Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I got a normal corn last weekend, and a butter this past weekend. Both are in a 20 gal. long tank. I have a hide on each side, a rubber branch for climbing, and a water bowl. Okay, now the problem. I need to get the temperature up. I have an 8 1/2 dome with a 60 watt heat emitter on one side along with an 8 watt heat pad. The highest I could get the temp. is only 73 degrees. When I got the first snake, he was in our spare room in a 5 gallon tank (both snakes are 05 hatchlings). My brother in-law gave me the 20 back (i had let him borrow it)because I wanted to give them plenty of room to grow. I moved them into the basement at my wife's request and that was when the problem started. It pretty much stays in the low 60's in the basement but sometimes drops into the 50's on a cold winter day.I installed the heat pad on the side of the tank because the instructions said not to put it under the tank if you use newspaper as a substrate. Sorry to ramble, I guess my question is how to raise the temp.? I could probably return the 60 watt heat emitter to Petco, and get a 100 watt. Any other ideas?
Thanks for any help...

I think our idea will work great. Also, how big is the heat pad, dont cover more than 1/3 of the tank with it, but as long as you don't go bigger than that, you can use a nice large pad.

This is my standard question. Put the thermometer (get a good one, don't use a stick on strip), directly on the bottom of the tank over top of the hot spot. I would suggest that you move the heat pad onto the bottom of the tank. One suggestion that I give, is to mount the heat pad onto a ceramic tile, not on the tank directly, so you can move it around, as needed.
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phflame

I exchanged the 60 watt emitter for the 100 watt a little while ago. Now the highest temp I get is 78. I have a digital thermometer and I have it directly under the heat source next to the hide. I thiught the jump from the 60 to the 100 heat emitter would make a bigger difference than 5 degrees. What's funny is, I also have a 20 inch strip light that I just use for viewing. It has 2-25watt tube shaped bulbs (this strip is a standard 10 gallon aquarium light. When I put that light on, the temp. jumps like 5-10 degrees in a matter of minutes. I just don't want to leave this light on all the time.

My guess is that you are using a mesh top cage so, when you put the top on it holds in the heat causing that 5-10 degree jump. get a different cover and you should be fine. Also a 20 gallon is too big for a hatchling but if you put in a few more hides it will suffice.
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0.1 Snow Corn "Hope"
0.0.1 Butter Corn "Butters" (South Park)
1.0 Redtail "Kilo"
1.0 Ball Python "Wilson" (Castaway)
1. Orange Albino Black Ratsnake "Chunk" (Goonies)
.1 Orange Albino Black Ratsnake "Peaches"

Don't waste your time or your money on regular light bulbs or the pet store ones. Get a recessed lighting light bulb(spot light) and use that because it makes a beam of light and that will help your hot spots temps. Also if you want cover your mesh top with aluminum foil to help keep in heat. It worked like a charm for me. Good Luck...
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Cory
Corns(Adults)
1.0 Snow
1.1 Anerythiristic
1.2 Normals
0.1 Okeetee
0.1 Banded
0.1 Blizzard
1.0 Milksnake Phase
Corns(Sub-adult)
0.1 Normal
1.0 Amel
0.1 Normal het Amel
1.1 Bloodreds het Pewter
1.1 Butter
1.1 Aztec Snow
Rats
1.1 Black rats
Pythons
1.1 Ball
Rattlesnakes
1.0 Western Diamondback
Lots of mice and rats