"Sounds like you have all your own answers. Nothing I can help with here. Good luck!"

For the most part, I have a good idea, yeah. My question was basically "what can I do to prevent her from biting" -- going to try the paper towel roll trick, and glad to know that it's not harmful or otherwise bad to mist them in the face to discourage them if they're considering striking.

That, and "will she settle down on her own once she realizes that she no longer gets fed in her enclosure here" -- maybe to see if anyone else has had this problem with a snake who strongly associated a certain kind of enclosure with feeding time.


"I think you're mixing up thermometer and thermostat. Thermostat regulates the temperature of the uth. Get an acurite digital thermometer from Walmart for $12. It can measure the hot and cold side as well as the humidity. It's a good investment. You can also get a temp gun. But as everyone has said, the stick on ones aren't reliable or accurate.
I use both an acurite and temp gun."
That may well be it. The ones I hear people talk about seem to speak as if the object that reads the temperature, is the object that regulates the temperature of its own accord, and that is NOT what I want.
Just a digital temperature reader would be fine, as long as it's not going to do that. I'll definitely check into those. There's nothing harmful about the probes? No tangles? I've heard of some people having to use tape to keep them in the right places, which can snare a snake and really mess them up. Are they easy enough to keep down with nothing to secure them in place?
Thank you!


"I agree, regardless you NEED a thermostat, otherwise you risk serious burn.
Here's a thread I created last year on the subject, graphic picture warning.
You can't fry a snake from a shorted/damaged thermometer. So the horror stories you heard, may have been people who placed the thermoSTAT probe in the enclosure (which....it should be on the outside secured directly to the UTH)."
H-- .. holy
........... I do not know if profanity are banned on this site, but I swore out loud to compensate.
That poor snake. I can't stop gritting my teeth as I look at those pictures, it feels like my stomach is in a knot. This is like when I've seen photos of people who have left live rodents in with their snakes unattended to return to a mutilated snake. I don't even have any words left for such sheer irresponsibility worse than most intentional cruelty.

I have tried three different UTIs and none got more than lukewarm to the touch, let alone penetrated the glass, much less the substrate. I eventually gave up on them altogether because they were useless in creating hot spots. Recommended over just a lamp or not, I can't seem to get any to work properly.
Does anyone know what substrate was that person using, if any? I don't think even one hot enough to burn one's hand from touching it could go through the substrate I use very well, but I don't have a lot of experience with really-really-hot ones, only really-really-pathetic ones. If that's a risk factor, I'm positive I'll stick with my lamp.


"Also, I would think feeding out of enclosure would induce a more aggressive response to you. The snake will associate you taking her out as food time.
But in the end, its your decision on what to do. We're only here to provide answers and suggestions."
I would think she would associate wherever I happened to feed her as meal time, not being handled in general, which will happen much more than feeding her, once she's had time to adjust to a new environment. If I have to get bitten upon occasion, I can deal. After a german shepherd once biting halfway through my forearm, I suppose I sure can't complain about a few teeth about the size of a needle.

I definitely do appreciate all of the input and advice, this community really does feel like a safety net at my fingertips. Thank you, all of you. I really do mean it.

Once I can construct a couple of non-tank enclosures, I think I'll post photos here to get some opinions on them.
Speaking of more opinions: what are everyones' views on automatic misting systems (sort of like the ones used on produce in grocery stores)? I've heard of some people using them on lizards. Yes, no? Why, why not?