Should I get a jungle carpet python

I'm going to an expo this weekend and I'm wanting to get a jungle carpet python

I'm going to an expo this weekend. I'm wanting to get a jungle carpet python hatchling and want to make sure I'm ready. I have a 10 gallon tank with a hiding spot on each side and a water bowl. The hiding spot on the cool side is 76-80 and the warm side is 80-88. Some websites say this is fine and other say it is not.I need help, is this ok?

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Originally Posted by Saxy snake

I'm going to an expo this weekend. I'm wanting to get a jungle carpet python hatchling and want to make sure I'm ready. I have a 10 gallon tank with a hiding spot on each side and a water bowl. The hiding spot on the cool side is 76-80 and the warm side is 80-88. Some websites say this is fine and other say it is not.I need help, is this ok?

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The 10 gallon will be good until it starts to grow. Keep the temperature on the cool side 78-80 and the warm side you want the tank to be 88ish. You want to have a warm side and cool side if possible so the snake can choose where it wants to be during any given time. It may be more difficult to regulate the temp to that but you can do it, several options and for humidity 50-60% is good. I could give you a rundown on everything but I'm sure other people will chime in and I don't feel like getting in a debate with using a heat emitter.

Thanks Neil, I do have a cool and hot side with the cool side being 76 in the hiding spot and 80 on the basking while the hot side of the tank is 80 in the hiding spot and the basking being 88 while the 50 watt is on.
p.s. I'm using two 50 watts a day and a night and I already have all the lighting so I can't return it and buy a heat mat.

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Originally Posted by Saxy snake

Thanks Neil, I do have a cool and hot side with the cool side being 76 in the hiding spot and 80 on the basking while the hot side of the tank is 80 in the hiding spot and the basking being 88 while the 50 watt is on.
p.s. I'm using two 50 watts a day and a night and I already have all the lighting so I can't return it and buy a heat mat.

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Well being it's nocturnal, you're going to want to use a ceramic heat emitter instead of a bulb because in the long run it'll be a happier snake. I'm a bit confused after reading what you said about the temps and hidings, maybe I'm just misreading it though.

I keep a hide on each side of the tank, one side I always kept around 78, and the other side I always kept around 88. I had a hide on the hot side and cool side. For the hot side I used a ceramic heat emitter that way no light was there, and for the cool side I used a night bulb. I kept both on a dimmer as well as the UTH because I always left the UTH on 24/7 that way it doesn't require a lot of watts to get your basking temp and stuff situated.

So what watt should I use?

I'm sorry about all that confusion , but how much does this heat emitter cost at an expo?

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Originally Posted by Saxy snake

I'm sorry about all that confusion , but how much does this heat emitter cost at an expo?

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It's okay, sorry I took so long to respond, I was laying down taking a hour nap with my heating pad on my back.

At an expo, I'm not sure. I think I used to use a 150watt black colored ceramic heat emitter(i think colors are diff temps white/brown/black). It was $20 from bigappleherp. Before you order though, check on the light fixture to see about the maximum wattage. I kept it on a $10 dimmer switch from lowe's so I could turn it up or down to get the desired temp. I also had a $15 digital thermostat by fluker which told me the humidity and the temp. I can give you links of everything so you know visually what to look for.

As far as the night bulb I think I have a 50watt and if I run it on my cool side which is the basking spot at night time at full power, not dimmed at all then I believe it's about 80-82 at night but again, I have UTH's on both size, larger one under the day basking spot and small under the night basking spot. So that controls how much I have to use the light. I can take you pictures of everything if you would like, though this current setup is for my diurnal RBS.

Thank you for being so much help. It turns out my thermostat was broken so I'm going to have to get a new one today and measure it all again.

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Originally Posted by Neal

I kept it on a $10 dimmer switch from lowe's so I could turn it up or down to get the desired temp. I also had a $15 digital thermostat by fluker which told me the humidity and the temp. I can give you links of everything so you know visually what to look for.

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You mean a thermometer?

OP, since it seems you're not as experienced in husbandry, I would strongly advise against using a lamp dimmer to control your temperatures. They don't regulate the temperature, they simply provide a steady wattage to whatever appliance is plugged into them. This means that if your ambient room temperature were to rise significantly (i.e. right now, in the transition from spring to summer weather) the enclosure temperature could hypothetically rise from 88 to 98- a dangerous situation. A thermostat regulates the temperature, which is much more reliable and you can 'set it and forget it'. Not the case with the dimmer.

http://www.amazon.com/Hydrofarm-MTPR.../dp/B000NZZG3S

This is the most inexpensive thermostat that is widely accepted as a serviceable unit, and will do a much better job ensuring the safety of your pet against burns. Herpstat thermostats by Spyder Robotics are the golden standard, and if you are able to afford it you should absolutely invest in one.

The thermostat is NOT the component of your setup to save a few bucks on.

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Originally Posted by Saxy snake

Thank you for being so much help. It turns out my thermostat was broken so I'm going to have to get a new one today and measure it all again.

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I love to help when I can, here's something like my setup.


http://www.drsfostersmith.com/images..._FS29896DZ.jpg
This is the fluker's digital thermostat that I like.

http://imageshack.us/a/img585/519/imag0446k.jpg
These are the dimmer switches I was talking about, two of them have a light that shows when they're no, the others don't have a light and were $2 more and I didn't realize I bought them until it was too late. I marked the sharpie line on the UTH's to where I know they won't burn the snake, because an UTH left unchecked can cause burn marks.

http://imageshack.us/a/img841/8687/imag0447b.jpg
Just a close up of the two light dimmer switches so you can see how much juice I actually use.

http://imageshack.us/a/img824/2438/imag0448q.jpg
The reason I use these dimmer switches is because you don't have to hard wire them, you simply plug it in to something and plug the light fixture or something in the back of it.

Neal,

I really think you are misinformed as to the function of a thermometer vs a thermostat. The unit you have pictured and are suggesting to be used as a thermostat is, in fact, a thermometer/hygrometer. Fluker's site even says so and sells it as such:

http://www.flukerfarms.com/temperaturegauges.aspx

This is a perfectly good thermometer/hygrometer that can give you readings on the temperature and humidity, however I (as well as most other members) prefer the Acurite model from Walmart. It gives a hot AND cool end as well as humidity, is about half the price, and can be conveniently bought in person rather than having to wait/pay for shipping.

To the OP, nothing in the pictures above is a thermostat. Running one rheostat (lamp dimmer) to control your temps is unreliable enough- 4 rheostats will be very difficult to maintain and monitor in most situations. Here are some examples of thermostats that members on the boards here use, in order of increasing price

a.) The aforementioned Hydrofarm: http://www.amazon.com/Hydrofarm-MTPR.../dp/B000NZZG3S

b.) Ranco, another inexpensive unit slightly more reliable than the Hydrofarm: http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/RAN...P77?Pid=search

c.) Vivarium Electronics: http://www.vivariumelectronics.com/Products.html

d.) Herpstat 1, the most reliable and highest quality of those listed here: http://spyderrobotics.com/products/herpstat1Basic.html

If you do decide to use the Ceramic Heat Emitter route, you really should be using a thermostat to make sure that you do not burn your snake.

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Originally Posted by BLM94

Neal,

I really think you are misinformed as to the function of a thermometer vs a thermostat. The unit you have pictured and are suggesting to be used as a thermostat is, in fact, a thermometer/hygrometer. Fluker's site even says so and sells it as such:

http://www.flukerfarms.com/temperaturegauges.aspx

This is a perfectly good thermometer/hygrometer that can give you readings on the temperature and humidity, however I (as well as most other members) prefer the Acurite model from Walmart. It gives a hot AND cool end as well as humidity, is about half the price, and can be conveniently bought in person rather than having to wait/pay for shipping.

To the OP, nothing in the pictures above is a thermostat. Running one rheostat (lamp dimmer) to control your temps is unreliable enough- 4 rheostats will be very difficult to maintain and monitor in most situations. Here are some examples of thermostats that members on the boards here use, in order of increasing price

a.) The aforementioned Hydrofarm: http://www.amazon.com/Hydrofarm-MTPR.../dp/B000NZZG3S

b.) Ranco, another inexpensive unit slightly more reliable than the Hydrofarm: http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/RAN...P77?Pid=search

c.) Vivarium Electronics: http://www.vivariumelectronics.com/Products.html

d.) Herpstat 1, the most reliable and highest quality of those listed here: http://spyderrobotics.com/products/herpstat1Basic.html

If you do decide to use the Ceramic Heat Emitter route, you really should be using a thermostat to make sure that you do not burn your snake.

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I'm not misinformed, I meant to say thermometer but I typed thermostat, not sure why and I only realized it because you said something. I know the difference between something that monitors and something that will adjust according to the temp. So yea that was my fault. I also use a laser gun besides using two thermometers to measure the temperature, but everybody is different.

Also me running the dimmers that I run isn't unreliable, I've done it for years with no problems at all. My room stays a regulated temperature, so for me it works, and if you setup properly then it'll work anyways.