Small problem/ possibly easy fix?

[dryates]

So hey, i have my 4 month old ball python in a 20 gallon long, im using reptibark and i have a rock hide on warm side with UTH and temps of 90-92 on the substrate and the cold side with hide are about 73-75 range, humidity is always 55-60% i have the water bowl in the center and foil covering the top, but my ambient temps run 77-80 without anything covering the sides, its glass, and no lamp, he has done really well but what can i do to raise the ambient temp to the mid 80s, like only 5 degrees, im trying not to go overboard if i dont have to. if u need a pic i can send one after i get off work. Please help.

[dr del]

Hi,

Yes you definately want to raise that cold side temp up to 78-82f.

I would try insulating the bottom, sides and back of the tank with either foamboard, reflectix (sp?) or cork sheeting to see if that helps.

If it doesn't then you can add a properly controled UTH on the cool side as well.

But I would try the insulation first.


dr del

[kitedemon]

I agree with del! If you were using heat cable you can run the cable at the recommended (3cm usually) and over the cool side open the spacing up a lot like 8cm but you NEED a thermostat to do that for the hot side. The cool side will warm but at a lower rate that will only work with glass as it is such a poor insulator.

[dryates]

so i covered three sides with the reflectix, and covered it in a black cloth, well my temps are now still the same my cold side temps are about the range ur saying but on the low end. Is the reflectix gonna be ok to put on the bottom over the UTH? also as u can see from the pic my ambient about 2-3 inches off the substrate is 80 do i need to raise it more if so how without killing the humidity i have a peice of plexiglass on top of the cage but right now im not really having to mist. does my setup look ok i just added the leaves today they r fake.