Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi guys,

Ive finally began setting up an enclosure for one of these lovely lil guys and almost have things done. However, I've been tossing what to do about heating atm. I'll give you a brief run down of what I've got going on. Its a glass terrarium ( I know most of you guys dont like those too much, but I had one laying around unused). There's no screen top, its a glass top with latches to firmly keep it shut. 6 vents all around that can be plugged. So with my selected substrate and a test UTH ive been keeping it at 85-90 humidity easily.

As far as heating goes though, will the UTH really suffice? I know BRB's are terrestrial, so the ground warmth is fine. Its the ambient air temp that I'm wondering about. A few inches off the ground from the heater,and it goes back to room temp. (73-74 in my house). Should I be concerned about this or will the warmth from the floor suffice? This is my first time using an UTH, all of my other snakes use an overhead light/heat source with a simply dimer. Also, the UTH seems like its nice a toasty all over where it placed, then once youre right off of it, it drops in temp quickly, so not much of a gradient. I have a temp gun and a helix thermostat so Im fairly good to go once I have this ready. If the UTH is no good (usign zoomed atm, if you think somethings better lemme know) what would you suggest? Ceramic since there is no light put off?

Sorry for being long winded and if thats a bit of a silly question, but I justlike to do things as perfect as possible = ).

You might try insulating three sides and the top, that would help keep the heat in.
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Thanks,

Dave Colling

www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com

0.1 Wife (WC and still very fiesty)
0.2 kids (CBB, a big part of our selective breeding program)

LOL, to many snakes to list, last count:
20.28 BRB
13.18 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

It's been my experience that you don't have to worry about ambient temps with these animals. They draw all the heat they need from a warm basking area. I keep all of my BRBs on belly heat only.

That said, I think the best way to do it would be to plug a radiant heat panel and an under tank heater into the same Helix thermostat and then set the probe on the floor of the cage. This would give a better gradient throughout the enclosure. Most of us use belly heat or overhead heat but not both. If you went in this direction you'd be breaking new ground. Going where no herp freak has gone before!
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Mike Lockwood
www.tooscaley.com

I think you will be fine with your current set up. My brb tends to spend more time on its cooler side at 72 to 73 degree - unless it is digesting food. With you ambient air temps at these levels you shoul have no problems.
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Mike

0.1 BRB
1.0 Spotted Python
1.0 Cal. King