Quote Originally Posted by tayloriero View Post
I've been reading up on how people have set up their enclosures, and I'm beginning to get very overwhelmed with all the choices there are. I have a glass 20 gallon terrarium with a sliding screen top, a mini ZooMed UTH, and a lamp with a sunshine bulb in it, which I believe to be 60w, that is sitting on top of the sliding screen. I'm using Aspen substrate, and I have one smaller hide on the warm side on top of the heating pad, and a larger hide on the cool side with paper towels stuffed inside so it would feel smaller for him. (I know that they should both be the same size, so I plan on going and buying two identical containers tonight). After reading about all the things I need to have to properly care for my 5 month old baby Ball, I'm not even sure what I should buy now. I'm so worried about Salazar,

I love that name.

because I know that the conditions he's been living in have to be stressing him out a lot, and I know that he's uncomfortable and that kills me. I just don't really know where to start, and this is a huge problem because he's been living like this for about 2-3 weeks. I guess I kind of did know where to start, since I just ordered a Infrared TempGun. But I have so many questions, like, should i buy a Ceramic heating bulb? and would that be compatible with the lamp I have now? Would that be okay with sitting on top of the screen, or would I have to buy a lamp stand? Or should I buy a night bulb and switch out the day bulb for the night one every night? And what about thermometers/hygrometers? Which ones would you recommend I buy, and where should i place them in the tank? (Because all I have now is one of those cheapo sticker ones, and I now know that that isn't good for reading temps at ALL, and I have a hygrometer, but it's one of those analog stick-on ones. Not good.)

CHE's can work, I prefer infared bulbs for my glass tanks though. You can provide a day/night cycle if you want but most just use the infared or night bulb. Acurite makes pretty good systems from what I hear...I mostly just use my temp gun and a "cheapy" Zoo med probe thermometer. You may place lights on the screen, a stand does make a sliding top more convenient though.


And then how do I control the amount of heat my UTH puts out? What's an effective way to make a heating gradient? This is all so much, and it's all my fault. I should've delved deeper into what I needed and got all of this set up before I brought him home.

The heat pad may be controlled by simple on/off thermostat made by Hydrofarm for under $40...like someone else mentioned, proportional ones by Spyderrobotics are also available. The hydrofarms I use are monitoring Zoo med heat pads, a touch of silicon holds the probe to the bottom of the cage, under the substrate...a maximum temp of 92F is allowed because mine seem to have a 3 degree swing so it will cut off as it approaches 95F. Chill, we all trip up here and there, you want to do right by your specimen now that's what counts.


Not to mention he's not eating, probably due to all the stress of not having the proper environment. I can't believe I took this long to reach out for help. So if I could have some assistance and advice and pointers and all that, that would be really, really helpful in getting all of this figured out. Thank you so much.
See bold and italics. I am sure he'll perk up, just give him time.