Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have my 20 gal. long tank set up so that day time temps are 95 on the hot side, but I can only get tha cool side up to 71.
humidity was low at 40 % but I have rectified that by adding another water bowl.. now humidity is 65%...Which is good.
night time temps are 80 and 85 on hot side but still 71 on cool side. I am trying to bring the cool side temps up but have not been able to thus far. I have seen in a recent post that I should get a second under tank heater(I already have one), which is no problem. My question is, where should it be placed?
Under the cool side? any advice would be appreciated.here is a pic of the current set up...any thoughts or suggestions? I also have a close uop of maximus....Isn't he handsome???


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1.0 ball python(normal)Maximus
0.1 golden retriever Amber
0.1 dalmation/lab mix nikita
0.2 bettas

also..how often will he deficate? he has let out a few dmall whitish balls but nothing substantial.I have had him for 2 weeks.I have fed him twice, and I am going to move up to twice a wekk because he is acting hungry already( since friday)if it will not hurt him that is.

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1.0 ball python(normal)Maximus
0.1 golden retriever Amber
0.1 dalmation/lab mix nikita
0.2 bettas

Are you using a light and a heat pad on the hot side? If so, go down a little in wattage on the bulb and/or turn the pad down, 95 is just a little on the hot side. Generally you don't want more than 92 on the hot side. You can either use another heat pad for the cool side or a black/red light or a lower wattage than the one on the hot side. I use a 75w on the warm side and a 50w on the cool side, temps generally stay in the low 80's on the cool side and high 80's on the warm side with a basking spot of 91. The substrate temp stay in the mid-80's aswell.

I use two UTH with my setup. A Dragon's Lair Heat Mat connected to a thermostat on the hot side 90-95 degrees. On the cool side I use a human heating pad set on low which is about 80-85 degrees. I don't use any bulbs for heating. Nice looking snake.

Cool down that hot side,88 is more like a hot side, 80 the other. If you are using a screen top, take out that second water bowl and cover the screen with something(not all the way of course). That should keep the heat from escaping as much. Glass is not the best conducter of heat. That is what i did until i got a better cage...

sym
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"You can't appreciate Shakespeare until you've read him in the original Klingon."

I have yo have the second water bowl in there. It is a screen top, but3/4 of the cover is is covered in plastic. As for the hot side temp..I am using a 75 watt bulb an a UTH, I will raise the light a few inches to bring the temp down alittle,but not to 88... I have always yeard between 90 and 95 ( 92 being most common)but this is the first time I have heard 88.As for the cool side temps... the advice seems to be to get a second UTH for that side to bring that temp up. thank you for the input!!

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1.0 ball python(normal)Maximus
0.1 golden retriever Amber
0.1 dalmation/lab mix nikita
0.2 bettas

I've never heard 88 either. Always heard 90-95 (92 the most common). As far as defecation - it's different for each BP. They can go awhile. Mine happens to go pretty regular - a couple of days after eating. I added an infrared heat light on the cool side to bring those temps up - I love the look of it at night. I have a nice branch under the light and my BP comes out in the evening to perch on it. Looks really cool.

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My Album

1.0 Ball Python
"Aragorn"

1.0 Kenyan Sand Boa
"Gimli"

0.1 Australian Cattle Dog/Pointer
"Kira"

thank you for all your advice.. I always enjoy reading your posts..they are always informative. you have a very cool looking snake. how old is he/she?
I will be switching to a better setup after I move. I am looking at houses now..so in about 2 months. I just don't want to have to move an extremely large set up . so the 20 long will do for now. I guess. any suggestions on a particular enclosure? I was thinking something somewhat larger than what I have now. maybe something equal to 40 or 50 gal. preferably something that will hold humidity better than a glass tank but will still give a good view from the front,and allow me to use UTH's for belly heat. let me know if you have a favorite and if they have a website I could check out.
thanks again ...Jason and Maximus.

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1.0 ball python(normal)Maximus
0.1 golden retriever Amber
0.1 dalmation/lab mix nikita
0.2 bettas

Thanks a lot. My Aragorn is 7 months old. He's in a 50 gallon breeder tank, but even though I have fixed my humidity problem I'm getting ready to buy him a Boaphile cage (36x24x18) - a little pricey but I've heard great things about them. I figured that I hope to have Aragorn for a very long time so the price works out okay. That and I am in no way about to attempt to build a cage or ask my boyfriend. I don't want him to ever begin to resent my snakes so I pace my favors. I plan on getting a lower humidity snake (probably a corn) to put in Aragorn's current tank.

How old is Maximus? Looks like you have a nice setup for him also.
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My Album

1.0 Ball Python
"Aragorn"

1.0 Kenyan Sand Boa
"Gimli"

0.1 Australian Cattle Dog/Pointer
"Kira"

I am not sure of exact age but it was estimated that he is between six and 8 months of age. he is 30 inches long and I am not sure of weight... I don't have a grams scale.thank you I am trying to do right by him...so I am trying to get it right. I will look into the boaphile cages. speaking of corn snakes...did you hear about the one that was hiding in the potato bag in a grocery store?... funny huh?,y only real concern left at the moment is humidity.. it stays around 50 but will go to 65 when heat is cranking in house.. I t is really dry here.Martha's Vineyard, mass.I have the hot side temps at 92 and the cool at 85 during the day and 85 ansd 80 at night.. the other heat pad really helped. now all he will need is a more humid stable tank... which I will get as soon as I move. Until then I will just keep misting twice a day.and it has been very nice talking to you.
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1.0 ball python(normal)Maximus
0.1 golden retriever Amber
0.1 dalmation/lab mix nikita
0.2 bettas

No I didn't hear about that corn - funny though. Glad things are working out for you. 50% during non shed is just fine - as long as you can get it higher during shed (or if you BP will use a humid hide - mine won't) then you should be set.
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My Album

1.0 Ball Python
"Aragorn"

1.0 Kenyan Sand Boa
"Gimli"

0.1 Australian Cattle Dog/Pointer
"Kira"

I think you should tape a piece of cardboard along the back side of the tank for insulation.
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0.1 Albino Leopard gecko
Coming Soon
1.0 ball python
possibly
1.2 leopard gecko