You're right, and I'm quickly learning the joys and sorrows of big tanks. One of the things that I had hoped to get with a big tank was enough space so that I could make mistakes but still leave some part of the tank at the right temperature. A big tank is also an advantage because I keep seeing things that I want to add and need floor space to put them.
Another problem I'm having is widely varying temperature outside. Yesterday, the temperature dropped to what felt like the 40's outside. Today, I'm guessing that it's in the high 70's or low 80's. Last night, most of my house was in the high 60's, and my snake room was in the low 70's. Today, my snake room is about 77.
One of the things that I'd like to find a way to do is add another level. She's actually a pretty good climber. Last night, she shimmied up the cord for my thermostat probe. She eventually fell off, but she had no problem moving vertically. If I could find the right platform and the right way to support it, I could give her another small level. The area under the level might retain humidity. That area would also seem more sheltered, so she might view it as a semi-hidden area.
My dream is that thermal imaging cameras will someday drop in price enough for hobby herpetologists to own them. I've talked to a few of the manufacturers because they try to sell them at the plant, and I need to mention this possible market. If I had one of those cameras, I could take one picture that would show the temperature of every surface in the cage in very good detail.
In the meantime, I'm going to get either a PE-1 or a PE-2 as soon as I get through the Christmas travel season. I like the features of the PE-2, and the price difference isn't that much. Maybe I'll back off to the PE-1, but I'll make that decision when I'm ready to order. Either way, my recent experiences have sold me on the merits of a temperature gun.
When I came home from sparrow wrangling this afternoon (trying to help an LSU professor and grad students study Henslow's sparrows), the temperature on the floor in the middle of the hot side of the cage was 96.5 degrees. I misted everything to get it down to about 90, but it's climbing again. I'll be fiddling with this problem all afternoon.
I bought a ZooMed ReptiTemp 500R about a week ago. I have it on a 5.5 inch clamp lamp with a 60 watt blacklight bulb. I'm going to put the side heater on the thermostat as well. After the Christmas rush, I'll probably get a proportional heater for the UTH. The UTH cost $50, and I've heard that the on/off style thermostats are a little rough on them. I'd rather get a good thermostat, get better control, and save my belly heater. I feel more protective of the UTH now that I can see that it is capable of giving me enough heat.
In any case, I think she likes the background. She's lying across the top of the red fake plant for the first time since I added it to the cage. Obviously, I can't be sure within a day, but so far she seems to be spending more time along the back wall.
My main concern now is that I can't find any evidence that she's defecated in a while. I found a couple of chunks of the white stuff a week or so ago, but I can't find a bowel movement. I've soaked her for half an hour on each of the past two nights. I may soak her again tonight. After her soakings, I've held her, and she's been a little more active than she's been in the past.
Again, many thanks for all of the help and advice.
Bill
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It's not how many snakes you have. It's how happy and healthy you can keep them.
