Some cage questions.

[Brock Fluharty]

I've been preparing my 30 gallon tank for a ball python we have at work, and I have a few questions regarding humidity and temperature (and possibly other things):

I am going to get a screen lid for the tank, but I know that i'll have to do something to keep the humidity and temperature up. I've seen where people "aluminum treat" mesh lids. What's aluminum treating?

I bought an UTH, and installed it on one side of the tank, which was supposed to be the warm side of the tank, but the substrate is only 83*F. This is too cool, correct? I'm not sure what to do about this...i'd like to avoid using heat lamps or CHE's since they'll dry my tank out. The substrate I have in the tank isn't going to be permanent, so we'll see what the temp is when I get the good stuff in.

Speaking of substrate, has anyone had any experience with "Bed-a-Beast"? It's coconut fiber stuff that comes in a brick that you tear apart.

And will a large water bowl and daily mistings keep the humidity high enough?

Sorry for so many questions, I just wanna get it right the first time. =]

I'll probably have more questions soon lol.

Thanks,
Brock Fluharty

[kimilion0]

what size is the under the tank heater . I found the zoo med uth arent sufficient. the one i use is exoterra desert not the rainforest . I found this one to work the best . and I use a rack system now the screen aquarim doesnt work , unless you keep the room warm . and I like it around 65 so that wouldnt work for me if you use the the screen cover a good bit of it with cardboard or plastic sighn material . good luck

[Argentra]

I don't see why you found the ZooMed pads insufficient, unless you used one that was too small or didn't measure temps right on the glass. I use those pads almost exclusively and they are perfect for the cause. Testing them is encouraged, and if they don't reach at least 100 within an hour they are defective and should be returned. But all the ones I've gotten have always heated right up quite fast.

Anyway, aluminum, or foil, treating is a method used to cover most of the screen top with layers of foil to keep in heat and humidity. I have a tutorial on the process I can send you if you wish. If you treat the top and have a wide dish, you shouldn't have to mist the tank much at all.

You'll find that covering the back and both sides of any tank with opaque background and then some form of insulation (such as cork or foam board) will help greatly in keeping heat stable in a glass enclosure.

Any heat source used should be sized for the tank to cover 1/4-1/3 of the bottom on one side. Also, the substrate does not need to be much deeper than the first joint of a finger. BPs usually aren't burrowers like corns and kings, and if the temps are managed right they won't have need to burrow down.
The probe for the thermometer should be under the substrate against the glass right over the UTH to measure the warm side temp.
Also, any heat source MUST be controlled by a thermostat or dimmer at the least! Those pads can reach 120+ very fast just plugged into the wall socket.

That Bed-A-Beast stuff is very messy and you have to make sure it's TOTALLY dried out before putting it into a snake tank, since excess substrate moisture will lead to scale rot.
The best substrates are newsprint paper and aspen, IMHO.

[Brock Fluharty]

I have the small desert UTh from ExoTerra.

I measured the temp on the bottom glass, and it's 85*F. Is this warm enough?

I bought a nice big water bowl, a CHE, and some bedding today from work. I just have to find a screen lid the right size, since we don't have any at work.

Once I get the lid, i'll foil treat it to help with the temperature and humidity.

Go ahead and send me that tutorial when you get the chance.

Thanks,
Brock

[Brock Fluharty]

Got my bedding in, and the CHE hooked up, and the warm side is sitting at 90*F. Checking the cool side momentarily...

Just gotta get the screen lid, dimmer, thermometer/hygrometer, and I should be set...I hope nobody buys him before I get the tank all ready!

[Brock Fluharty]

Cool side is sitting at 76-77*F. I'll need to get that up. Hopefully when I get a screen lid and foil treat it that'll take care of it.

How should I get it sexed? I've read ways to do it, but they all say to let a professional do it. So would I have to take it to the vet, or is it safe to do it myself? If so, which method would be safest for a newbie?

[ride_gnu]

I have to disagree with Argentra, now I may be wrong, but If I measure my temp. on my warm side right on top of the glass on top of the UTH i get like 118 F, but if I measure just under the very top layer of bedding, or on the top layer, i get around 92 F. Loose bedding can absorb alot of temperature depending on how thick it is.

[Brock Fluharty]

Wait, are you disagreeing with the fact that you need to use a dimmer? Or the fact that you need to place the probe right on the bottom glass above the UTH?

Just trying to be clear

[ride_gnu]

Oh sorry about that. Argenta mentioned placing the Temp. Probe right on top of the glass, under all the substrate, I would not reccomend this becuase with even a 1/2" I find that the temperature can differ by around 5 degrees farenhiet.

Dimmer I do suggest.

[Brock Fluharty]

Ahh, ok.

Well i'll measure both, and make sure that the top of the bedding is the right temp. I'm more worried about the top of the bedding than the bottom to be honest.

Oh, and how long can I safely keep it out of it's cage? Like if i'm holding it, will it eventually freeze without the heat of it's cage? I'll probably end up just draping it over my shoulders or arm and doing homework or something, but I don't want to keep it away from it's heat for so long it becomes sick or something.

Thanks for all the responses!
Brock