Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hey everyone.

1: Snake recently used gauges (adhesive attached to back) as a resting place and knocked one down. Obviously it isn't going to work on the middle back part of the tank. I've put them on the bottom (temp & humid) so they touch the ground slightly incase he wants to go on 'em again, less chance of them coming off. Where is the best place to put them?

2: I have my clamp-heat lamp (redbulb) resting on the wire mesh on the top of the tank. The lip of the lamp & the tip the clamp keep the bulb from touching the mesh direclty although its 1cm / 0.5" away from the mesh at best. Is this ok? Can the mesh withstand the weight of a small light-lamp on it?

3: 6 mo old python, what size mouse should I feed it? I'm thinking about fresh-kill.

>>Hey everyone.
>>
>>1: Snake recently used gauges (adhesive attached to back) as a resting place and knocked one down. Obviously it isn't going to work on the middle back part of the tank. I've put them on the bottom (temp & humid) so they touch the ground slightly incase he wants to go on 'em again, less chance of them coming off. Where is the best place to put them?

Are these the little plastic ones like what you'd find at PetCo? If so, they will work but aren't the best. Use these and learn to "read" your snake and you should be fine. You can put them closer to the bottom but he's still going to knock it off occasionally.

>>
>>2: I have my clamp-heat lamp (redbulb) resting on the wire mesh on the top of the tank. The lip of the lamp & the tip the clamp keep the bulb from touching the mesh direclty although its 1cm / 0.5" away from the mesh at best. Is this ok? Can the mesh withstand the weight of a small light-lamp on it?

Depends on the mesh. Personally, I don't like lamp heat. It tends to dry out the air, it's a fire hazard and if for any reason it moves, it can melt the plastic of the tank. I prefer under tank heating. Although, there are certain dangers here as well. Still I find it a better choice.

>>
>>3: 6 mo old python, what size mouse should I feed it? I'm thinking about fresh-kill.

By all means, if your snake will take FK, then do so. At 6 mos, it should be able to easily take an adult mouse. You want to feed a prey item that is about as big around as the thickest part of the snake.
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Jay A. Martin
Jay Martin Reptiles

I've heard quite a few people mention a preference for under tank heating versus the use of lamps. I have a Fluker Farms jumbo sized UTH on a 55 gallon long aquarium, and this heating device simply won't generate 90 degrees at the top of the substrate by itself. I keep the substrate layer thin as the instructions suggest, but I can't get more than about 83 degrees (in a 72 to 78 degree room) without lamp heat. I can feel the pad producing heat, but the heat isn't enough to produce the temperature that I've heard is right.

Do you think I simply got a bad pad? Are Fluker Farms UTH's considered to be of lower quality? The pet store where I bought the whole setup recommended the use of a lamp in addition to UTH anyway.

Thanks,

Bill

I'm not sure if you have a bad pad or not. But if you are only getting 83 degrees at the surface, you need more heat. You might try another heat pad to see or try heat tape on a thermostat. You may also consider closing off some of your snake cage. Work with it until you get it right and you'll have a happier animal.
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Jay A. Martin
Jay Martin Reptiles

Thanks for your comments. I'm still learning and will have many questions. Any answers that you can give will be appreciated.

When you mention working on the heating until I get it right, what do you mean? The warm side of my cage runs about 89 to 92 degrees during the day and about 83 at night. I've heard that these are the right temperatures, but I reach them by using a lamp. The cool side runs about 80 during the day but heats to about 78 to 82 at night because the black light is on that side and is on at night. Are you defining "right" as attaining the 90 degree temperature on the warm side without the use of incandescent lamps? Is there any problem with the lamp besides making it harder to maintain humidity?

I've taped an extra UTH pad to the side of my aquarium on the warm side an hour or so ago. I'm getting about 85 to 86 right now on the warm side. If that's what the snake needs, I may leave the pad taped to that side of the tank.

Strangely enough, the middle of the tank seems to stay about 84 degrees all of the time.

Thanks for your help,

Bill

>>nd is on at night. Are you defining "right" as attaining the 90 degree temperature on the warm side without the use of incandescent lamps? Is there any problem with the lamp besides making it harder to maintain humidity?

Yes. Although, if you can maintain adequate humidity with the lamp, then it's really not a problem.
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Jay A. Martin
Jay Martin Reptiles

Again, many thanks for the help.

I misted the cage again last night when we were posting, but it had dropped to about 35% by this morning. That's about where it tends to drop when I'm using the lamp. The pad on the side of the tank was keeping the warm side of the tank about 87 to 88 degrees.

I've just misted the cage again, so I'll see where it goes over the course of the day. Keeping the humidity up is the biggest problem that I'm having.

Thanks,

Bill

>>Again, many thanks for the help.
>>

No problem. As long as the animal sheds well.
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Jay A. Martin
Jay Martin Reptiles