Posted by:
DMong
at Thu Nov 12 15:08:09 2009 [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by DMong ]
First of all, 3 inches of sand is going to insulate the HECK out of things, and the UTH won't even be able to warm it at all unless you have it set for 300 degrees..LOL!
Sand sucks for snake substrate anyway. I would put a thin(3/4 to 1" inch) layer of aspen, pine, or a few other things, but do NOT use cedar whatever you do, this has a very irritating oil in it that doesn't agree with reptiles.
Also, this all depends on what your enclosure is made of, a glass aquarium will conduct the heat WAY more than a plastic would. You want to put the thermometer/thermostat probe directly on the bottom tank surface, not lay it on top, a snake will burrow down a bit by nature, so you want it down on the exact surface the snake will be on. Now in conjunction to the probe, by all means you can put a stick-up thermometer, or any accurate type just above the substrate, or on it to monitor that as well for the average ambient air inside.
If this is a glass tank, you also want to raise it ever so slightly from the heat source so it isn't directly on it. For example, you can use four small tiles or whatever to allow a small air gap between the tank and the heat source, should something malfunction with the heater. This also prevents too much heat from building up underneath it especially when a regular heating pad is being used.
Only put the heat source on about 1/3rd to 1/2 of the cage, but make SURE the cage is big enough so the snake can get away from the warmer side if it chooses to do so. A good temp would be 84 on the wrm side bottom surface, and the cool end could be in the mid 70's.
Whatever you do, make damn sure the snake can get cooler if it wants too. Just a few threads below, a snake got fried with 130 degree temps when something malfunctioned, and the enclosure wasn't near big enough for the snake to escape the heat.
put a low tight hide on both sides so it can hide on whichever side it wants too, with the water bown on the cool end.
Anyway, DO NOT guess at what the temps are, make sure you KNOW what they are so something sisasterous doesn't happen to you too.
Some good common sense goes a long way with stuff like this.
hopefully this helped a bit. And good luck with the setup!
~Doug
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"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing" 
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RE: Newb question regarding temperatures. - DMong, Thu Nov 12 15:08:09 2009