What do you guys think?

This is my first setup. This is a picture of it before I joined the RedTailBoa forums and got some critiquing.

http://img65.photobucket.com/albums/...y/DSCN0186.jpg

This is after, any suggestions?

http://img65.photobucket.com/albums/...y/DSCN0201.jpg

This is my first snake ever... I'm trying to give her the best. When money permits, I'm going to switch out of the aquarium, I know it's no good for humidity.

Okay, I have some questions about the digital thermometer. What is that that says 136 on the digital thermometer? I really hope that is not the temperature in the tank, that would be WAY to hot!!! That is an understatement. The hot side should not be much over 90 degrees.

I also suggest actually placing the thermometer ontop of the substrate instead of up on the side of the tank. That way you can get a reading of the floor temps your snake would be experiencing.

And it does look like your humidity is too low. You should try covering the screen top with something. Some people use duct tape, contact paper, or damp towels.

Please let me know about the 136 thing, that's scaring me!!!

Ok, a couple things.

I would switch to using an infared heat bulb. Its red, emits more heat than spotlights, and is much less stressful on the snake. The red heat bulb can also be left on 24/7 in case your night time temps drop below 78-80.

A glass terrarium can be used if you keep humidity in via covering the screen top with contact paper or a combo of reynolds wrap and duct tape. Just leave about a 1/2" circle around the heat lamp so you don't melt any plastic. However, there are many people here who use the sterilite container, and that setup is the ultimate in function over fashion. Those setups are really easy to maintain. But then again, if you can get the humidity and temp right in a glass enclosure, more power to ya.

Yes the humidity is on the low end. You want to keep it near the 60 to 70% range. Cover the top 2/3 of ur screen top with contact paper and see if that helps. Do you use anything to control the temps of ur undertank heater? Let us know how it goes. Otherwise it looks like you have a great looking setup. And welcome to the forums.

Thanks. Yeah, I took that picture last night. That 136 was the temperature of the UTH. The sensor is under the substrate right on top of the heater which is under the glass. The people over at the RedTailBoa forums told me to unplug it because it was way to hot, so I did. I ordered a Electronic BAH-1000 Thermostat... that should be here soon, until then I'm just using the CHE on top and that's all. I'm not using anything to control the temperature of the UTH. What do you guys suggest about the CHE? It doesen't seem like it is making the hot side hot enough.

I'm doing this right now to keep the humidity up.

http://img65.photobucket.com/albums/...y/DSCN0202.jpg

I'm not using a spotlight and because it emits no light it is not at all stressful for the snake and thusly can be used 24/7 - CHE = Ceramic Heat Emitter

This may work better than the towel. There's duct tape on the bottom of the screen just like the top to prevent there being a sticky side.

https://ball-pythons.net/modules/cop.../Lid%20Web.jpg

What is the warm side temp with the CHE? What is the wattage of the bulb?

Temperature of the warm side with CHE not using the UTH at all is about 83. The bulb is 60W.

Replaced the towel with an undershirt.

http://img65.photobucket.com/albums/...y/DSCN0203.jpg

Humidity was getting WAY too high with such a huge towel on top. Humidity is at 78 right now.

That does sound too low. Can you take the CHE back and get a higher wattage? Once you get the uth on a thermostat, you should be okay though. How is the temp on the cool side?

You could try the contact paper or duct tape for humidity. Be careful with duct tape though, make sure it's secure. Someone here had their ball python stuck in duct tape which ended up ripping of its scales.

Humidity is a little on the high side. 78 to 80 is good during shed. Do not let it exceed 70% for longs periods of time though :) Try covering just 2/3 of the tank and see how it works. If humidity holds at 60% you are good to go.

I took the CHE back and exchanged it for a 100W bulb, no charge, they were the same price. Right now, warm side temperature is 84.4, cool side temperature is 81.1 and humidity is 65%.

I think you'll be fine until your thermostat arrives and you can get the UTH going again. But I wouldn't feed him until then and until you're sure you've got all your temps settled in their proper ranges. Too cold or too hot can make a snake regurge.

If, at some point, you choose to use duct-tape on your cage lid, just put it on the top side...not on the inside. That will keep your snake from getting stuck in it.

And welcome to the forum!! :D

That humidity sounds better. Warm side is still too low - not much of a diff between the warm snad cool sides.

You do need to move the thermometer further down near the substrate.

So what did you end up doing to keep the humidity at 65%?

If using duct tape, I highly advise against putting it on the bottom of the screen inside the tank. Keep it on the outside top of the screen. If inside it may begin to peal off and hand down endangering your snake.

Glad to see you over on this forum!

I changed my enclosure around and I bought a bigger fixture because my other one said it should only be used for a bulb that is 75W at the max. So I bought a new fixture since my CHE is 100W. I want to move some stuff around but I don't know where to put what, someone help me out.

http://img65.photobucket.com/albums/...y/DSCN0235.jpg

Nice work. Quick question on the airpump as I have a setup that uses one as well - will you be running it where it's sitting in the above photo? I wound up having to place mine on a shelf above the tank becasue the vibration those things dish out is quite appreciable (EVEN the "whisper-quiet" models and even after I threw on some rubber feet and even a foam pad under it) and I don't think the lil fella would dig it much.

The quietest models I've ever found are the Rena airpumps. But usually if you put a sponge under it that helps.

I'll move the airpump to the floor or something. I only run the unit when humidity isn't where I need it to be. Do you think that poses a fire hazard to have the CHE right over the log?

Help?

if you are worried about a fire hazard then your setup is way too hot.

Well I wasn't sure if that log would light up because the CHE is right over it.

ill be honest... in a tank that small, it's gonna' be hard to keep a good setup with any sort of lamp. you need to focus on humidity at this point, younger snakes shed more often than adults. try heating the enclosure with a human heating pad. also, modify the lid (if you haven't already) so there is only a little bit of screen exposed.

I have already modified the lid using an idea I got from someone on the RedTailBoa forums. Here is a picture.

http://img65.photobucket.com/albums/...y/DSCN0235.jpg

It's poster board with duct tape all around it. I'm not having any problems with humidity because I did purchase that new setup thing as you can see. Right now I'm just having problems keeping the warm side warm and the cool side cool. Most of the time the temperatures are just about the same. I'm pretty sure this is because I am only using my CHE right now because my UTH will heat up to 130 so I have ordered a thermostat and unplugged the UTH until that gets here. I think when that arrives that will make things awhole lot better. Tanks are a pain to keep a reptile in... but with enough equipment and tank modifcation it is possible. When she grows out of it I'm going to make her a wooden cage so anyone feel free to send me some plans. Thanks.i