first python (childrens).. suggestions possibly needed

[jclaiborne]

ya i will just go flexwatt next time and not worry about reusing it.. hopefully the t-stat will keep it from melting the tank than..
i couldn't save the rubber feet i had so i'll have to grab another pack later..

thanks for the advice.. totally makes sense now that the tub was not heating up.. going to put the UTH on now and use the foil tape to tape it to the tub this time.. should i bother with the newspaper below the aspen.. don't wanna restrict any heat but don't want the little guy to burn his self either

No need to buy the rubber feet, just throw a quarter under each corner should be enough of a gap. I wouldn't use the newspaper personally. If you are using a TSTAT and it is controlling the temp and you have verified it, then you should be good to go. The newspaper is just another barrier absorbing heat.

[Clay]

No need to buy the rubber feet, just throw a quarter under each corner should be enough of a gap. I wouldn't use the newspaper personally. If you are using a TSTAT and it is controlling the temp and you have verified it, then you should be good to go. The newspaper is just another barrier absorbing heat.

got it all set now.. i let the TSTAT heat up to 32.5C (90.5F) and check the inside of the tub and the heat still wasn't that great so i turned the TSTAT to 33.5C (1degree more) and it feels warm but i don't know if it's going to be good enough still but im not too sure as this is my first snake.. i don't have the news paper in either.. im just setting the tank up now than i'll take a pic

[jclaiborne]

got it all set now.. i let the TSTAT heat up to 32.5C (90.5F) and check the inside of the tub and the heat still wasn't that great so i turned the TSTAT to 33.5C (1degree more) and it feels warm but i don't know if it's going to be good enough still but im not too sure as this is my first snake.. i don't have the news paper in either.. im just setting the tank up now than i'll take a pic

How are you verifying the surface temp over the hot spot inside the tank? If it is truly at 90.5F then you are on the right track, but when you say it "feels" warm it makes me have to ask. Like I said I keep my hot spot much warmer than that to be honest, not saying you have to or should since he is so little, but warmer has worked for me personally.

[Clay]

How are you verifying the surface temp over the hot spot inside the tank? If it is truly at 90.5F then you are on the right track, but when you say it "feels" warm it makes me have to ask. Like I said I keep my hot spot much warmer than that to be honest, not saying you have to or should since he is so little, but warmer has worked for me personally.

i cleared the aspen away and put my hand to where the UTH is and it feels a little warm i guess

[Clay]

here's a pic of the tub with a large water dish and medium hide.. 2nd hide removed.. i could put the small water dish back in if you guys think this one is too big (it was being used for kale veggies for my beardy)

[jclaiborne]

i cleared the aspen away and put my hand to where the UTH is and it feels a little warm i guess

That is not a very accurate way to measure at all. Your hand is not delicate enough to feel the difference between a few degrees. You need to get your hands on an IR thermometer or at the very least a digital thermometer with a probe to measure the actual temp. Odds are that if your TSTAT is regulating to 90ish degrees then you will have a slight heat loss through the plastic, not much, but slight. However I wouldn't bump temps up until you can verify the actual surface temp of the inside of the bin.

On a side note I say the water dish is fine.

[Clay]

That is not a very accurate way to measure at all. Your hand is not delicate enough to feel the difference between a few degrees. You need to get your hands on an IR thermometer or at the very least a digital thermometer with a probe to measure the actual temp. Odds are that if your TSTAT is regulating to 90ish degrees then you will have a slight heat loss through the plastic, not much, but slight. However I wouldn't bump temps up until you can verify the actual surface temp of the inside of the bin.

On a side note I say the water dish is fine.

perfect.. i do have a digital thermometer with probe .. probe is taped to the inside corner on the hot side.. i could probably move the probe right to the ground where the UTH is and see what it shows.. my TSTAT is set to 33.5 which is about 91.5F so that should be fine.. i'll just leave it there..
now to figure out what kinda of climbing set up i can get going

[jclaiborne]

perfect.. i do have a digital thermometer with probe .. probe is taped to the inside corner on the hot side.. i could probably move the probe right to the ground where the UTH is and see what it shows.. my TSTAT is set to 33.5 which is about 91.5F so that should be fine.. i'll just leave it there..
now to figure out what kinda of climbing set up i can get going

If you are going for cheap, go collect some small branches from outside and clean them...I generally soak in bleach and water...wash em good and clean and bake them in the oven at 200 for about an hour. Probably overkill to be honest.

[Clay]

If you are going for cheap, go collect some small branches from outside and clean them...I generally soak in bleach and water...wash em good and clean and bake them in the oven at 200 for about an hour. Probably overkill to be honest.

i don't mind buying something if it's worth it but i do live less than an hr away from an ocean.. could get some nice smooth drift wood.. that's what i did with my beardy.. just hard to find nice forked or climbing pieces

[Clay]

i want a branch/climbing tree like that.. wonder if you have to buy that from somewhere