BP Won't eat?

[Turbo Serpent]

Stick on thermometers are good for measuring the temp of the glass... that is about it.

You want to use a thermometer that either goes in the enclosure (for air temps), use a infrared thermometer gun, or a thermometer with a probe.

Newspaper is fine for substrate.

As far as UTH and thermostat, its really wide open. Most thermostats are rheostat like while others are completely digital. If you can use a rheostat thermostat and set it correctly they do the job just fine. As for UTH you can use any of the zoo-med stick on ones, or you can use heat tape or heat cable as well. It just depends on what is available to you.

[Aerial]

ah, ok i am using both a heat lamp and a UTH- however i don't really think the tank will be warm enough with just the UTH? before i added the heat lamp (and the ball python...) the temp was around 73 with just the UTH, the heat lamp keeps it around, like i said, 84-86 depending on the air temp of the house. also, is the floor temperature, like where the UTH is something i need to be aware of?

[Kaorte]

If your house temperature is below 75* normally then you will probably need a low wattage heat lamp or a space heater for the room. The only downfall to heat lamps is that they sacrifice humidity which is already hard to maintain in a glass tank.

Please get a reliable digital thermometer like the one I mentioned so you can actually see what your temps are. Completely forget what those dial thermometers say.

You need to know the temperature on the floor right where the UTH is. Since you are not using a thermostat, it is probably hot enough to cause a burn. They run up to 120* unregulated and if your snake sits on that too long, it will cook itself. So yes, you need to be aware of that temperature.

[RockyTop]

is the floor temperature, like where the UTH is something i need to be aware of?

Absolutely. That is where the Accurite Indoor/Outdoor thermometer comes in. It has a probe on it. Place that under your substrate, on the glass above where the UTH is. This is the hottest part of your tank. You don't want that to ever get above 95F.

You plug the UTH into the thermostat(i.e, ReptiTemp 500R), then the thermostat into the wall. Adjust the thermostat setting, so that it maintains the desired temp. The ReptiTemp does not have a number indicator, just a Cool-Warm wheel. Adjust that to keep the thermometer probe reading (Outdoor reading is the probe reading. Indoor is ambient temp) 90-92F. The thermostat will continually cut power off and on to the UTH to maintain your temp.

An unregulated UTH (one without a thermostat) can reach temps of 110-120F. So be careful! This will literally burn your snake.

Also, I had the same problem as you. I keep my apt very cool, ~68. So I use a CHE (ceramic heat emitter). It is like a heat bulb, but... does not produce light. Just heat. I have a 15g terrarium, and I use a 60w CHE. This keeps it ~81. It does hurt the humidity a bit, so I had to foil the screen top. If you slide your water bowl a little to the warm side, and have a water bowl with a larger surface area, it will also increase humidity. A slight misting never hurts either

[Aerial]

are there any good digital thermostats around the 10-20$ range?

whats an example of a good reliable digital thermometer?

again, thanks for all the help guys...

[Kaorte]

Lets clarify, there is a difference between a thermometer and thermostat. A thermometer reads temps, where as a thermostat reads temps and adjusts temps accordingly.

There is no digital thermostat in the 10-20$ range, but there is a dial on off thermostat called the reptitemp 500r which is around $25. It is the cheapest thermostat for a single setup. It is hard to find in stores though and you will most likely have to order one online.

As far as thermometers go, the accurite weather station is an indoor outdoor thermometer (for your house) for single setups. It is sold at the home depot, lowes, and walmart for around $12.

[Aerial]

Thanks for all the help guys. I got the repti temp 500r, covered 3 sides of the tank, and got the accu rite thermometer, and today he ate a f/t mouse! I put it in his cage, then wiggled it around for 5 minutes, but no luck. I left for 10 minutes, and tried again but... no luck. I just left the mouse in there so i could try after i watched a tv show or something, and while entering my room to put laundry away i noticed he took the mouse!! While it was just laying there! He got it down in like 5 minutes.

Once again, thanks for all the info and help!!! Now i can sleep in peace

[mpkeelee]

mine will do that sometimes too. either cuz of shed, stress or maybe urs is shy. u may have to put it in their warm hide over night sometimes.