Terrarium Prep. Questions.

[Perry]

Hey, I'm getting my first BP Tuesday and I'm pretty excited. I have a few last minute questions though. I'm using Eco-Earth coconut fiber and currently I have a layer of about 1/2 inch thick, how thick do you suggest I have it. It is also packed down fairly tight, should I leave it loose or keep it tight? I have an 8"x8" 8 watt substrate heater and a 75w blue light bulb on a Repti Temp 500R thermostat, do you think the heater could overheat the coconut bark to the point where it comes too hot? Should I place my clay hide directly on top of where the UTH is or should i place it slightly to the side?

Thanks in advance, Perry.

[Shelby]

Hello.

I personally use newspaper as a substrate, but with eco-earth I would think 1/2 thick is fine. You don't want it so thick that the heat from the under tank pad can't come through. It doesn't really matter if it's packed down or loose.. your snake will mix it up when it crawls around anyway.

You will need a digital thermometer to measure your temps.. preferably 2 (or an indoor outdoor thermometer that can take two readings, one for the warm side and one for the cool side) temps should be 80-82 warm side and 90-92 on the cool side. You should also have a digital hygrometer (to measure humidity which should be between 50-60%)

You said the bulb is on a thermostat, but is the under tank heater? UTHs get quite hot and can burn a snake if they are not on a thermostat.. I'm not sure I trust the repti temp thermostats. I use Johnson and Ranco on/off t-stats.. though the best are the proportional t-stats (Helix and Herpstat)

You should have at least two hiding spots for your snake, one on the cool side and one on the warm side. It's fine to place it directly above your heating pad.

[Perry]

I kinda wrote that bad lol. I do have 2 identical clay hides and I know where my cool end one will be but I was just wondering about the hot ones. Both the UTH and the bulb are on the thermostat, I have a digital probe thermometer and I am planning on getting another one before I get my snake. My hygrometer is analog (I know they're inaccurate) and I do plan on getting a digital within the next week or so.

Thanks for the answers, Perry.

[Brimstone111888]

If you plan on getting a digital, head over to Wal-Mart and grab an Acurite. I has a prob for your warm side and it is a hygrometer. It will cost you a hefty $12. I found mine by the gardening area, since it is technically an indoor/outdoor thermometer/hygrometer.

[Shelby]

You can't put two different wattage items on one thermostat.. it can only do one type at a time. You'd need a separate t-stat for each.

[Argentra]

Your lamp/bulb doesn't really need a t-stat...but the UTH certainly does! Keep just the UTH on the stat for now and just raise or lower the lamp for temp control there by clamping it to a shelf or pole or something.

As for the Reptitemp 500R... it should do for now, but you should Seriously look into getting a Ranco or Johnson stat from Reptile Basics before too long. Reptitemps are notorious for breaking down suddenly. I have the one I bought (before I knew better) controlling my Leopard gecko UTH...but I also have a rheostat as a backup just in case.

Yes, you want that warm side hide over the area of the UTH. You'll be placing your warm side probe for the thermometer under the hide, so it should be right over the UTH. Ecco-earth should be ok... but it tends to mold easily so watch it. Personally, I would use either blank newsprint (3 sheets or so), blank papertowels, or aspen (which is what I use now) which keeps humidity but doesn't mold.

[kc261]

You can't put two different wattage items on one thermostat.. it can only do one type at a time. You'd need a separate t-stat for each.

This is twice in the last day or 2 I've seen this, but I don't remember seeing this before. Why can't things with different wattage be on the same thermostat?

[Shelby]

Well, because the thermostat would need to give different amounts of power to them to achieve the same temperature. The one that isn't on the probe will either get too hot or not hot enough.

[Perry]

Alright thanks for the information. I'll definitely be getting a Helix thermostat (the Helix DBS1000 should be alright I'm assuming, should I get the night drop too?) next payday, I'll try and swing by Walmart today for the thermometer/hygrometer. After my first major cleaning (after her first shed) I'll give aspen a try. Another question, would it be alright to have a blue light running all day and night provided i do have a white light running on a 12 hour timer too?

Thanks, Perry.

[Perry]

I picked up a digital hygrometer/dual thermometer for 25 bucks at walmart. My humidity is still pretty high but it is drying out now. I can't wait as I now believe I'm getting her tomorrow.