Help! Tweaking Ambient Temps + Newbie Set Up

[UnAxie]

Hey All -

I will be a new BP owner within the next few days so I have set up the tank already to make sure all levels are set. I have spent days on here reading the husbandry page and have found so much awesome and helpful information; however I am still having difficulty managing the ambient temps

Set Up: 20 gal. Long; I had an extra tank (am saving for vision) (Pic. Hopefully uploaded)
- Foam core with aluminum foil on 3 out of 4 tank sides (pic of one side shows alum foil on the outside, but the inside is black)
- Zoo Med. UTH
- Jumpstart T-stat (college kid budget, working on Herpstat!) *T-Stat placed between UTH and tank bottom, which is lifted
- Accurite Indoor/Outdoor with Hygrometer (Thermometer probe under substrate on hot side, with small suction cup to keep in place, came with it)
- Locking screen top

Decor:
- 0.5 inches of Cypress mulch
- 2x hides (cool/hot side)
- 2x fake vine plants
- Piece of "wood" - from retail pet store
- water dish is coming soon

These are my readings on the Accurite (pic). (HOT 93F, COOL 71F) I turned down the T-stat, but I cannot figure out how to raise the ambient temp. And the Humidity is "67%"

Any advice welcome, I just want to make sure my new snake can settle into a new home without issues.

Thank You in advance!

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[Bmocken]

For your current set up it looks like you need a room heater for now to bump the room ambient temps. Other option would be to run a separate UTH on its own thermostat and set it to 80. Keep in mind that only warms belly heat and not true ambient heat. Long term solution is what I just went through since I had a very similar issue with my ambient temps. To fix mine I upgraded to an Animal Plastics T8 enclosure and instead of a UTH, used a Radient Heat Panel. After some fussing with probe placement temps are dialed in and I'm no longer sweating in my office.

[Craiga 01453]

You definitely don't need a room heater. No need to heat the entire room in June to get ambient temps in your enclosure.

[UnAxie]

Thank you both! Ended up getting my boy today and getting an Infrared bulb for now to sort out the ambient temp issue (I will make sure to monitor the humidity).

Cool side = 80
Hot side = 90

Here he is - does his being out & about mean he is uncomfortable with the floor temps??? Or is he just not shy and enjoys his wood fixture??


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[Craiga 01453]

He's just checking things out. He'll settle in as long as your husbandry is on point, which it seems it is.

[Bmocken]

You definitely don't need a room heater. No need to heat the entire room in June to get ambient temps in your enclosure.

Even in June in a basement in Ohio temps don't get that high.

[Bmocken]

Thank you both! Ended up getting my boy today and getting an Infrared bulb for now to sort out the ambient temp issue (I will make sure to monitor the humidity).

Cool side = 80
Hot side = 90

Here he is - does his being out & about mean he is uncomfortable with the floor temps??? Or is he just not shy and enjoys his wood fixture??


Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk

Awesome!!

[Craiga 01453]

Even in June in a basement in Ohio temps don't get that high.

Maybe not, but running a room heater in June and heating an entire room for one snake enclosure is a colossal waste of electricity and money and not a logical suggestion. There are several other ways to heat a snake enclosure, all of which are designed specifically for reptile enclosures.
Also, suggesting a second UTH on a separate tstat? So adding an additional item that is not designed for ambient temps is your other suggestion for raising ambient temps? Makes no sense at all...

I'm in MA so I understand cold weather. However, those suggestions just don't make sense. I'm not going to crank my A/C to keep my food cold, I use a fridge for that. It just makes sense to use the right equipment for the job...