Oliver's tank set up

[pbyeerts]

I think that I got this mostly right. I have the UTH installed, heat bulb, repti-bark for substrate, a cool climbing/basking hide, a plain 1/2 log hide (not in photo), 2 vines, and a therm/humidity thing. I just plugged everything in, and my numbers are

Temp 68.4 F

Humidity 87%

I expect the heat will rise as everything warms up......

Oliver's coming home carrier has the hide and paper towels in it. I have heated seats in my car to warm him for the 20 minute trip home.

How does everything look? Any life-saving advice about something major that I've missed?

Thanks,
Pamela


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[Naom9Anne]

I would have the water in the middle and a hide on each side. Each hide should be of the size where the BP will look like he barely fits in for security. This allows abilitry to thermoregulate without having to choose one side over security.

I have heard that a half log is not sufficient as a hide as it is open at both ends but this is just speculation, not something I have experienced myself.

I can't tell if you've covered the back and sides, if you have then great, if not I recommend you cover these with something as simple as paper.

I like your set up, it's very aesthetically pleasing Is the probe directly under the heat source too?


*I'm still a newbie so take most things I say with a grain of salt, just commenting on things I have read/seen or experienced*

[Naom9Anne]

What is reading 68.4? That is too low! Sorry, just realised.

Temps should be hot end of around 88-90 and a cold end of 82 (26 degrees ish - trying to convert into farenheit from celcius so may be slightly off)

High humidity isn't always a problem but low temps and high humidity can lead to RI's. Try to aim for 40-60% normally and bump up to 70% for shed.

[pbyeerts]

Many thanks! I'm a nervous wreck, lol...... I have all of these other animals, but oliver is the one that I'm the most nervous about bringing home because he's the most delicate. Cats, dogs, and macaws are pretty hardy....

I know about covering the back and sides..... my daughter will help with that when she gets home from school :-) I'll pick up a smaller hide for now to help Oliver feel safe - he's so small......

Cheers,
Pamela

[ViperSRT3g]

If you have a thing he can hide under on each side, be it an actual hide, or just a pile of aspen bedding, they will be happy in either spot. In your case, just add more shrubs at the base of the plants and he'll have a nice place to hide as well.

[jclaiborne]

It looks good! A few notes: you may have a humidity issue with it being a screen top and using a lamp, the humidity will drop as the bark dries out. The one thing that I didn't see was if you had a thermostat hooked up to your UTH, they can get really hot, expecially on a glass tank with no air flow underneath and will burn your snake, it should be regualted with a Tstat, if you have one then ignore what I just said. Also how thick is your substrate, it should be less than half an inch for the UTH to heat it up and be effective.

[Naom9Anne]

Many thanks! I'm a nervous wreck, lol...... I have all of these other animals, but oliver is the one that I'm the most nervous about bringing home because he's the most delicate. Cats, dogs, and macaws are pretty hardy....

I know about covering the back and sides..... my daughter will help with that when she gets home from school :-) I'll pick up a smaller hide for now to help Oliver feel safe - he's so small......

Cheers,
Pamela

I use small plastic bowls with doors cut out for my little ones but you have such a lovely natural set up! Read my post re temps and humidity

[pbyeerts]

I put the thermometer in the wrong spot..... it's closer to the UTH now and the temp jumped to 80. I also plan on adding foil to the sides of the top screen :-)

[Naom9Anne]

Yeah, you want to be aiming for a hot spot of 90-92 degrees and the cold side dropping a few degrees I know it can be frustrating getting it spot on, I remember having a right go at trying with my first set-up; I was so clueless!

[TheSnakeGuy]

I put the thermometer in the wrong spot..... it's closer to the UTH now and the temp jumped to 80. I also plan on adding foil to the sides of the top screen :-)

But do you have a thermoSTAT hooked up to your UTH to regulate it?