Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I use an aquarium tank as an enclosure. I don't want to use a sweater box because I actually want to be able to see my snake in his enclosure. Anyone got any advice for an under tank heater. I got one from the pet store but it sucks. It only keeps the hot side at 80 so I have been using a heat lamp in addition. I'd like to get rid of the light and just use an under tank heater.

You can use more than one under tank heater - you can also try running some heat cable under the substrate, or adding a UTH / flexwatt to the sides or back of the tank. If you ditch the lamp and cover most of the top it will help greatly in keeping heat and humidity in.
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Tosha
JET Pythons

Insert Silly Quote Here

Can you put two under tank heaters one on top of the other? I've heard of people using regular heating pads that people use on their backs and stuff for their snake. Would this work to heat a glass aquarium?

Are you sure that is an accurate temp? Make sure you are getting the correct reading on the temps.
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3.1 Corn (Anery Stripe-Ripple '06/Amber-Jack Straw '06/Snow-Casey Jones '06/Amel Motley-Cosmo '03)
0.1 Baird's Ratsnake (Sugaree '04)
1.0 White Oaks Grey Rat (Tennesse Jed '04)
0.1 IJ Carpet Python (Cassidy '04)
1.0 Western Hognose (Samson '05)
1.1 Shepherd mix (Dylan 8yrs, Porter 3yrs)

Yes it is an accurate temp. I have a digital thermometer mounted near the bottom of the tank. I called the company that makes the heater and the lady told me that it will only raise temperatures in the tank by 5 degrees F which is WEAK.

I would say if the surface of the enclosure is at the corrct temp, it doesn't matter what the temp is at the top of the cage. Unless your snake is levitating in the air, the surface temperature is what he is experiencing. Move your thermometer to about 5" from the surface of the enclosure to get a better read of what temps the snake is experiencing and not what is at the top of the cage.
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Happy Herping,
Jody Barnes
Royal Kreationz

1.0 albino
1.2 het albino
1.0 het caramel
1.0 het pied
0.1 poss het. pied
0.4 normals (beautiful pastel sibs)

1) If you add mass to your enclosure it will retain more heat. You can accomplish this by using a very thick layer of dense substrate. Coconut mulch is widely available in a brick and works great for this. Also, the suggestion one of the other posters gave about moving the thermometer to the bottom is good.

2) try switching to a vision cage or some other display cage that is specially designed for reptiles. They have more bulk than all glass cages so they retain heat better and still allow you to view your pet.
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I eat human infants. They, like everything else, taste like chicken. What?

First -- what are you using to measure temp? If it is anything other than a temp gun or digital thermometer with probe, odds are 99% positive it is wrong. Those stick-on dial thermometers and color change strips are worthless.

This page may help you:

http://www.pinkladyconstrictors.com/enclosuresetup.html
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~* Jen *~

Pink Lady Constrictors