Quest for the self sufficient Tank

[JamminJonah]

So I'm on a quest. A quest for the most self-sufficient tank. Here is my current set-up (pictures to come later if I get some time - also note that a bigger AP cage is on its way).

As it stands my cage has the following:

Daylight:
A UVB bulb on a timer to simulate daylight (I know, I know, BPs don't necisarily need UVB but it can't hurt right?)

The Night time:
A low watt black (moon) light bulb on a timer (plus that end of the cage can get a bit chilly sometimes with this wild fluctuating Chicago weather)

Heat:
A Big Apple Herp BAH-1000 thermostat and Animal Plastics provided routed in belly heat. Also that night light bulb

Temp/humidity monitoring:
The famous Accurite thermometer/hygrometer

Humidity:
Because the Chicago winters are brutal I'm rocking a waterfall for the winter and an oversized water dish in the Animal Plastics cage, which holds heat and humidity really really well. I also have a Tropicaire humidifier that I use year round unless it's really humid in the late summer.

The waterfall is a pain in the butt to clean so I'm contemplating switching to that mister thingy. What have you guys had luck with?

What do you guys do to make your tank automatic?


whoops... can somebody bump me over to the caging forum.... I'm an idiot.

[JLC]

I moved it for ya, Jonah. Always nice to see your face around here...a rare treat!

As for your plans for the tank...if you need supplemental light to keep the "cool" end temps up, I would highly recommend staying away from the UVB or anything else that's bright and white. Just use the nighttime bulb all the time....much simpler, and much less risk of stressing the snake out due to bright light that they don't need or want.

[JamminJonah]

Good call - I need to post pics soon Icculus is getting nice and big and fat! :o)

[kavmon]

i would scratch the waterfall/mister idea. i would be afraid of too much moisture. bacteria and mold growing, not to mention a pain to clean. trying different size water bowls may help. some people put the bowl over a heat pad/flexwatt. for me, i try not to automate things. i feel that way i don't get lazy and forget stuff.


vaughn

[Smulkin]

i would scratch the waterfall/mister idea. i would be afraid of too much moisture. bacteria and mold growing, not to mention a pain to clean. trying different size water bowls may help. some people put the bowl over a heat pad/flexwatt. for me, i try not to automate things. i feel that way i don't get lazy and forget stuff.


vaughn

Smynx tried waterfalls, misters and putting the pump in the waterdish (for her liasis) and it was indeed a PITA for all teh reasons mentioned above - if there's a cord draped down into the tank it will eventually get rubbed/tugged where you dont want it to - Murphy's Law - a few toppled over waterfalls and a water pump dragged sideways spewing a stream into your substrate . . eesh - actually those things created the need for more effort than they saved. The big water dish (if you have floorspace the low and wide galvanized dog dishes from Wally World work well) over the warm side was a winner in the end for us - the thicker plastic bowls didnt seem to work as well (thermal conductivity maybe? if that's a real term at all lol).

[JamminJonah]

Good stuff, thanks for the input!

[TheAudOne]

my AP T3 is also on the way....2 more weeks!

But in the mean time we actually got our tank perfect. (of coarse)
Its a 55 gallon, I use the shredded coconut husks for our flooring. I soak mine and let it really dry out for 24-48 hours and then put it in, the humidity will shoot up after this, but comes down quick.

I have a heating pad on one side, and used to have a CHE over that, but found it wasnt needed after a short time of checking the temps.

To help with humidity I used gorilla tape on one half and aluminum foil on the other to help keep it warmer on each side.

Now its running smooth and have no complaints.

Hope this helps.

[wildlifewarrior]

I read one story where a juvi bp acctually wedged himself into one and was taken to a vet in the waterfall where when they took her out she had cuts and such because it was too tight and she acctually got herself stuck. Just a heads up!


ww

[TheAudOne]

I had this problem with the cave we gout ours. She was stuck in it and he lid had fallen into the cave and wedged against her.....my hubby had to actually take a hammer and break it to get her out She didnt get cut but was pretty stressed about the situation.