Hating and humitity questions

[First_time_herp]

I have a few questions concerning heating and humitity;

1. How can I create a warm and cold side of the tank.

2. And can the humitifier in the Do It Yourself section provide enough humitity for a BP?

[Smynx]

1. You can create the temperature gradient by heating only one side of the tank.

2. Yes.

[First_time_herp]

So I'd just put the heat pad on one side of the tank only? Cool.

[Smynx]

Yeah, the pad should cover 1/3 to 1/2 of the tank. In a 10 gallon, that should be all you need for heat, but that depends on the type of substrate you use and how thick it is. In a larger tank, you may need to supplement the heat with a lamp. We use the infrared ones for our snakes. They put off heat, but the light doesn't bother them. Being nocturnal creatures, too much light can stress them out.

Smulkin made the homemade humidifier for his red blood python, and it does a great job of producing and maintaining humidity.

[First_time_herp]

Cool, I'm making a list of things I have to buy (or make in the case of the humitifier) And I think i'm going to use a rubbermade for housing.

[JLC]

Exactly, just set 1/2 of the tank over the heatpad...but be sure to use some little rubber feet or something to raise the tank a bit. This allows air to circulate and keep the warm end from overheating...and it keeps the tank from being lopsided. :wink:

[Smynx]

If you're using a rubbermaid and starting out small, you shouldn't need a lamp, just the heat pad. You may not even need the humidifier. I have 3 babies in sterlites with no source of humidity other than their water dish, and their humidity levels are great. Of course, it has been a bit humid in WV lately.

[gozetec02]

Just place all of the heating items like the lamp and the pad one the same side of the tank. Be sure to provide 2 hiding places one on each side.

As far as the himidity is concerned the heating of the tank will create himidity if you just use a spray bottle and mist some water into the tank (just enough the make the surface damp) and this will cause your humidity to go up. If you don't have thermometers and a hygrometer i strongly recomend puting some in the tank.

[Smynx]

By the way, I think it's wonderful that you're learning all of this BEFORE you get your snake. It shows a real sense of responsiblity. You're on your way to becoming good keeper.

[gen]

By the way, I think it's wonderful that you're learning all of this BEFORE you get your snake. It shows a real sense of responsiblity. You're on your way to becoming good keeper.

ditto.