Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am getting about a 18" long licorice stick black rat snake, lola. I'm going to let her live in a 29 gallon tank for a little while before getting her set up in her 75, within 6 months hopefully. Here's my question, I have a metal screen top with clips, cedar bedding, water bowl, two hiding spots (one for each side of the tank), driftwood for her to climb up on, and the lighting/heating is my question. I am not going to use an undertank heater, for the simple reasons that A) i'm afraid she'll bury herself under the chips and get burnt, B) too much of a pain in the butt to get it regulated, and C) too expensive for what it is. I was told to use a blacklight bulb for nighttime heating, and a basking or daylight bulb for daytime heating. Which one? Basking or daylight bulb? (basking is a spot light and daylight bulb is regular incandescant). Which daylight bulb do I need, and what wattage should I get for the daytime and night time bulbs?

I was planning on getting a light holder from walmart, they have them with reflectors for $5 each. I was thinking of cutting the reflectors at angles and welding them together, as to create a double type fixture, so I wouldn't have to be moving them every time its time to turn one off and the other on...in fact I was going to put them on timers.

the whole lighting thing will work, correct? When I go to walmart i'm going to get a cheapo digital indoor/outdoor thermometer (both sides of the tank)

Anything else I should know? Thanks!

Also, I was told cedar chips from home depot were fine, shouldn't I sterilize them in some shape form or fashion? Or just not worry about it, or just get some from a pet store? Thx.
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The reason mainstream thought is thought of as a stream is because it's so shallow. -Unknown

Get Aspen shavings from the pet store or Cypress mulch from Walmart if they have it. Cedar has oils in it that can be hazardous to snakes (think about the fact that the smell of it drives away insects). Pine is also not recommended, again due to the oils/resins in it.

Can't help you much with the heat lights. I swore I'd never use them again after I bought my umpteenth expensive "moon beam or starlight something or other" night light bulb from a pet store in the 80's (which blew as soon as I screwed it in). Bulbs always seemed to burn out at the wrong time for me. You don't need anything fancy like UVB or full spectrum - it's just a heat source for snakes. I know some people use a white bulb for day time and a red bulb for night time to reduce the brightness. For adjusting the temps, you either move the lamp further from the floor of the cage or reduce the wattage of the bulb. You could also wire it to a dimmer which would give you better control of the output.
Good luck with Lola!

Lora

i meant cypress...i always get the two confused. lol. so what undertank heater do you use?
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The reason mainstream thought is thought of as a stream is because it's so shallow. -Unknown

I've got half a dozen different kinds in the closet (now all my cages are heated with flexwatt though)- ExoTerra, Cobra, and human heat pads (I think they're Sunbeam). Be sure if you get a human heat pad that you don't get the kind that has the auto shut off after two hours. I quit using the human heat pads due to fear of possible fire. Some people have used them for years though with no problems. I also run all of my cages on thermostats (I have 14 snakes currently) and spot check the temps with my handy dandy temp gun.
Lora

I have a metal screen top with clips, cedar bedding,

you already clarified cypress so that isn't bad. But I always suspect clips....I have yet to find clips that kept a ratsnake in. I would rather go with weighting with objects that don't just bow down the screen.

and the lighting/heating is my question. I am not going to use an undertank heater, for the simple reasons that A) i'm afraid she'll bury herself under the chips and get burnt, B) too much of a pain in the butt to get it regulated, and C) too expensive for what it is. I was told to use a blacklight bulb for nighttime heating, and a basking or daylight bulb for daytime heating. Which one? Basking or daylight bulb? (basking is a spot light and daylight bulb is regular incandescant). Which daylight bulb do I need, and what wattage should I get for the daytime and night time bulbs?

I think you will find that by the time you run the wattage and the switches so you have day heat and visible light and a night light and after you have replaced a couple blown bulbs and after you burned yourself on the 400* of a bulb...that a UTH is looking cheap and easy. Bulbs are more likely to cause burns that properly set up UTH. As for specialty bulbs.....you are gonna have to juggle wattages until you get the temps you want. Buying special reptile bulbs is a waste of money. Get cheapo deluxe bulbs like you light your house. For night....get red lights. But I still vote UTH. If you are buying a pad (I have flexwatt heat tape) I don't like Zoo Meds....Exo Terras seem better when I did use them.
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>>I was planning on getting a light holder from walmart, they have them with reflectors for $5 each. I was thinking of cutting the reflectors at angles and welding them together, as to create a double type fixture, so I wouldn't have to be moving them every time its time to turn one off and the other on...in fact I was going to put them on timers.
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>>the whole lighting thing will work, correct? When I go to walmart i'm going to get a cheapo digital indoor/outdoor thermometer (both sides of the tank)

If you are set on lights...get a double fixture and work with that. Less work and less dangerous. More expense.
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Sonya

Haven't we warned you about tampering with the structure of a chaotic system?
Mrs. Neutron

okay it seems that everyone hates lightbulbs for heating. lol. so how do i hook up a thermostat control to an UTH? I have heard you cut the wire and wire in a wall dimmer? Will this work fine? or is there an easier (and smaller) method of doing this?
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The reason mainstream thought is thought of as a stream is because it's so shallow. -Unknown

>>okay it seems that everyone hates lightbulbs for heating. lol. so how do i hook up a thermostat control to an UTH? I have heard you cut the wire and wire in a wall dimmer? Will this work fine? or is there an easier (and smaller) method of doing this?
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>>The reason mainstream thought is thought of as a stream is because it's so shallow. -Unknown

To me this is the cheapest way. Wiring a dimmer is simple...comes with instructions. You will want a good thermometer to set temps then...I love my IR for that.
You can also wire the dimmer switch to an extension. I wire them to a three prong extension cord then plug the pad/tape into the extension. You can control more than one device at a time then.
Another thought with heat pads....they tend to use a lot less wattage. Thus a lot less waste.
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Sonya

Haven't we warned you about tampering with the structure of a chaotic system?
Mrs. Neutron

so you think an adjustable human heat pad would take up less energy? what is the fire hazard on that, anyway? just if its sitting on wood or something?
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The reason mainstream thought is thought of as a stream is because it's so shallow. -Unknown

>>so you think an adjustable human heat pad would take up less energy? what is the fire hazard on that, anyway? just if its sitting on wood or something?
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>>The reason mainstream thought is thought of as a stream is because it's so shallow. -Unknown

Look at the wattage and safety features offered. Now adays so much is 'idiot' proofed that it may be hard to find one that stays on. I have an older one under my turtles and not had any issues with it....on a wood table. The only thing is that it will dry the wood and may cause cracking in something old or glued. I don't worry about fire hazard any more than any other heat pad. I do check them every cage change too. For the same money you could likely get a Exo Terra and wire a dimmer to it.
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Sonya

Haven't we warned you about tampering with the structure of a chaotic system?
Mrs. Neutron

I have used heat bulbs for awhile and have never had any problems with them other then replacing them when the blow out. On the other hand my wife's bro had a snake and used an undertank heater and the thing caused a fire! The fire department said something about it superheated some how and cause the subtrate on fire. Poor snake burned alive So my wife really doesn't trust the UTH. I mean I would use it but ya have to pick and choose your battles so I stick with lights..lol

It's what you prefer actually...there are no set rules ... only guidelines that you need to follow for care. I use basking bulbs in my tanks with porcelain clamp lamps. The reason is I get a local heat source on the one side of the tank. The floor is usually around 84 degrees in a 29 gallon tank with the cool side being around 75-77 degrees. The reason I use basking bulbs is because I found for me anyway this is the easiest method to heat the snakes AND have visible lighting. Plus is the snake prefers to be warmer he climbs up a tree that I have set up directly under the basking light. Do what works best for you...just don't over heat/under heat the animal.

What wattage blulb do you use in your 29 gallon tank?
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The reason mainstream thought is thought of as a stream is because it's so shallow. -Unknown

I use 50 watt basking bulbs....