Posted by:
draybar
at Fri Jul 11 17:40:03 2008 [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by draybar ]
>>I am planning on getting a new enclosure for Annika and I am thinking about doing a few things differently than I have been. I have decided in favor of a standard 40 gal long tank with a sliding screen top to replace the current 20 gal long one. As much as I would love a Vision enclosure, none of them are the right size - by the time they are as long as I want, they are far too deep.
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>>As for heating, I would like to switch from heat lamp to an under-the-tank heater. The local pet stores have ReptiTherm heaters in various sizes and one store has a regulator to plug the heater into so you can adjust the temp. I have heard multiple horror stories about heat rocks malfunctioning and killing reptiles. Do I have the same risk with UT heaters such as ReptiTherm? I would like to replace the heat lamp with something a little more energy efficient if it is still safe. I have also heard a lot of good about ProProducts radiant heat panels, but since I have a top opening tank, I don't think that would work too well.
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>>I will also be a bit more careful about making sure the temperatures are right. I have a thermometer in the warm spot now, but I have ideas to make it a bit more sophisticated in the future.
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>>Also, the local pet store has fir bark substrate that looks really nice. I have heard that pine is bad for snakes, but I have also heard that the bark doesn't have the dangerous chemicals in it. Is Fir bark okay or is it not worth messing with. I can always stick with aspen shavings.
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>>thanks
>>
>>jorj
>>Annika
Ok
The 40 gallon tank will work well.
I would highl;y recommend the thermostat with the UTH.
The problem with the old heat rocks is there was no way to regulate the temps and the went INSIDE the tank.They had a tendency to malfunction causing burns to snakes. The UTH goes under the tank as the name implies (under tank heater).
I would also recommend covering about half of the screen top just to help maintain a little better humidity.
I would not use the fir bark.
any evergreen can release toxic oils and the bark is the worse. The bark is where most of the oils are stored.
Go with something like aspen shavings, cypress mulch, news paper of paper towels.
Obviously if you are going for a more natural set up the paper towels and news paper would look good so you would want to lean towards the aspen or cypress mulch.
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Corn snakes and rat snakes..No one can have just one.
"Resistance is futile"
Jimmy Johnson
(Draybar)
Draybars Snakes
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[ Hide Replies ]
- Some Enclosure Questions - SirJorj, Thu Jul 10 19:19:04 2008
 RE: Some Enclosure Questions - draybar, Fri Jul 11 17:40:03 2008 
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