Reptile & Amphibian Forums

hello, was looking for some info on a UTH...I have two 20g long tanks w/screen tops, one has my little corn,and the other my little desert king..Im breaking down and will buy a uth for each of them...my local petshop sells the little 15-20 g zoo med ones..now, how do I use these? I use aspen bedding..I was gonna buy a dimmer with each one...but from my understanding, last time I used a uth, the glass would heat up under the bedding to around 90ish, but once I put 1/2 inch of bedding, it would only be like 80 ontop the bedding...Is this sufficiant? it seems alittle cold, esp, since its not heating much of the tank, maybe only alittle on the warm end..any suggestions? is this ok? the pad is not very big, it says for 10-20 gallon tanks...Please help..thanks, Pete

also, with this setup, do I still need a light? or just the uth is good?

exo terra has three sizes.... 8x8, 10.5x11 and 17x11.....what size is best for a 20g long? I was thinking the 10.5x11...thanks, Pete

>>exo terra has three sizes.... 8x8, 10.5x11 and 17x11.....what size is best for a 20g long? I was thinking the 10.5x11...thanks, Pete

10.5 x 11 will be fine.
Just to make sure...you do know it goes under the glass and not inside the tank right?
Just making sure so take it as anything else.
Now, There will be a temperature difference from the glass just over the glass and the top of the substrate. This is good and to be expected.
I would probably go with about 1 1/2 inches deep with the substrate.
You do not need the light but I would give them some kind of light during the day just to give them a normal light cycle. Maybe go with a normal 40 watt light bulb
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Corn snakes and rat snakes..No one can have just one.
"Resistance is futile"
Jimmy Johnson
(Draybar)
Draybars Snakes

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thanks, now what temp do I want it under the substrate and ontop? right now I have a dimmer, it is on med, and right on the glass is 99, and right above the substrate is 80.5...this cant be correct is it? Im using digital probe....isnt this too hot for the glass? and too cold for the substrate? thanks

>>thanks, now what temp do I want it under the substrate and ontop? right now I have a dimmer, it is on med, and right on the glass is 99, and right above the substrate is 80.5...this cant be correct is it? Im using digital probe....isnt this too hot for the glass? and too cold for the substrate? thanks

try to get it down to around 90 at the glass.
This will probably bring down to under 80 on top of the substrate but that is fine. You can place a hide on that end of the tank and after a couple of hours try to check the temp inside the hide. With a lower temp on the substrate surface and the higher temp right at the glass the snake can thermo regulate as needed.
-----
Corn snakes and rat snakes..No one can have just one.
"Resistance is futile"
Jimmy Johnson
(Draybar)
Draybars Snakes

_____