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  1. #1
    BPnet Senior Member rufretic's Avatar
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    ARS rack, ambient temp too low?

    Ok so I just got my new ARS hatchling rack built and setup, it’s awesome! But, I keep my snakes in my basement and it stays around 65. My other racks the ambient is in the mid 70s with the 11” heat tape I used and everyone has been fine, no issues. This new rack is not getting warm enough ambient from the 4” heat tape, it’s set at a 95 hot spot and still the ambient won’t go past 65. Is this not going to work? I have no idea what to do if it won’t, I can’t heat the whole basement so I don’t know how to get the ambient temp up. I only have a few weeks to get this right before I’m going to have hatchlings to put in it. Will they be ok as long as they have the hot spot to regulate their temp or do I need to get the ambient up somehow? Any help or suggestions would be great.

    Here it is



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  2. #2
    BPnet Veteran highqualityballz's Avatar
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    Yeah I’d say 65 ambient is not gonna work. I suggest maybe making a little room in your basement and heat that instead of having to heat the whole basement. I’ve even seen breeders keep their collection in hydroponic grow tents. I know that’s probably not gonna help you as you need a quick solution but I thought I throw out a few suggestions.

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    BPnet Senior Member jmcrook's Avatar
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    Re: ARS rack, ambient temp too low?

    What type of racks do you have that are staying in the mid 70s in the same basement?


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    BPnet Veteran treaux's Avatar
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    An oil heater in front of it on a thermostat can help your ambient. It can run up the power bill though.

    Ultimately, open air racks are meant for heated rooms. I keep mine in the smallest room of my house with an oil heater and humidifier to keep the whole room at the ideal temp and humidity.
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  7. #5
    BPnet Senior Member rufretic's Avatar
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    Re: ARS rack, ambient temp too low?

    Quote Originally Posted by jmcrook View Post
    What type of racks do you have that are staying in the mid 70s in the same basement?


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    Homemade. I think they vent less and they have the much larger heat tape.

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  9. #6
    BPnet Senior Member jmcrook's Avatar
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    Re: ARS rack, ambient temp too low?

    Quote Originally Posted by rufretic View Post
    Homemade. I think they vent less and they have the much larger heat tape.
    Covering all the sides of the new rack with foil lined foam insulation would probably help a little. Wouldn’t look very aesthetically pleasing though


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  10. #7
    BPnet Senior Member rufretic's Avatar
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    Re: ARS rack, ambient temp too low?

    Quote Originally Posted by jmcrook View Post
    Covering all the sides of the new rack with foil lined foam insulation would probably help a little. Wouldn’t look very aesthetically pleasing though


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    That’s actually on my homemade racks already so maybe it’s helping more than I thought. I’m going to put it on this one and run all the heat tape even though they won’t all be full. The extra heat and the insulation will hopefully be enough to get the ambient up a bit.

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    BPnet Senior Member cchardwick's Avatar
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    I'm thinking grow tent too, you could add a space heater on a thermostat and a fan in there to keep the air all the same temp. I keep my ambient at 81F and my hotspot at 88 F. Another option would be to build your own enclosure. I'd use 2x2 lumber, it's real cheap. Use that along with 1/4" plywood and build something on three sides and the top. Then on the front you could put some plastic, or totally enclose it and build a door, or maybe use a removable front somehow...

    Here's a couple photos that may give you an idea, I built this about 20 years ago back when I had canaries. the building was in my garage, I made it the same size as a sheet of plywood, 4 feet x 8 feet.





  13. #9
    BPnet Senior Member rufretic's Avatar
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    Re: ARS rack, ambient temp too low?

    For anyone that runs into this issue, taping insulation board to the sides and back is a quick easy fix. I was shocked it made as big a difference as it did but that change alone brought my ambient temp from 65 up to 73. It’s still low but I think I can live with it and the snakes should be fine with it and a 92 hot spot to warm up if needed. It doesn’t look too terrible.



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  15. #10
    BPnet Senior Member jmcrook's Avatar
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    Re: ARS rack, ambient temp too low?

    Quote Originally Posted by rufretic View Post
    For anyone that runs into this issue, taping insulation board to the sides and back is a quick easy fix. I was shocked it made as big a difference as it did but that change alone brought my ambient temp from 65 up to 73. It’s still low but I think I can live with it and the snakes should be fine with it and a 92 hot spot to warm up if needed. It doesn’t look too terrible.



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    Nice! Glad that worked out. Might even get another degree to two higher if you insulate the top? Heat rises so theoretically you’d trap at least some heat I’d imagine


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