Ophelia's new digs - Tank upgrade move in day!

[spiralout_keepgoing]

Decided to upgrade Ophelia to a 20gal now that I've had her for over a month. She seems to be taking to it well. Added a bunch of clutter and got a nice piece of driftwood for her to climb over.


(I added a bit more fake plants since this specific image)





That said, I initially forgot to glue the probe wire for the thermostat controlling the CHE, which she PROMPTLY found and used as a hammock until the glue broke off and she fell. I've since fixed the wire so she can't hang on it, and I think she already misses her new hammock.




(she looks so satisfied in her temporary perch)

[Homebody]

I'm curious why you placed the CHE over the middle of her enclosure. Typically, the heating element is placed over one end of the enclosure in order to create a temperature gradient.

[spiralout_keepgoing]

For sure, I get that. The reason in this case is that when I moved it over I felt I had to turn it up too high to get the gradient to move all the way over to the cool side to get a proper balance. I moved it to the middle but favoring the warm side a bit more and it seems to get a really good spread throughout. 85-88 on the warm side and 77-80 on the cooler side.

Not sure if it's due to the CHE wattage (I got the 60w for now) or my apartment and the big cool counter top she's on. There is UTH on the warm side as well (sitting at 89-90), so I figured as long as she has the warm spot dialed in, the ambient gradient like this should still be comfy.

[Homebody]

For sure, I get that. The reason in this case is that when I moved it over I felt I had to turn it up too high to get the gradient to move all the way over to the cool side to get a proper balance. I moved it to the middle but favoring the warm side a bit more and it seems to get a really good spread throughout. 85-88 on the warm side and 77-80 on the cooler side.

Not sure if it's due to the CHE wattage (I got the 60w for now) or my apartment and the big cool counter top she's on. There is UTH on the warm side as well (sitting at 89-90), so I figured as long as she has the warm spot dialed in, the ambient gradient like this should still be comfy.

I suspected that the CHE might be maintaining ambient rather than creating a hot spot for basking. So then, how is your UTH creating a basking spot through 2 inches of substrate? I hope that you don't have the UTH cranked so high that temps reach 89 - 90F on top of the substrate. If that's the case, it'll be way too hot underneath the substrate.

[spiralout_keepgoing]

I suspected that the CHE might be maintaining ambient rather than creating a hot spot for basking. So then, how is your UTH creating a basking spot through 2 inches of substrate? I hope that you don't have the UTH cranked so high that temps reach 89 - 90F on top of the substrate. If that's the case, it'll be way too hot underneath the substrate.

I actually moved most of the substrate out of the way inside the hide, so it's just a thin layer of substrate and glass tank she's resting on at the temps I mentioned, to avoid doing what you described.

I appreciate you checking, since the pictures don't show that for context.

[Homebody]

I actually moved most of the substrate out of the way inside the hide, so it's just a thin layer of substrate and glass tank she's resting on at the temps I mentioned, to avoid doing what you described.

I appreciate you checking, since the pictures don't show that for context.

Cool. Now, you just need to find a way to put a perch in there.

[spiralout_keepgoing]

Cool. Now, you just need to find a way to put a perch in there.

That's on my list! The driftwood I found and sanitized recently (hard to see in the image) gives her a place to climb and explore but not comfortably rest up high. Same goes for the suction plants. But I do want to get her a different piece of wood or maybe a little or something.

[Homebody]

That's on my list! The driftwood I found and sanitized recently (hard to see in the image) gives her a place to climb and explore but not comfortably rest up high. Same goes for the suction plants. But I do want to get her a different piece of wood or maybe a little or something.

Consider using a reptile hammock. You could hold it in place with zip ties.