Another tank vs tub

[reptilesbeforemammal]

I know you guys SWEAR on the tubs, but I spent money on a nice tank before I really researched.
SO. Here's the scoop, I've got a 40 gallon split by a custom fitted glass pane into a 25 (ish). The top of the fitted glass doesn't quite reach the top of where the mesh metal screen is.

I have two thermometers, and a hygrometer in.
For some reason I can't get the two sides to differ much. Left (hot) is around 85 or so, and the right (cooler) is around 75 ish.
The hygrometer stayed at 50, but after some random movements of water bowl and light itself I'm up into the low 60's.
IF I DO END UP BUYING A TUB, I want to know that I really attempted this fit.
Would another light help? Maybe an inch or two higher up as to not direct all the heat straight in?
I pointed the existing light more diagonal towards the inner hot side wall, as to drive the temperature barrier more towards existent at least.
I have cypress mulch in as bedding.
Any other tank users want to chime in?



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[MootWorm]

I think I'm confused... Is the whole tank for one snake or for two? 10 degrees is plenty of difference. I'd personally bump both sides up a bit. I assume you're using a light? What type and wattage? Any type of UTH. I'd like to understand what you're trying to accomplish a bit more. I have both tubs and tanks, both are doable with a little tweaking.

[Aztec4mia]

So as I understand it, you have an aquarium that you had already purchased and before you go out nd by a tub setup, you want to know that you did everything possible to make this setup work. right? really if you can maintain the proper temps and humidity then you can use a cardboard box if it works. When I first started out years ago I used an aquarium to house my ball python for years, actually I think a majority of people did back then, but tubs make it easier to maintain temps and humidity and allow us to keep more snakes in a limited amount of space so they ave become ideal. There is also better material available to make cages with for larger snakes that work better then glass.

I too am confused at why you split the tank in half, but other then that If you can get the temps up a bit; the gradient and humidity is fine.

FYI- I use sterilite tubs and melamine cages because they work well for me. I did have an aquarium for my fish though.

[reptilesbeforemammal]

I think I'm confused... Is the whole tank for one snake or for two? 10 degrees is plenty of difference. I'd personally bump both sides up a bit. I assume you're using a light? What type and wattage? Any type of UTH. I'd like to understand what you're trying to accomplish a bit more. I have both tubs and tanks, both are doable with a little tweaking.

Its I BELIEVE A 100, I just left home. And it was a recent purchase so it slipped my mind.
I'm going to get an under tank heather, and a protective under substrate material.
I cut in in half based on everyone saying a baby would be stressed with too much space. So I thought that better.


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[reptilesbeforemammal]

So as I understand it, you have an aquarium that you had already purchased and before you go out nd by a tub setup, you want to know that you did everything possible to make this setup work. right? really if you can maintain the proper temps and humidity then you can use a cardboard box if it works. When I first started out years ago I used an aquarium to house my ball python for years, actually I think a majority of people did back then, but tubs make it easier to maintain temps and humidity and allow us to keep more snakes in a limited amount of space so they ave become ideal. There is also better material available to make cages with for larger snakes that work better then glass.

I too am confused at why you split the tank in half, but other then that If you can get the temps up a bit; the gradient and humidity is fine.

FYI- I use sterilite tubs and melamine cages because they work well for me. I did have an aquarium for my fish though.

Yeah, I want to try what I can and make sure I explored every option since I've already purchased it.
I like playing mcgyver instead of giving up on things. Haha
I'm thinking about going under tank heat source as well! That should put things RIGHT in the range.



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[Annarose15]

Its I BELIEVE A 100, I just left home. And it was a recent purchase so it slipped my mind.
I'm going to get an under tank heather, and a protective under substrate material.
I cut in in half based on everyone saying a baby would be stressed with too much space. So I thought that better.


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Don't bother with a "protective under substrate material". You need a thermostat if you're going to use a UTH. Your temperature difference is good, but you need to increase both temps a few degrees. Since you said you are using a light, how are you keeping the tank warm at night? I would suggest switching the light out with two ceramic bulbs (CHEs) on dimmers. That way, you can set one slightly hotter than the other to achieve a ~78-88deg temp gradient, and not stress your baby with a constant light overhead.

Add: A UTH will NOT increase your ambient temps. It creates a hot spot.

[reptilesbeforemammal]

Don't bother with a "protective under substrate material". You need a thermostat if you're going to use a UTH. Your temperature difference is good, but you need to increase both temps a few degrees. Since you said you are using a light, how are you keeping the tank warm at night? I would suggest switching the light out with two ceramic bulbs (CHEs) on dimmers. That way, you can set one slightly hotter than the other to achieve a ~78-88deg temp gradient, and not stress your baby with a constant light overhead.

Add: A UTH will NOT increase your ambient temps. It creates a hot spot.

THIS IS WHY I LOVE FORUMS.
Can I just amazon that? Or would you recommend certain brands? But you WOULD add an under tank heater? Aren't thermostats the pricey ones?
I'm all for it no matter price

That's before adding light accessories, etc.



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[Annarose15]

THIS IS WHY I LOVE FORUMS.
Can I just amazon that? Or would you recommend certain brands? But you WOULD add an under tank heater? Aren't thermostats the pricey ones?
I'm all for it no matter price

That's before adding light accessories, etc.

With how close you are in temps, I wouldn't necessarily bother with the UTH. The first thing I would do is grab an infrared temp gun to get your real temperatures. The analogs sticking on the glass won't tell you what your temperature is directly under the light on the substrate. Once you know your temps, I would still replace the light with one (or more) CHEs so you don't have to worry about light. The reason I would wait until you know the temps is that will help you determine what wattage you should get (100W like the lamp, or higher). When choosing wattage, keep in mind that you don't want it running at full power at all times to achieve your temps. You need some room to adjust up or down based on the temp of the room (winter vs. summer). A thermostat is even better than a dimmer for the CHE, if you're willing to spend the $$.

Temp gun options: http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_trks...at=0&_from=R40

Thermostat: Herpstat (best)

[reptilesbeforemammal]

With how close you are in temps, I wouldn't necessarily bother with the UTH. The first thing I would do is grab an infrared temp gun to get your real temperatures. The analogs sticking on the glass won't tell you what your temperature is directly under the light on the substrate. Once you know your temps, I would still replace the light with one (or more) CHEs so you don't have to worry about light. The reason I would wait until you know the temps is that will help you determine what wattage you should get (100W like the lamp, or higher). When choosing wattage, keep in mind that you don't want it running at full power at all times to achieve your temps. You need some room to adjust up or down based on the temp of the room (winter vs. summer). A thermostat is even better than a dimmer for the CHE, if you're willing to spend the $$.

Temp gun options: http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_trks...at=0&_from=R40

Thermostat: Herpstat (best)

See, these items are all foreign items to me. So if I was to look as to where to purchase these things, where would I look? And is there a direct thread explaining the uses, as to not take up all your time explaining


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[mikoh4792]

you get them from the links provided by annarose. Although you could also just look for a temp gun on amazon.com. i use HDE temp guns. There are other good brands as well.

Annarose is right to an extent about UTH and ambient temperatures. It will do little to help ambient temps in a glass enclosure with a screen top, however for a real snake cage it should do just fine. I keep all my snakes in plastic cages without screen tops, and the UTH creates a hotspot that tapers off throughout the enclosure, creating a nice gradient.