I did the researched, found a good snake, bought a basic aquarium set-up, and was happy with that set-up for about three days. I feel like my set-up is lacking, and I'm a little overwhelmed with all the things that can be tweaked with a snake set-up.

I have the following:
30x12x12 aquarium with sliding screen top
1 clamp lamp with a 75w bulb
1 half log hide spot (which I now realize is too large)
1 small corner-style water dish
1 Y-shaped basking/climbing/hiding branch
1 suction-cupped vine thingy
1 cheap temp/humid gauge set
aspen bedding

Is one set of gauges placed directly in the middle of the back of the aquarium about 4-5 inches from the substrate enough to keep an eye on the conditions of the aquarium?

I have had the Slyder for about a week now, is there any signs I should look for from the legless wonder to tell me if the environment is adequate?

The only heat source I have is the clamp lamp, which I am currently on a 12/12 schedule with, and a large heating vent that the aquarium is placed near. The gauge inside the tank reads in the low 80's in the day, and the mid to high 70's at night. Is a heating pad, or some other form of heat required? Any other lighting required besides the basking lamp? (it illuminates almost the entire aquarium)

I know this was a long post, but this only scratches the surface of my curiosity and questions. Whenever I become interested in something new I feel a need to learn absolutely everything there is to know about it. So, please guide me, my knowledgable new friends.

you will need to stick the thermometer under the basking spot to get a reading. It should be around 90 degrees. Otherwise things are sounding good. Do you have a dish of water in there he can soak in? I know you said he has a small corner one, but is it big enough for him to get in? If not you can get an appropriate sized dog water dish for very little money.

You might want to look into a better thermometer/hydrometer too. You can pick up a good one at home depot for like $10.

That tank is a 30 gallon long. If your snake is a baby or juvenile, its big enough, but you will eventually want to upgrade to a 40 gallon or a bit bigger.

__________________
My name is Liz
Do what's best for the animal, not what's best for you.

We always like it when people do research first, and there is nothing wrong with a few tweaks here and there.

Why are you worried about the log being to big? is it just that it takes up to much space or do you think it is to large for the snake to feel secure. If its the first then the only option is to replace it with something different. If its just that you think Slyder doesn't feel secure then you could add moss or something at one end to make it more of a cave and take up some of the "extra" space.

If you add a larger water dish like Liz suggested that will help keep your humidity levels. You want a dish large enough for the snake to be able to soak in anyways.

I would suggest getting a digital thermometer and hydrometer. The cheap ones are VERY unreliable. If you get one that has a long probe then you can just move the probe around to where you want to take readings.

Temps should probably be a bit higher. Like Liz said, you need a basking spot of 90F, and the daytime cool side should be 80-83F. If the thermometer you have in the middle is accurate then the cool side is probably a bit cold. At night it shouldn't get lower than 75F. If temps get to low then you run the risk of respiratory infections. If needed you can try adding an under the tank heater.

Don't worry about long posts, you had questions and hopefully we can help. Keep up with the questions cause thats the only way you can learn.

The only other thing I want to add is that you never said what the humidity level is. you want it at least 50-60%. you also need to add a moist retreat for him. Something as simple as a plastic container with a whole cut in it with wet paper towels would work.

Here are some other links.
To see how to make the simple moist hide
Simple Moist Hide Creation - Reptile Information - Caresheets Database
Here is an example of a good digital themp/humidity gauge with the remote probe.
Temperature Gauges

hope this helps!

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I would suggest replacing the shredded aspen with shredded coconut fiber or natural undyed cypress mulch. It holds the moisture a lot better and also is better in preventing mold and mildew which can also lead to respiratory problems. I also would recommend buying a seperate feeding tank or plastic tub. I keep a large plastic tub with a snap on lid for feeding. I take the snake out of his enclosure, put him in the tub with his food, snap on the lid, and leave him be while he's having his supper. I come back later to return him to his enclosure.
This serves two purposes. One, He gets used to eating somewhere else. So if I put my hand in his enclosure for cleanup or some other reason he's less likely to bite me. Two, In a clean feeding container, there is no substrate or any other debris that might get consumed along with his meal.
Be very gentle when returning him to his enclosure after feeding or else he might vomit.
Relax, and good luck!

Thanks for all the replies.

I plan on building a custom enclosure for him once he outgrows the 30gal setup I currently have. I have already found some great ideas for a custom enclosure on this site.

I feel like the log hiding spot is too large for him to feel secure, so I'll most likely end up buying/making a different one and using the large one when he "grows up".

My humidity levels are not very consistent. After misting and placing a wet towel over the screen the humidty rises to around 65-70, but after a few hours it drops to 40-45. We have a room humidifer near the enclosure, but I don't think it does much to help. I think I will move the small corner dish under the basking lamp and then place a larger water dish on the cooler side of the tank for bathing. Is a moist retreat a replacement for a large water dish, or should they both be in there? The small corner dish I have right now is probably a little to small for him to fit his entire body in.

I did purchase a plastic tub to use for feeding. I lined it with paper towel and have a small bowl as a hide spot inside. I have tried the last two nights to feed him, and he has no interest in the pinkie that I'm offering. I have only had him for 9 days, and I know that they can be especially difficult to feed in the winter, but he is looking a little bit thin-in-the-skin compared to how he looked when I first got him. However, I will patiently continue to try.

I've been reading up on different substrates to figure out what will work best for me. I used the aspen because I already had it for our hedgehog. I think I'm going to pick up some cypress mulch today. Hopefully I can also pick up some better gauges and an under tank heating pad today.

I suspect part of your feeding dilemma is due to the snake being too cold. As suggested you need to raise the temperatures.Don't try to feed him every night. The snake is still stressed and settling in. Constant attempts to feed are not helping. Wait a few days between feeding attempts.

You don't need a hide in the feeding tub. In fact you don't need anything but a bare tub. You can put papers in if you like but they are not necessary.

How big is the snake? A pinkie is a bit small for it. Even hatchlings can take fuzzies and hoppers.

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

The snake is about 20" long right now. The pinkie looked too small to me, but the pet store employee told me that they had fed it pinkies, so I should as well the first couple of feedings. Would the pinkie being to small cause him to not want to eat it?

Last night I went to Home Depot and purchased a bag of cypress mulch, and two digital temp/hum gauges. They seem to be reading a lot better than the el cheapos I started with. I also bought a heating pad and placed it under what is supposed to be the warm side of the cage. I checked the temps this morning and I'm not sure if the heating pad is producing enough heat, but I'll know better tonight when I check it again.

The cypress mulch brought the humidity up about 10%. Slyder was sort of burrowing in the new substrate last night, so hopefully that means he likes it.

give the heating pad a few days to bring everything up to temperature. I know it took a few days wth my Under Tank Heater.

__________________
My name is Liz
Do what's best for the animal, not what's best for you.

The bag of mulch I bought didn't say whether or not it was dyed?

The dyed stuff is usually dark red. If it is more of a natural wood color it is probably not dyed.

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