Good thing you have waited to put The Dude in the tank. I am assuming he is a Ball Python, and he will probably push the mulch out of the way at some point in his hides, so a good thermostat is crucial before putting him in. I'd Get rid of the reptipad astro turf thing, it is keeping the heat from warming the tank and tape the thermostat probe directly to the glass over the UTH, since that is where the snake will be. This will keep the temps from cooking him because the T-stat will cut off the heat. I'd say start with the T-stat and see how things go from there. The humidity will go down as it dries, give it time, as long as it isn't sopping wet I think you should be OK, maybe slide the plexiglass off a little more to let some more air in until the humidity gets where you want it.

Quote Originally Posted by TheDude
Well I got the 20 gallon out and all set up, I used that brick mulch for the first time so that was an adventure. I am having a hard tiem getting the tank to heat up and get temps right tho.

First off The Dude is NOT in the tank, just so everyone knows im not freezing him.

The hot side will barely get up to 80 and the cold side is hoving around 69-70.
I am running 2 6x8 uth's under the hot side, and none under the cold side. Temps are being taken by to probes poking up out of the substrate so the entire "sensor" is above the mulch. Oh I should also mention that under the 1/2 inch of mulch i have one of those reptipad thingies, basicly some astro turf. I put that in to prevent the posibilty of burrowing down to the uth and getting burned.

Humidity is way up there at 80% so I think the mulch just needs to dry out some.

I am useign a 55 watt on a dimmer switch light. I have no thermostat control at this point.

Can anyone point me in the right direction? I don't know what to do next except try to cook the mulch out some, but i cant beleive that is tanking the temps that much?????

Any help is much appreciated,
-Mikey thanks you,
-The Dude thanks you...