(4) How do I regulate the day-night temp difference? I know I won't be there every night, so is it safe to trust a thermostat connected on the UHT? Do I have to turn of the UHT at night? And is it possible to make a timer switch automatically between the regular bulbs and the night-light (if the night-light can't be left on all day)? (I'm not that much of an electricity man...)



You don't really need a 2nd light. The important heat is belly heat. Just put the light blub on a 12 hr on/off cycle (buy a simple timer) just to create day/night temps. And I leave my heat mats unattended all the time when I go to work. I mean, I check to make sure that the temps are correct with a cheap thermometer that I just lay on the floor over the UTH. But I haven't had any problems with any UTHs except the ones sold as "for reptiles." I buy human heating pads - they fun and adjustable!







(5) And finally (sorry for being a bore), how do I place all this inside the tank? I've read in an article by Melissa Kaplan that I should put the incandescent lights and the UHT more on one side of the tank, in order to create a basking spot and a heat- and light-gradient. Right? And then just putting the night-light in the middle?



In all my tanks, I put the UTH and the light bulbs (if I use them) on the same side of the tank. UTH goes under far 1/2 to 1/3 of tank, and the bulb goes on the far side over the UTH. That way it goes from warmest end to coolest end.



I'm guessing you know the hides/water bowls rule, right? One hide on both ends of the cage, so they can thermoregulate and still feel secure. And if you put a big water bowl on the warm side, and a smaller one on the cool side, it'll help with humidity.
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-Irish

My Snakes

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