Quote Originally Posted by dylhynes View Post
So I'm renting an apartment for college with 2 friends and I want to keep a single ball python as a pet. I have a tub with a exo terra UTH and am picking out a thermostat (side question: pet store has reptitemp 500r, should i order a hydrofarm instead?). I don't have a rack or anything, I was just going to lay the tub on my dresser.

My room is pretty cold, due to where I live and sharing a power bill with other people. My average room temp is between 70 and 75. I tried running my UTH for a day without a thermostat just to get an idea of what the cold side would do, and it barely went above 75.

I realize I could just go and crank the heat in the room but that's expensive for a 3rd year college student like me and I find the heat hard to sleep in.

Does anyone know of any other way to create a suitable thermal gradient in my tub, short of buying a second uth and thermostat ? (also expensive). Any ideas would be great. I'm thinking it might be possible to insulate the tub with styrofoam.

Thanks.
What material is this tub made of because a uth cannot be placed onto plastic or rubber. A glass enclosure is more appropriate. You can line the sides of the glass enclosure with aluminum foil to help fight the heat loss. Only have the front visible to the inside. There are some artificial foliage background you can buy to line the foil covered sides of the enclosure. A versa top to fit the top of the enclosure will increase the interior temps by 6 to 10 degrees and also will solve the humidity requirement. The foil will also decrease outside disturbances to your python thus decreasing the stress level in the animal. Styrofoam is a good idea also and couple that with a clamp lamp for overall top heat source. Keep uth and lamp on the same side. You can always move the clamp lamp when you are using the versa top. Thermometer and hygrometer are a must!! Good luck. Stay in peace and not pieces. A.C.