Just few notes to BP Husbandry FAQs...

[dsirkle]

You put it on the bottom of the viv from the outside, not acutally in the enclosure. Most put it under the warm side hide so that the snake has a nice warm place to digest meals. It may take a little trial and error trying to get the right thickness of substrate to allow the proper heat to transfer through. The generale rule for under tank heaters is that they cover 1/3 of the floor space on the viv. Hope this helps and ask for more clarification if you have any doubts. You did a great job improving your set up.

Yes indeed!

[Malpaso]

You are doing the right things. That piece of wood was not a good hide. Your snake will like the ones that you made. We commonly use "flex watt" as an under the tank heating (uth) source here. While this may not be available to you, there is a product called "Ultratherm" which you should be able to locate and purchase in Europe. This is a heat pad that you tape to the bottom of your viv. I would buy the smallest one to put on a glass bottom.

Yes! I have found it in local shop for sale... They have available:
size (mm) / input (W)
142 x 274 mm / 7W
278 x 274 mm / 14W
414 x 274 mm / 22W
550 x 274 mm / 30W
728 x 274 mm / 38W
866 x 274 mm / 46W

My viv is 1000 x 50 mm so option 22W seems to be the best solution for me right?

However that placement is still confusing me... "they say cover with 10mm substrate for best results". Still I hope I have found the right thing... name is Ultratherm Viv Mat 22 and pictures below.

http://www.fenixgroup.cz/pages/files...s/folie_d1.jpg

http://www.fenixgroup.cz/pages/files...s/folie_d2.jpg

http://www.fenixgroup.cz/pages/files...s/folie_d3.jpg

[Egapal]

Yes! I have found it in local shop for sale... They have available:
size (mm) / input (W)
142 x 274 mm / 7W
278 x 274 mm / 14W
414 x 274 mm / 22W
550 x 274 mm / 30W
728 x 274 mm / 38W
866 x 274 mm / 46W

My viv is 1000 x 50 mm so option 22W seems to be the best solution for me right?

However that placement is still confusing me... "they say cover with 10mm substrate for best results". Still I hope I have found the right thing... name is Ultratherm Viv Mat 22 and pictures below.

http://www.fenixgroup.cz/pages/files...s/folie_d1.jpg

http://www.fenixgroup.cz/pages/files...s/folie_d2.jpg

http://www.fenixgroup.cz/pages/files...s/folie_d3.jpg

That is what you need. You place it on the outside of the tank. on the glass. Then you put your substrate in the tank. They say to put substrate over the top because the glass is going to get hot. You want to use the UTH to heat the glass and the glass heats the substrate and the substrate heats your snake and the air. You want to put that on a rheostat or a thermostat though. You absolutely need to regulate the temp. A 22 watt can get pretty hot.

[Malpaso]

So... Today morning I have installed that 22W Ultratherm Viv Mats. I can say after 24hrs test top temperature is 36°C/97°F on surface. So covered with 1/2 - 1 inch of substrate temperature must be (IMHO) perfect.



Also I have improved hides for her . that left one is on heating mat and that right off it... so I hope I have provided warm and cold hiding place she needs...

[southernboagurl]

Have to say all of this looks great on how you are improving the enclosure. The UTH (heat pad) needs to be on a rheostat so you can regulate the temperature of it. 97 is a little high for the warm end. You want the warm end to be around 90 and the cool end to be around 82-84 (that I've read). Do you have any way of knowing the temperature of both ends of the viv? Also, are you still using the light inside the enclosure?

[anatess]

Oooh! Those hides are cute!!!

[Spaniard]

Have to say all of this looks great on how you are improving the enclosure. The UTH (heat pad) needs to be on a rheostat so you can regulate the temperature of it. 97 is a little high for the warm end. You want the warm end to be around 90 and the cool end to be around 82-84 (that I've read). Do you have any way of knowing the temperature of both ends of the viv? Also, are you still using the light inside the enclosure?

Actually I have my heat tape at 97 also, you must keep in mind that the temperature of the tape does not necessarily mean it will be the same in the tub/tank. With that said I go safer than sorry and control all heating elements with a thermostat. You may want to have a thermometer on the glass below the substrate just to get an idea what the surface temps are down there, with this UTH being new to your set up and all. Your snake can burrow down in the substrate to get more heat and you want to make sure its not hot enough to cause burns.

[Malpaso]

To southernboagurl: that temp 97 is on surface of that mat. So on substrate should be less... However I have still just one thermometer with probe and just moving that probe to check temperature on both ends... I know it's not ideal, just waiting for another thermometer. That light I use from 7am to 8pm every day (switched on/off with timer).

To anatess: thank you so much . Your post gave me this idea

To Spaniard: Good point about that burrow down... I will move sensor to the glass. Thank you.

[southernboagurl]

To southernboagurl: that temp 97 is on surface of that mat. So on substrate should be less... However I have still just one thermometer with probe and just moving that probe to check temperature on both ends... I know it's not ideal, just waiting for another thermometer. That light I use from 7am to 8pm every day (switched on/off with timer).

Well just curious cause sometimes they can burrow down and be directly on the glass itself. And I asked about the light since so many people have suggested taking it out completely.

[fallupinreverse]

I absolutely love what you did with those hides! Did you just glue the bark chips onto them? They look great!