Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Well, I have a long 20 gallon tank and I’ve used a heat lamp for my Grey Banded King’s (Kingston) main heat source up to a week ago. I want to give him the perfect environment
Recently I purchased an under tank heater so he can warm up at night. I put Repti Cage Carpet on the bottom of the tank to prevent burns and as his substrate I use 1-1/2 to 2inches of Aspen Bedding. This under tank heater is for a 10-20 Gallon size.
My Concern is that last night he loves to burrow and last night he burrowed on the warm side of the cage which is top of the heater.

Will my snake move if it is too hot for him ?

I took a temperature reading with a infrared temp gun the surface of the Cage Carpet with the heater "On" and it ranges from 100-109 degrees F. I know thats a little warm. But if you were in outside in sunlight lets say around 85 degrees, the ground will be hotter than 85 degrees. So I’m not sure if this is bad or not.

Can anyone help me with expert advice on this situation or suggest a better one? I will really appreciate the help. Thanks -Rick

The way you have your tank set up os the best possible way for an aquarium to be heated. Leave the heat pad on 24/7 and the light just during the day. This gives a nice day/night swing in temps and it provides overhead radient heat during the day for basking, while the ground stays warm after dark, just like in nature. Your kingsnake will absolutely move if he gets to hot. 109 wont burn him anyways. Its always better to provide the biggest gradient possible. Just make sure he can get cool enough as well.

I have raised some of my biggest and healthiest snakes in set ups just like yours.

If you don't mind, could you tell me the brandname of those super clear tubs that you use? I know you've been asked before, but I must have missed your response. Thanks in advance
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Huge Richard Evans

no not THAT one

Sorry about the "HUGE" part in my signature everybody..I thought I got rid of it..my bad. It was a childish stunt on my part anyway. Take care
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Richard Evans

no not THAT one

They are made by cambro and they are the clear polycarbonate food storage boxes. Quite pricy, but well worth it in my oppinion. The best place to by is from restaurant supply stores.

I get to see all the good stuff without shaking up their world.

I went out and bought a case of the 18X26X6 cambros today..your right, they're a tad pricey, but I love how they look (crystal clear) and seem tough as nails. Is that the size you use? they also have a 9" tall one too ( I wasn't sure if I would need the extra 3" for kings). Also I noticed that there weren't any air holes in the one in the pic you posted (nice looking snakes by the way) have you tried drilling them?..do they crack/star easily? I thought of trying a glass/tile drill bit, I prefer doing it right the first time, considering the price..LOL. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks again
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Richard Evans

no not THAT one

I currently have a rack that uses the medium sized ones. I forget the exact dimentions but they are almost exactly the same size as a ten gallon tank. I use them as grow out boxes for my holdback kings/corns and for my adult anthill pythons (under 24 inches!). The next rack I build I am going to use the larger ones that you just bought. I wouldn't go for the higher ones either.

As far as drilling, these things are awesome. The tub in the pic does have holes they are just along the sides not across the front. Although even with the holes the rack probobly does ventilate primarily around the 1/8in gap at the top. I use a normal drill bit and go with 1/8 in holes. I have drilled thousands of holes in these and never cracked or splintered any.

is it normal that my snake doesn't usually bask in the sun?

Yes its normal for a grey banded king to not bask because if I remember right they are especially shy and are usually nocturnal in the first place. Is it 100 degrees directly on the heat pad, or on the substrate above the heat pad? He should be fine, even without the light.
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-J.Hill

It is normal for your alterna to not bask... and, for the most part as long as there is light comming in form a window a light buld is not really needed

it sounds like your are providind a temp gradient which is good.. But, you may want to contol the temp of your heat pad with a dimmer switch or Helix as you do not need to maintain high end temps of 100/109 degrees..

good luck.. and post a pic of your alterna when you have a chance!

~ Mike Russo

... i really need to start spell checking!

~ Mike

I want to thank all who replied to my post.

To answer questions: The 100-109 degree temperature is directly on the heat pad not on the top of the aspen substrate. I am using a 10-20 gallon under tank heater on a long 20 gallon tank. The tank is raised with the rubber bumpers

To: MikeRusso.. (and to anyone who can reply)

Mike I'm having difficulty getting the temperature "on-Point"
The problem I'm having is that I want to have the whole warm side of the cage at 85 and the cool end at 75. Using this under tank heater it is not warming up the cage. Its just warming the bottom of the cage(directly on the heat pad) and on top of the substrate. So if i got the cage up to 85 degrees the surface of the under tank heater would be way too hot for my snake. This is a concern because this guy loves to burrow.
Also i do have a heat controller and it wont turn off ant the correct temp because the cage is 10 degrees cooler than the ground itself. Any suggestions?
Oh.. here is a pic of Kingston. This pic is a month old. When he comes of hiding out ill post more up-to-date pics.

As you know most snakes (expecially alterna) spend most if not all of thier time hiding. Because of this the temp of the whole tank is really not all that important.

If the temp thing is important to you then you can keep that bulb on top of the tank.. But, bulbs do tend do dry things out and cause other issues.. bad sheds for one.

So, im my opinion as long as your hot spot is the right temp your snake will be fine.

Nice looking alterna you have there by the way!

~ Mike Russo

You want to Make sure you raise your tank a bit, to get air flow under it so the pad won't overheat itself. I use 1/4 " rubber bumpers that stick on. I think most heating pads come with them. but make sure you use them. Other wise they could be a fire hazard.
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R.Bichlers Colubrids
http://www.webspawner.com/users/rbichler/index.html

I'm a general beginner, but I had the same setup which is now upgraded to a 75 gallon.

My snake is also very shy and doesn't do much basking and I've been told this is completely normal. She's out and about at 'dawn' and 'dusk' usually, sometimes parked at the front of the tank watching TV (she sways to follow the pictures on the screen, it's quite funny).

She seems happy and eating like a pig being able to pick between the uth 'hot' spot, the cooler corner of the warm side, and the much colder other end of the tank (103 degrees, 85 degrees and 75 degrees roughly during the day and 103 degress, 78 degress and 70 degress at night roughly). Overhead bulbs definetly dry out the tank alot and she's not much of a waterbowl soaker, so I also included a small box with slightly damp moss for her to curl up in when she's feeling dry.

I would love to be able to get rid of the overhead lights, but unfortunately the weather just wont allow it. It fluctuates from -50 degrees celcius in a cold snap in the winter to 40 degrees celcius in the summer. I HAVE to be able to adjust the heat depending on the day.

Last week in our -45 weather, dual 150 watt heat bulbs barely kept the tank at an ambient of 78. Desert snakes just aren't meant to be Canadian!
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1.0 Eastern Kingsnake, Chain (Mars)
0.1 Gray Banded Kingsnake (Thanatos)

74 not 78 sorry. I can't type!
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1.0 Eastern Kingsnake, Chain (Mars)
0.1 Gray Banded Kingsnake (Thanatos)

Oh and before I get jumped on.. the temperature has risen to -20 and the bulbs have been dropped to a single 50 watt. I just don't like seeing the tank drop to supremely low temperatures and end up brumating her her.
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1.0 Eastern Kingsnake, Chain (Mars)
0.1 Gray Banded Kingsnake (Thanatos)