My PVC cages stay around 60% humidity without having to mist.

A $7.00 tub from walmart will be alot easier to keep your husbandry correct than any glass tank.

That would require a UTH of some sort though, which also aren't expensive. And if you can't do a real thermostat a lamp dimmer would work in the meantime.

There is a reason that reptile caging is not made out of full single pane glass. Aquariums are designed for fisb. You are going to have to do so much to keep good constant temps and heat. Also has anyone wondered why ball oythons that live in aquariums spend so much time in their hides? They dont want to be on display. I would pick up a nice t8 or something like it and be done with it. Now if you want to use the aquarium you can put foam panels on the 2 sides and the back and cut i piece to put over the top 3/4 and have the one end open for a light. This will at least help in insulating considering the glass doesnt have insulating properties