Am I on the right track?

[mechnut450]

sounds good to me I would wonder how you will set the heating unit up attaching it ot the tub or to the place it will sit. ( if room drafty consider a towel to help limit drafts and such) I also set everything up about 3 week befoer hand to see how the temps work out and if possible stock up now on some frozen rodents ( rat pups or so so you have a few on hand incase money goes poof and you not able ot get food items a few weeks. )

[Vypyrz]

My opinion is that you definitely need a thermostat to control the UTH, and here's why. Just because it says that the UTH won't get over 95F only means that the certain percentage of the total batch that was tested at their facility didn't get over 95F. What you don't know are the conditions that they are tested under. Now once you mount it to the bottom of an enclosure and add substrate, this will slow down the heat dissipation and cause an insulation effect where the heat will build up along the bottom surface of your enclosure. My first set-up was a glass tank and I had a small UTH that wasn't supposed to get over 95 so I was using it un-regulated. The day I bought my temp gun I moved the substrate aside and shot the temp of the glass... 105F. I immediately went and got a dimmer switch and ordered a thermostat. My lesson was learned, and fortunately my snake didn't get burned...

[Paysons Bps]

I would use paper towls for substate, its cheaper and hold hummidity great!

[BuckeyeBalls]

Btw i had talked to rich from RBI and a few others. Yes it says it doesnt get past 95*. But then again from what i was told it also depends on ur ambient temp in ur house. If its to low u may have trouble having it even get up to the temp u need. And if the temp in ur house is too hot it may cause the pad to get over 95*

Correct me if im wrong this is just what i have been told.

[alittleFREE]

I keep my room around 80 degrees (give or take a few), depending on the time of day. At night it doesn't get below 78. I like to keep it warm for my Beardie, because she's in a 40 gal tank which doesn't hold heat too well.

I think I may just go ahead and try to get the thermostat anyway, just to be on the safe side. I would rather have one and be overly-sure of the heat, than to not have one and constantly be worrying/having problems.

[mommanessy247]

i second that. "better safe then sorry!" i always say.

[David802]

i second that. "better safe then sorry!" i always say.

Especially were a live animal is concerned. I second that as well.

Biggest suggestion I have is get everything ahead of time and get it set up and burned in. Last thing you want to do is have to stress over whether or not your tank is going to take a temp nose dive or whether or not your new BP is going to get sick because you are still adjusting while the snake is trying to settle in.

Someone already suggested letting it sit for 3 weeks, I don't think it needs that long but deffinatly a week or so. It'll make the change a TON easier on the snake to go right in to a stable habitat.

[alittleFREE]

Especially were a live animal is concerned. I second that as well.

Biggest suggestion I have is get everything ahead of time and get it set up and burned in. Last thing you want to do is have to stress over whether or not your tank is going to take a temp nose dive or whether or not your new BP is going to get sick because you are still adjusting while the snake is trying to settle in.

Someone already suggested letting it sit for 3 weeks, I don't think it needs that long but deffinatly a week or so. It'll make the change a TON easier on the snake to go right in to a stable habitat.

Yep, that's why I'm asking questions now rather than later. After this weekend, I'm hoping to be able to order the UTH, thermostat, and acurite [couldn't find one at my walmart]. So all of that should be here before this month is over, and I am not getting the snake until mid-July (if all goes as planned). I should have ample time to set things up and test it all out.

[Breadbug500]

For securing that lid use luggage straps!

[alittleFREE]

For securing that lid use luggage straps!

I'm not quite sure what you mean. I google image'd it, but I found a few different products (at least, from what I can see). Could you explain?

I obviously don't travel very much lol.