Covering up the back and sides?

Hey Everyone!

We just bought our first tank (So flipping excited) and we're gonna work on the set up for a week or so before buying a snake. I've read about covering up the sides, and I'm going to, but I have a question about the back.

Our tank is right against a white wall, so there won't be any movement behind it what-so-ever. Should I still cover up the back, or should the plain jane white wall be ok?

Thanks in advance!

not to hijack your thread, but i was wondering the same about a tub. i dont have the sides covered at all..idk if i should or not. but to try and help, from what ive heard i dont think the back side would matter...but wait on one of the pros haha.
goodluck!

The wall should be okay, but it wouldn't hurt to cover up the back as well. Balls like dark spaces, so the white might reflect a little too much light. Also, if you're going to cover the sides up it might help to use an insulated material which may help keep the heat in a little better.

I'm not too worried about heat. We're putting it in our office, and I have my computer on all day which gives off some heat. A window that isn't insulated very well (Bah, renting -_-). And since we live in the California valley, it gets pretty hot. That on top of the UTH. I guess covering up the back wouldn't help. It's not like it's going to save a whole tree if I don't use the extra paper.

And for the tub, I wouldn't think you'd need to cover it up. I've seen many not covered.

If you want any more help with your setup please feel free to ask! Or post a picture, pictures are much easier than describing it all.

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Originally Posted by Elise.m

I'm not too worried about heat. We're putting it in our office, and I have my computer on all day which gives off some heat. A window that isn't insulated very well (Bah, renting -_-). And since we live in the California valley, it gets pretty hot. That on top of the UTH. I guess covering up the back wouldn't help. It's not like it's going to save a whole tree if I don't use the extra paper.

And for the tub, I wouldn't think you'd need to cover it up. I've seen many not covered.

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yeah thats what i was thinking. i might do something though anyways...i was just wwondering if it was neccesary.

I'm pretty confident that I'll get the set up right. Then again, I'm very stubborn ;) But if I do have problems, I will definitely post.

Well, while I'm at it... I was reading the ReptiTherm booklet that came with it, and it stresses how important it is for water to not hit the bottom of the tank. Should I put newspaper under the substrate, just to play it safe?

Is the reptitherm the UTH you are using? I don't think it would matter if water hit the bottom. It will happen eventually. Spilled water, urine. You can't avoid it with just newspaper.

yeah that's what the package says. Repti Therm UTH.

Cool, it wouldn't be that much of a big deal if it did I guess. I'm home all day anyways so if it does spill I'll be able to clean it... Thanks!

Well, that is a new one for me! I have never heard of keeping water off the bottom of the tank with a UTH. Now keeping water off the UTH itself is important but it should be outside the enclosure. Hmm

It says that since it heats up the glass, if water hits the glass it'll cause "stress cracks" and will then void the warranty on the UTH. I got bored and read the entire booklet, lol.

Lol awesome. I guess that makes sense. Since you are (hopefully) using a thermostat, you shouldn't have that problem.

Yep. And since my BF works in the QC paving business, they use temp guns alot, so we didn't have to buy one of those! Yay for saving money.

Awesome! Free stuff is great. I use plastic chinese food boxes for hides :P

LOL, nice! At least you can say you save money and recycle!

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Originally Posted by Elise.m

It says that since it heats up the glass, if water hits the glass it'll cause "stress cracks" and will then void the warranty on the UTH. I got bored and read the entire booklet, lol.

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keeping the uth between 90-92 degrees wont cause cracks, your good lol.

Would foam core poster board in craft stores give extra help in holding heat in?

Re. cracked glass, yes, the instruction booklet that came with our ZooMed UTH emphasized that. I don't know what temperature it takes for the glass to crack, but whatever the UTH mat itself is set to, the more substrate above it, the less heat that would reach the snake. I'm glad we have an inch of bark in our tank because I spilled a bit of water out of the water dish a couple of days ago. It didn't hit the glass directly.

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Originally Posted by Patricia

Would foam core poster board in craft stores give extra help in holding heat in?

Re. cracked glass, yes, the instruction booklet that came with our ZooMed UTH emphasized that. I don't know what temperature it takes for the glass to crack, but whatever the UTH mat itself is set to, the more substrate above it, the less heat that would reach the snake. I'm glad we have an inch of bark in our tank because I spilled a bit of water out of the water dish a couple of days ago. It didn't hit the glass directly.

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Yes, foam core board would help hold in heat..


Just wait til the snake is bigger and takes a huge pee. Its like spilling 3 water dishes!

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Originally Posted by Kaorte

Just wait til the snake is bigger and takes a huge pee. Its like spilling 3 water dishes!

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:O :8:
(I finally posted pictures of our little snakey over in the Pictures board, so you can see how little it is.)