Reptile & Amphibian Forums

This is regarding the 5 1/2 gal setup a few posts below, where I used a halogen bulb to provide day heat. Did this on 2 cages.

Substrate is dry aspen chips about 3 in deep.

I put some moist moss in a plastic bowl on the cool end.

With the light source as heat, both snakes hid in the moist moss nearly all of the time. Evidently, the dry air due to the light caused the snakes to seek moisture. Since the substrate was also dry, they chose the moss.

I expect the above reaction with kings, but I thought hognose might be far less moisture-loss sensitive. No, hognose are also moisture-loss sensitive to some degree. Certainly a 25 watt halogen above screen in a smallish cage is plenty to make them seek moisture. Water bowl was totally ignored.

Went back to undertank heat, and I cut a piece of styrene foam to cover most of the screened area on top. After a few days, both snakes are out of the moss and buried in the aspen over the heater.

I still think overhead heat can be used if provisions are made so the snakes can avoid water loss while using the heat. Otherwise, mass heat (bottom, side) is probably the approach that not only is effective, but most often preferred by these snakes.

Simple, less dehydrating. I moved the moss to be above the heated side, and it helps keep the local humidity inside the cage just a bit higher than outside the cage. This time of year it helps.

If I do overhead heat again, I will use a sandy substrate that can be moistened, a board for cover above part of the substrate, and the lamp over the top of the board. Like FR posted not too long ago. Thus turning overhead heat into mass heat that does not dry the little snakes out.

Good work, as mentioned, I have a whole bunch of raise up tanks that were designed for varanids and we do use them for hogs and other snakes, but we have lites mounted inside the cages, and only a small vent in the lid.
There are many ways to skin the cat. Good job. how about showing your hognose. I am going to go take some pics of hognose poop and post it. hahahahahahahahahaha, what else are we going to do, its winter. Happy holidays