setting up my first tank

[gmcclurelssu]

as of right now, this is what my tank looks like. i just got a humidity sensor and am waiting for everything to equalize, but i know the humidity and temperatures are below what they should be.

http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/h...u/DSCN1403.jpg

i know there are some more things that are going to need changed, but being that this is my first shot at this, any input would be great

[starmom]

Here is a great 'sticky': a write up regarding ways to do glass tanks: http://www.ball-pythons.net/forums/s...ad.php?t=56846
Please read this info and you'll learn a ton! Any questions you have that this tome (!) doesn't answer, or you have questions about, ask! Your tank looks like it's coming along, but the 'sticky' will help you along further!

[deeplove]

Nice setup. What are you using for substrate? Is it Eco Earth or something? I just bought the Zoo Med Repti Bark for my humidity issues.

[gmcclurelssu]

Nice setup. What are you using for substrate? Is it Eco Earth or something? I just bought the Zoo Med Repti Bark for my humidity issues.

yea, its the eco earth. although, now that i have a humidity sensor, i am noticing that in my enclosure the humidity level doesn't stay up. it spikes right after wetting the substrate down, then levels back off. from what i've been reading, the heat lamp combined with a mesh top is just sucking the water vapor right out.

[bonheki]

Not bad actually pretty cool! What kind of bulb are you useing? And how much watts?

[starmom]

I would suggest 2 identical hides, one on the warm and one on the cool side, small enough for the ball to feel the sides of the hide on the sides of his coils when he is inside of them. Also, the tank is really tall and you're losing a lot of the humidity from that (and the glass...) Can you get a shorter tank? Some people use 20Long tanks and say it helps somewhat with the temp and humidity fluxes.
What are you using for belly heat and how are you controlling that heat?
Is the lamp on to keep ambient temps up? Do you keep it on the time?
It's cool that you're reading and figuring it all out!! Keep it up!!

[gmcclurelssu]

right now my heat lamp is a 150 watt, the other lamp is a 100 watt. the tank is a 50gallon breeder (what was recommended to me at the pet store). its a fairly large snake already, about 40 inches. after reading some more of that 'sticky', i plan on adding some heavy plastic that we have left over from covering our windows to the top of the cage to help keep in water vapor.

as far ans the hides are concerned, is it critical that they are 'identical' or just same general size and shape?

as far as belly heat is concerned, i have nothing right now. the pet store said i 'should' be fine with the heating that i have. but after reading these forums fore a while, i think we have some very different opinions on how to do things. the people i talked to had several snakes themselves, so i don't want to discount their advice entirely, but i have read a lot of opinions otherwise.

[gmcclurelssu]

well, good news! my temps for the warm and cool side are finally correct (give or take a couple degrees) and my humidity is finally where it should be. adding that heavy plastic to the lid really did the trick!

[starmom]

I am so happy the sticky helped you with your set-up; it's really thorough and well written! How are you measuring your temps?

[gmcclurelssu]

an infrared temp gun and one of the digital temp/humidity readers