Hey all,
I had a question about my new bp's hidespace. It's a terracotta dome like enclosure, and was sold in the reptile section of a local petstore. My snake has taken quite a liking to it.

My question, though, deals with temperature. I've had a bit of trouble creating a cooler space on one end and a warmer space on the other in my 20 gallon tank. I have a 20 gallon heating pad underneath, and a 75 watt heat lamp on top (switch to black light in the evening), and I control these two devices with a rheo-stat. I have my hidespace over the heatpad (with an inch or so of substrate).

I've thought about moving the heat lamp to the far end, where the hidespace is, to try and up that end's temp. But I'm worried that it could make the terracotta too hot, and Eve could burn herself? Do you think that would be a problem, to put the heat lamp over the hidespace?

Any help would be great. Or does anyone have any other ideas about how to help keep a better gradient... right now, each end is only about 3 degrees apart from the other. I've been keeping the heat lamp in the center, because I've been worried about getting the water dish or the hidespace too hot for her.

Thanks in advance!
-thebigfunk

Firstly, I don't understand exactly which heating element you have at which end of the tank? - You should have any heat source at one end and nothing at the other, so you should have the heat pad and the heat lamp on the same ends. You shouldn't really need to use both, I would have thought a 75watt lamp would have created enough heat.

Do you have thermometers in the tank? If you have the heat sources connected to a thermostat then you should be able to have the basking spot at the correct temps.

You should also provide two hides if possible - one at the cool end of the tank and one at the warm end, so that the snake doesn't have to choose between heat and security. If you can't provide two hides then it is best to put the hide half over the heated side and half over the cooler end. Your hide shouldn't get too hot if you are using a stat and thermometers so you can control the temps.

I hope this helps.

Also, why don't you check out our care sheet? -http://www.herpcenter.com/article.php?a=42

__________________
"If you know everything you may as well blow your brains out because the reason for existence is to learn more everyday." - Mark O'Shea, 2004

I currently have my hidespace and heating pad at one end of the tank... the heating lamp is over the center. I now realize this is an error...

Maybe I'll try cutting heating pad out altogether (or just moving it to low on the rheo-stat) and just move the heating lamp to the "hot side" with the current hidespace. I do have thermometers, but I have a feeling they're a bit poor... they were cheap. I think I'm going to get something better off the net... anyone have any suggestions within the twenty-five to thirty-dollar price range?

I don't have a thermostat that adjusts the heat automatically, but I have the rheo-stat that allows me to adjust how much heat stuff puts out.

I hope to pick up a second hidespace tonight for the cool side.

thanks for the help! i appreciate it...

I'm not exactly sure what you mean by rheo-stat?.. does it control the heat given off by your heat sources? If so then it is the same as a thermostat. What kind of thermometers do you use? - thermometers do not have to be expensive to work properly.

If you continue to use the heat pad it only needs to cover one third to half of the tank. What are your temps reading at? And your humidity levels?

Glad you are able to get a second hide and moving the light to the warm side,, you should see an immediate improvement in the temps. In order to create a proper temp gradiant you need to warm only one side and leave the other without a heat source.

By the way, welcome to the forum!

__________________
"If you know everything you may as well blow your brains out because the reason for existence is to learn more everyday." - Mark O'Shea, 2004

Just put a shorter box (the shape of a pizza box) over on the cool side and cover it with the bedding. They love the secuirty of it and can still maintian their correct body temp As long as they can fit sort of tight in the box, they won't care what the box is made of...
Welcome to HC also!

This is the rheo-stat I use:
http://www.bigappleherp.com/Reptile_...at_923100.html

It lets you control the temp, but only gives you "low" "medium" or "high" as options. As far as the type of thermometers, they're called "exo terra," and they were about seven dollars a pop at a local reptile/exotics shop. I've stuck one on each end of the tank. The guy at the shop said they'd work fine, but I'm beginning to think he didn't know as much as he pretended to. The more I'm reading, the more I'm questioning some of the tips he gave me.

Currently, my temps are reading out at 80 on the cool side, 90 on the hot side. So I'm feeling a bit better. Overall, she's been sleeping, usually, during the day, and been much more active at night. She hasn't been soaking much, even though she's just finishing a shed, but I'll occasionally find her in her water dish. I think she likes her new home...

Thanks for the help again! Any other suggestions?

That sounds great! All I can say right now is check out our care sheet, and generally pet store advice can tend to be a little wrong Your humidity should be about 60%,. if your ball soaks a lot then there may be some issues with your humidity levels or signs of something more serious. But it sounds like she is fine. They are nocturnal, so will generally be more active in the evening and at night.

How old is she? And how big? And what is she feeding on at the moment?

And one last piece of advice.. we love pictures here So get posting, i would love to see your royal!

__________________
"If you know everything you may as well blow your brains out because the reason for existence is to learn more everyday." - Mark O'Shea, 2004

For thermometers I suggest going to walmart, lowes, garden centers etc and getting a digital with a remote probe. It will run you about 10 bucks. You can put the probe anywhere you want and leave the readout outside the cage,. It also has a minimum/maximum feature that will tell you exactly what the temperature range has been over any given time period.

__________________
Merlin,
What's Life Without A Little Magic!

thanks for that tip on the thermometers, merlin! i'll check em out soon...

and pics are forthcoming... my "photographer" just came by tonight... i'm resizing them as I write!

good I want to see some pics lol