New snake owner, specific questions.

[sevenlilies]

Here's her current enclosure. Sad, I know!

Planned Changes:

• Humidity/Heat
  
  • Aluminum tape over 2/3rds - 3/4ths of the screen top
  • Possibly removing her heat lamp if we can maintain a good ambient temperature in there without it (and with using UTH)
  • Moss in substrate
  • UTH on hot side, with thermostat
  
  
• Comfort, security, and enrichment
  
  • Paper around sides and back
  • Additional fake foliage
  • Additional found branches (cleaned and baked for sterilization)
  • Second, identical hide for her cold side

Question: I'm considering a bit of aluminum tape or foil around her hot side (on the outside) between the glass and the paper (coming). My theory is that it would reflect heat back in. Thoughts? Would she be spooked out by the shiny, even if I used the matte side? Is this or is this not a sound theory regarding heat?

Definitely open to further suggestions! I now know this is a huge tank for her so I'm hoping to fill it with the hides, maybe some little half-logs, and branches to fill some of that space and help her feel more secure.

If I'm off with any of my planned changes, please let me know!

I'm looking forward to giving you guys an update one all her enclosure pieces come in and get set up.

[Craiga 01453]

Ooh, not a bad idea. It's a pretty large room so it might be hard to maintain that way, but we can look into it. Would you recommend this over the heat lamp or CHI?

It's a good idea if you have a room dedicated to reptiles with multiple animals. For just one, or even just a few, animals. It is not practical and would cost a whole lot more. Also keep in mind that artificial heat dries out a room. It wouldn't be to the extent a CHE or a bulb would, but it still dries the air.

Hardly worth paying to heat an entire room when you only need to heat a single enclosure.

[sevenlilies]

It's a good idea if you have a room dedicated to reptiles with multiple animals. For just one, or even just a few, animals. It is not practical and would cost a whole lot more. Also keep in mind that artificial heat dries out a room. It wouldn't be to the extent a CHE or a bulb would, but it still dries the air.

Hardly worth paying to heat an entire room when you only need to heat a single enclosure.

Good point, thank you. Currently we only have the one and don't see ourselves getting more than a bearded dragon and maybe another BP over the course of several years.