Finished building rack & a few questions

[elevenphoenix]

I finally finished building my rack and got it set up in my house. As of now, I'm using 4 41qt tubs and nine 28qts with 11in of Flexwatt. The flexwatt and thermostat is coming in the mail tomorrow.

Questions:

1. About where should I place the probe for the thermostat? Start at the middle and adjust til I find what works?

2. As for individual thermometers for the tubs, do you have 1 thermometer/hygrometer per tub? Is it better just to invest in an infared heat gun?

3. What temperature should I set my thermostat to start off with?

4. Also, since the BPs will be enclosed in a rack, do they still need hides?

[Rakk101]

I place the probe in the middle and adjust from there.

I tried the individual thermometer way and it just got to be to many thermometers, I went and bought a nice heat gun

I set mine up for about a week before I put any animals in, I usually set the thermostat around 100 and then work from there. I use back heat on my racks, with belly heat you could probably start a bit lower.

I keep boas and do not know if the BPs still need hides or not. I do have some boas that still like their hides in the racks though, once they grow out of the racks and into their cages they do not get hides anymore.

Hope this helps

* Very nice rack by the way

[Spaniard]

I finally finished building my rack and got it set up in my house. As of now, I'm using 4 41qt tubs and nine 28qts with 11in of Flexwatt. The flexwatt and thermostat is coming in the mail tomorrow.

Questions:

1. About where should I place the probe for the thermostat? Start at the middle and adjust til I find what works? The middle of the rack is a good place to start. No matter where you put it there will always be a slight difference between the bottom and top level temperature wise.

2. As for individual thermometers for the tubs, do you have 1 thermometer/hygrometer per tub? Is it better just to invest in an infared heat gun?

IMO a temp gun is a must for every herper. They come in very handy from checking surface temps, snake body temps, even water temps for soaking.

When I first started using racks I also kept one thermo/hygro that I moved around the different levels. After I got the handle on what my ambient temps and humidity were like I stopped using it.

3. What temperature should I set my thermostat to start off with?

Start with 94 and work your way up.

4. Also, since the BPs will be enclosed in a rack, do they still need hides?

You'll find that some need two, others need one, and some need none. Depends on the individual snake. I would start with one hide and add or remove as you see fit.

[elevenphoenix]

I place the probe in the middle and adjust from there.

I tried the individual thermometer way and it just got to be to many thermometers, I went and bought a nice heat gun

Thank you! I am thinking I should probably just buy a heat gun. Can you buy one at Walmart or Home Depot? Is a heat gun the same thing as a temperature gun (stupid question, I know)?

How do you measure the humidity?

[elevenphoenix]

Thanks for the advice. Where can you buy a temp gun ? What do you use to measure humidity?

[Spaniard]

You could probably find one at an autozone or some other car part type store. Mechanics use them a lot; I can't recall if I ever saw one in Walmart or Home Depot. Temp gun and heat gun are the same

[Spaniard]

Here's is one of the many sites you could also get a temp gun from.

http://www.proexotics.com/store/home.php?cat=248

[Rakk101]

I am sorry I meant temp. gun, I went and got a real rugged one with a rubber skin (my kids liked to play with the last one and broke it) I got it from a store called Grainger that sells construction/heating and air sort of stuff to contractors.

You can get them from any of the reptile equipment suppliers though or if you are looking for a store to just walk in and buy them hobby shops usually sell them, people use them to get temp readings off of remote control engines

[elevenphoenix]

So if I buy a temp gun, what should I use to measure humidity?

[Royalherper]

a temp gun and heat gun are not the same. a temp gun measures heat and a heat gun provides heat. I have never seen the need for one but granger is a good place to start. they sell almost everything tool related. the rack is really nice. clean and simple. i tend to put the probe in an empty tub. u dont have to worry about it getting knocked around that way. just tape it down inside the tub in the middle of where the flex is gonna be. make slight adjustments where with your rheostat. as far as hides in a tub, i dont use any. but the front and sides of my rack are covered so i dont feel it necessary. if they dont want to eat then a hide might be necessary. good luck.