Quote Originally Posted by Roundabout136
I'm not exactly sure of the brand of heat pad, exo-therm or something like that. I don't use it on all day and night...i just turn it on at night for heat.
Ok, as long as it's a "reptile pad" it'll stand up to the usage.

Here's how I set up my 20long for my cornsnake, I just copied this from a previous post

'Oh, to bad I didn't see your post last night, I just set up a 20 long with hot and cold side flex and two Ranco's.

Couple suggestions

1) get 10feet of 16" wide Reflectix insulation, Matt sells it on his site by the foot. and "wrap" the tank with it. sides, back, bottom and top. I just used clear packing tape. On the top I cut a hole just big enough to for a light, but taped the edges to the lid. This will help maintain your temps AND humidity. People are always talking trash about glass tanks, but IMO if you set them up right, they work great.

2) Now, I'm going to assume from your previous post that you are getting ONE piece of flex, correct? I would suggest two, but one will work for now if money is an issue. Tape the flex at one end using foil tape, again, Matt sells it, I'm sure he suggested some. Then put Reflectix over it. This will help the flex work more efficiently. Tape the t-stat probe to the floor of the tank, in the middle of the piece of flex. then just cover it with substrata. If you did get two pieces of flex, running two t-stats, its ok to overlap the flex a little in the middle. But definitely use the foil tape, nothing else will stand up to the temps for long.

If you have any questions PM me, and I'll email you pics of my setup.


Edit*** Important!!! Get a couple pieces of 1x3 or 2x4 and set the tank on Them, do not put the tank directly on a flat surface. The edge of the tank will pinch down on the power cord to the flex and will eventually wear through the insulation, causing a short. Short in power cord=fire=bad."

This was the thread http://www.ball-pythons.net/forums/s...ad.php?t=28343
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In your case, I'd get a dimmer to regulate the UTH you already have, get it set so your daytime temp is 82-84, and leave it there all the time. Use your heat lamp for now on the other end to get your hot spot up to 95, change out to the red bulb at night to maintain.