Substrate Question - Cypress Mulch

[wny_luke]

Hello,

I'm trying to get my glass enclosure stable before I pick up my first BP. I have the temps consistently at 93 on hot side and 82 on cool side - reading it with digital thermometer probes against the glass on the inside of the tank.

The problem I'm facing now is the temps on top of the substrate. I'm using cypress mulch from zoo med. I first had a good inch or so of the mulch and I've now thinned it down to a thin layer of mulch which is barely covering the glass. Temps on top are in the low 70s cool side and high 70s hot side. I've only had the mulch in there for about an hour so maybe I haven't given it enough time to warm up.

Questions then.
1. How long does it take for cypress mulch to warm up?
2. Is there a minimum thickness I should maintain for the substrate?

Thanks for the help.

[ryan427]

Hi there

i would wait a few hours and keep checking the temps but if they dont seem to be going up on top of the substrate then you will have to bump up the temp on the thermostat.YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET THE TOP OF THE SUBSTRATE TO READ 90

good luck

[Homegrownscales]

It warms up quickly but it takes a few hours. In all reality though a Bp will tend to move the sub and get the surface temp. Hence why those therms and t stats are so important. I generally keep a good inch of sub in my tubs.

[wny_luke]

Thanks for the feedback so far.

I was trying to avoid going any higher than 94 on the warm side to prevent any burns if for some reason he decides to burrow down a little.

What's the highest temp a BP can safely come in contact with?

[stratus_020202]

you will have to bump up the temp on the thermostat.

Do not do this. You do not want your bp to be able to reach temps of more than 95 degrees. If you have to have your thermometer set to 100 for your substrate to be 92, then your bp could easily burn himself my moving the substrate.

How big is your terrarium? I would just add a ceramic heat bulb put on a dimmer to increase the ambient temp of the tank. And, cover the lid 3/4 w/ aluminum foil.

Or, you could run heat cable on the back of the tank and put that on a dimmer. That would increase your ambient.

Good luck!

[Drumsinthenight.]

A thin layer of mulch will not do you much good. the BP will move it around then be sitting on bare glass. a thicker layer will retain moisture better and absorb waste. try a minimum of around 2-3 inches. a thicker layer will also retain heat once warmed up.

[wny_luke]

I'll put some tin foil over the top , add some more mulch to bring it up to 2 inches and see how it looks in a few hours.

Thanks for the help.

Here is my setup:
20G L critter cage w/ locking top
cypress mulch
black contact paper for sides/back
identical hides
ceramic water bowl
Flexwatt under both warm and cold side
plexiglass covers majority of screen top
acurite digital thermometers under substrate over UTHs
thermostat on order - herpstat 2 - probes will go directly on UTH
digital hygrometer - not in tank because I'm calibrating it

[Homegrownscales]

Looks like you did your homework! Excellent job on the tank.

[lisafoster2510]

Great idea on the tin foil. What about using insulation board not near the bulb of course.

[wny_luke]

How do some of you secure the insulation board to your tanks?