Help with tank heating

[TreF68]

So i am getting my Rosy Boa this Tuesday and today i am getting her tank ready and whatnot.

So far the tank is 28x18x18, Im using sand as a substrate (Yes i will be feeding outside the tank.) I am using a UTH that covers one side of the tank, and have it hooked to a rheostat to make sure it does not burn the snake. I have a probe thermometer directly over the UTH to monitor the temp at all time.

I imagine it will take awhile to go from 70 degrees to the required 85-90 on the hot side, but its been a few hours with no luck. Im not talking about the probe, but the thermometer that will read the entire temp of the tank.

from what i have read the UTH should suffice, is that not the case? Will i also need some sort of heat lamp on top of the tank?

I guess im just hoping someone else has experience with sand and would let me know if i should wait and see if the temp goes up, or if i should go get a heat lamp.

help!

TY,

[ericeod]

I use an UTH for my Rosies. I just use a little less substrate over the UTH, but give them enough to still burrow if they need to. I went away from sand and decided to go with coconut fiber substrate (this), which they can burrow into much easier. I used crushed walnut (a sand substitute), but they seem to like the coconut fiber better.

I also use UVB lighting on 12hr cycles to simulate daytime.

[TreF68]

The substrate itself is the right temperature for the tank, its a toasty 92 on one side and about 80ish on the other, (dont have probe there so i dont know for sure) The thign is the air in the tank above the substrate is still in the 70's. I emailed the breeder of the snake and he said that belly heat is most important with the species, and that he wouldnt recommend an heat lamp.

Im thinking im going to change to coconut but it stinks that i spend 30 bucks on sand haha.

Thanks

[blushingball419]

Im thinking im going to change to coconut but it stinks that i spend 30 bucks on sand haha.

Yeah, even if sand is more like what they have in the wild, something like coco fiber would probably be easier to burrow into (plus it's cheaper haha). I was wondering though... I use coco fiber for my ball python for the sole reason that it seems to hold humidity better... so would that be a problem with rosies?

I'm going to be using shredded aspen for mine (the zoo med kind, not the kind that's mainly chips and flakes). I use it for my corns and king, and it really packs down nicely and seems to hold burrows well.

[TreF68]

Yeah, even if sand is more like what they have in the wild, something like coco fiber would probably be easier to burrow into (plus it's cheaper haha). I was wondering though... I use coco fiber for my ball python for the sole reason that it seems to hold humidity better... so would that be a problem with rosies?

I'm going to be using shredded aspen for mine (the zoo med kind, not the kind that's mainly chips and flakes). I use it for my corns and king, and it really packs down nicely and seems to hold burrows well.

I swapped to coconut fiber because the sand was shredding my hands! they got so dry it was crazy! The coconut fiber is really good at holding moisture, but it also stays dry as long as you dont spray it down. I only put about a centimeter of water in my rosies dish so there is little risk of her spilling it. Its dried out over night and is working really well. heats up nicely as well once dry.

Also, she loves diggin in it!