New Enclosure/ Temperature Tips

[polst008]

Hello Everyone!
First post but just wanted to keep others' advice, tips or experiences with similar situations.
I am putting together a BP tank (No animal yet), Exo Terra 36" x 18" x 18." UTH with Thermostat on one side directly under a cork hide, background w/live plants, substrate mixture of coco fiber-reptibark-moss and will be of course putting in humid hide, water bowl, etc.
I am trying to get temperatures correct but am having a bit of trouble since its winter her in MN so the room is a bit cooler. I have the thermostat set to 93*, have a infared heat gun, surface temps 88-90.* Air temps under the hide mid 80s. During the day I also use a Zilla Micro halogen to increase ambient temps to low 80's on warm side. Problem is, the cool side usually is low 70's during day, high 60's at night. UTH/thermostat is operating 24/7. Ambient humidity is usually right around 40% between mistings.
Whats everyone's experience; will a BP thermoregulate on its own at night, or should I add additional low wattage heating on the cool side overnight?

Thanks in advance!

[JRLongton]

High 60s is really cold for a BP, especially if it happens every night. The poor thing will have to chose between frigid cold and too hot.

The UTH does nothing for ambient temperatures, and the halogen clearly isn't doing enough. You need another solution.

I'll tell you what I tell every new snake keeper. Toss the UTH and get a ceramic heat emitter (CHE). Plug that into your thermostat, set the probe correctly, fiddle with the settings a bit and, viola, you'll have a consistent temperature gradient appropriate for a BP.

Also humidity is a bit low at 40%, Might want a bigger water bowl or even a second water bowl.

Don't be afraid to ask questions, and don't listen to just me. There are lots of very experienced people on this forum that I learn from. We want to help.

Any special kind of BP you're looking to get?

[Craiga 01453]

If your temps are getting that low at night you'll need to run heat 24 hours a day.

I use the dark purple bulbs and run them 24/7. The heat lamp should also be on a thermostat.

Another trick is to wrap the enclosure in foam board insulation. I use 1/2" and it helps immensely with heat and humidity control.

[MattEvans]

I use two exo terras for my ball pythons. 36x18x12 and 24x18x12. Both insulated with foam board on all glass except doors. On the 36" along with the uth I run two matching light fixtures with 50w night bulbs on each side attached to a thermostat that control ambient temperature. I keep my room low 70's and tanks sit a consistent 80-81 degrees.

[SquirmyPug]

Like the others have said, you will need another source of heat. I have the exoterra 36x18x18 also and use an uth plus a radiant heat panel(rhp). The rhp keeps the ambient temperature where I want it and the uth keeps a hot spot. Both heat sources need to be on thermostats.

I have .5" foam insulation on three sides of the tank to help hold heat in. I cover the screen top with plastic wrap and then a towel to hold heat and humidity in. All this combined keeps the heat sources from running as often so it doesn't dry out plus it keeps the heat stable.

[Sonny1318]

Just like everyone else suggested, only my choice is Zoo Med infrared heat bulbs. Not a fan of CHE’s I find they are worse for humidity (in my personal experience) and Good luck. Peace

[Jmarshall]

you also need to get your humidity up to above 50% so keep that in mind.

[polst008]

Thanks everyone for the tips! A lot of good options!

[polst008]

High 60s is really cold for a BP, especially if it happens every night. The poor thing will have to chose between frigid cold and too hot.

The UTH does nothing for ambient temperatures, and the halogen clearly isn't doing enough. You need another solution.

I'll tell you what I tell every new snake keeper. Toss the UTH and get a ceramic heat emitter (CHE). Plug that into your thermostat, set the probe correctly, fiddle with the settings a bit and, viola, you'll have a consistent temperature gradient appropriate for a BP.

Also humidity is a bit low at 40%, Might want a bigger water bowl or even a second water bowl.

Don't be afraid to ask questions, and don't listen to just me. There are lots of very experienced people on this forum that I learn from. We want to help.

Any special kind of BP you're looking to get?

Thanks! I actually currently done even have a water bowl in there yet. Waiting for it to come in the mail. So the 40% is just ambient between mistings. From past experiences, I don't like how quickly the CHE dries out the air. Ill try a few of the additional tips give and see if I can get it to work.
Eventually, I hope the resident BP to be some form of the Banana morph!

[polst008]

I use two exo terras for my ball pythons. 36x18x12 and 24x18x12. Both insulated with foam board on all glass except doors. On the 36" along with the uth I run two matching light fixtures with 50w night bulbs on each side attached to a thermostat that control ambient temperature. I keep my room low 70's and tanks sit a consistent 80-81 degrees.

Do you use purple or red bulbs?