Help with getting tank proper

[thefifthdentist]

I would agree with whoever said get rid of the big tank and get something smaller and easier to control the temp and humidity (not to mention less stress on the animal). I am STRUGGLING to get proper conditions maintained as well in a large tank and I have done all of the insulating and stuff. So switch tanks or get plastic.

[Red_Herbs]

UPDATE:

-I'll post the pics next time I'm at my girlfriends.
-The tank is actually like 33 gallons or something? It's 3ftX1ftX1.5ft. I was told it was 50 but on second thought its probably a 30
-I wrapped insulation board around the tank. I also changed his hides to smaller ones since the other two where pretty big and I noticed he was always going into a paper roll tube I put in there.( can they get stuck in those?)
-The temp is like 80/92. But My thermometer on hot side, above the UTH and just a bit above the ground so I'm not sure if I'm suppose to factor in the UTH or something??? I'd love if someone could clarify that for me.

So, yea hopefully he will eat soon. I want to feed him live since he was fed live before but I don't want/can't keep a live rat if he won't eat it. So I will probably try frozen.

[Red_Herbs]

http://s667.photobucket.com/albums/vv32/red_herbs/

alright, I think that should work.
-tank temp is about 80/92-94 in the day and 76/82ish at night.
-two new hides.
-tin foiled all the top except a circle for the lamp

I'll post more updated pics when I can. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

[dr del]

Hi,

Change the light bulb to a red one and avoid the night time drops alltogether.

They are only really used for stimulating breeding and the snake will get all the day/night cycle it needs from the ambient light in the room.


dr del

[Red_Herbs]

Hm, Ok. Would anyone else second that or have any other opinions? I'm basically using a 60 watt normal bulb right now. Just want him to start eating, he is think. I can see his spine stick out.

[gmcclurelssu]

as long as your humidity and temps are in order, you should be all set for now. like Dr. Del said, a red bulb at 60 watts should be good for ambient temps. I would also get a digital thermometer with a probe like Argentra sugested because they tend to be more accurate.

[Kaorte]

Hm, Ok. Would anyone else second that or have any other opinions? I'm basically using a 60 watt normal bulb right now. Just want him to start eating, he is think. I can see his spine stick out.

The temps should not drop at night, if this means keeping the light on 24/7, then you need to switch to a bulb color or a CHE that won't make him stressed out at night.

[Red_Herbs]

alright, sounds good. Any suggestions where I could find a red 60 watt bulb. I could only find fluorescent at home depot/home hardware/ rona/ wal mart/ zellers.

thanks

[Swingline0.0.1]

Any pet store should sell the red bulb you need. (PetCo, Petland, Pet ware house, anything like that)

[Argentra]

Actually, blue bulbs are much better than red. They don't put out huge amounts of heat, and they are much softer as far as light output.

I used red bulbs for a while and my snakes didn't want to roam at night like they usually did (not to mention my BF called them Sith lights). I switched to moonlight bulbs and things were much better.