My tank is driving me *expletive* crazy!

[hondo1967]

Make life easy for yourself, tubs work wonders. with a helix t stat.

[starmom]

I have racks and reptile cages from RBI and they all work really well for me!
I also have Helix's and Herpstat's and they both work really well also!

[bushonk]

Ah, substrate! Totally forgot to mention that one. I was attempting to describe everything, but apparently failed there. I'm using aspen, about an inch and a half in the bottom of the tank. My BP has showed zero interest in burrowing. I should also mention I've currently got two water dishes as well, in an attempt to try and keep up humidity since keeping foil over the top of the tank would probably cook my snake.

Hot side probe is resting on top of the substrate, not below it, right near where the snake spends most of her time. I had been measuring burried below the substrate directly touching the glass opposite the UTH, but the snake was uninterested in spending time on or near the UTH. When I addded the lamp, I wanted to make sure the substrate (and other materials) that touch my snake weren't getting too hot, which is why it is resting on top of the substrate right now. When I bury it the temps differ, and I don't want to burn snakey's belly!

As for the UTH brand, I'm using a ZooMed. People have said they get notoriously hot, but mine never gets above 97. Go figure.

As for more questions, it sounds as though everyone thinks I can't use a light in conjunction with a UTH with a single thermostat. So does this mean that I would either need to a) buy two thermostats, or b) get either a few more UTH's or just ditch the UTH entirely and go with a light?

So Butters, what part of the country are you in? Want my tank? A tub from Walmart is looking more and more apealing with each gray hair...

[Argentra]

It can be frustrating... but I'll warn you that tubs can be almost as annoying to get started and stable.

A few pointers in response to what you've added:

Your substrate is a tad too thick. All you really need is just enough to cover the bottom. I use a layer of newsprint under the aspen as a cleaning ease and to keep the snake off the glass.

The probe SHOULD be under the substrate. The goal is to get the temps at the glass at the high end of "right" (i.e. around 93-94) and the temps on the substrate a few degrees cooler (90-91). That way, if the snake wants more warmth they can burrow down a bit without worry that they'll get burned and the temps are still in the good range if they just sit on top of the aspen.

ZooMed pads can and do reach up to 120 when just plugged into the wall. Tests have been done. How did you attach the pad to the tank?

The best way to heat any enclosure, be it tank tub or display, is from below with a UTH or heat tape or from above with a radient heat panel. Lights will only suck out the humidity and provide intense heat in one spot and very little everywhere else. Lizards need basking lamps and brighter day light, snakes really don't.

The foil will not cook your snake. It helps to keep the heat and humidity in the tank where it belongs instead of rising out. The only way it would be bad would be if the snake were right on it along with a lamp.

Let's see if we can help you get this tank to work. If not, or if you just get too frustrated with it, then head to WalMart for a nice latching tub and some mini bungee cords and we'll walk you through THAT set up process.

[butters!]

Ah, substrate! Totally forgot to mention that one. I was attempting to describe everything, but apparently failed there. I'm using aspen, about an inch and a half in the bottom of the tank. My BP has showed zero interest in burrowing. I should also mention I've currently got two water dishes as well, in an attempt to try and keep up humidity since keeping foil over the top of the tank would probably cook my snake.

Hot side probe is resting on top of the substrate, not below it, right near where the snake spends most of her time. I had been measuring burried below the substrate directly touching the glass opposite the UTH, but the snake was uninterested in spending time on or near the UTH. When I addded the lamp, I wanted to make sure the substrate (and other materials) that touch my snake weren't getting too hot, which is why it is resting on top of the substrate right now. When I bury it the temps differ, and I don't want to burn snakey's belly!

As for the UTH brand, I'm using a ZooMed. People have said they get notoriously hot, but mine never gets above 97. Go figure.

As for more questions, it sounds as though everyone thinks I can't use a light in conjunction with a UTH with a single thermostat. So does this mean that I would either need to a) buy two thermostats, or b) get either a few more UTH's or just ditch the UTH entirely and go with a light?

So Butters, what part of the country are you in? Want my tank? A tub from Walmart is looking more and more apealing with each gray hair...

lol,stlouis.and if you cant take it back where you got it from and are willing to sell it cheap i will buy it.

[butters!]

honestly i think a 10 dollar lamp dimmer would do the trick for you.there are also dome lamps that come with a dimmer on the cord.even when the light is dimmed 3/4 of its original brightness it still raises the ambiant temps a few degrees and cuts down alot of the humidity loss of 100% power.if all else fails wat size tank is it and where are you located?