set-up confirmation

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ok. so now that i have him in the appropriate size tank after mistakenly putting him one too large. lets see what else im doing wrong...lol...
20 gallon glass set up, under tank heater, and heat lamp, on left side with his hide. mulch bought at the reptile shop about an inch thick, water dish on right side. a branch in the middle, back of tank it blocked out. locked screen top. mulch is sprayed with water once a day. i still need to purchase something to measure the humidity level. temp is about 80.

[Alexandra V]

It doesn't sound too bad at all. What's the hot side temperature though? and you may want to put the same style hide on the cool side too, and block out the sides of the tank too (just leaving the front clear).

[BFT12890]

Just as a reminder, how old/big is he?

Things you need,

-Thermometer on hot and cold side, to measure hot, cold, and ambient (88ish hot, 78ish cold, 82ish ambient) "temp is about 80" isnt accurate enough.

-Hide on cold side, I recommend water dish in center or slightly towards hot side (helps increase humidity since you have a heat lamp and also frees up a spot for a cold side hide. The branch isnt really nessecary so make sure you have the essentials (2x hides water dish and temp/humidity gauges) then if there is room incorporate the branch.

-Mulch level should be fine, maybe slightly higher, just make sure the glass isnt accessible so the snake doesnt get burnt by the UTH.

Otherwise, the locking lid, daily misting and blocked off back all sound good.

Hope this helps! sorry if my response sounds harsh, that wasnt my intention.

EDIT:

and block out the sides of the tank too (just leaving the front clear).

- Good point, it wouldnt hurt to cover the sides

ALSO - once you figure out the humidity, if its low put a damp towel on the side of the lid that doesnt have the heater, that will help increase the humidity

[RestlessRobie]

Double check with the caresheet I would also black out the sides of the tank as well as the back. Get a good digital Thermometer to make sure you hot and ambient temps are good. Also make sure you have 2 identical hides snakes will sometimes prefer one hide over the other and not thermoregulate.
Make sure to check the caresheet

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awesome info....i think the hide and water dish may be too big cause it dosnt seem like i have alot of room to put the dish in the middle and an additional hide. i will def block out the sides tomorrow and purchase a second therm and one to measure the humidity. i wish i could figure out how to post a pic of the set up.oh ya i did put a handful of damp spagnum in the hide.
also, i will lose the branch...thanks oh and he is 3'4" but only about an inch and a half thick. 2 years old

[RichL]

Pick up an accurite thermometer/hydrometer @ walmart. It has a probe to measure to temps under the hot hide, to make sure the UTH isn't too hot. Also measures ambient and humidity. Then displays all 3 at the same time for about $12. Can't beat it and a lot of people here use em =)