OK, I've read the caresheet and I think I'm all set, but I thought I'd still ask for feedback. Marsha's shipping our new corn on Monday, so I'm trying to get all set up for arrival on Tuesday (my calendar says "SNAKE!" in that box, lol). Here's a photo (sorry for the glare):


The warm side is on the left. I have a Under Tank Heater set up with a rheostat. There's a 12" ceramic tile on top of the Under Tank Heater, and the whole tank then has a layer of newspaper sheet substrate. I'm working with the rheostat to get the warm side temp to 89 or 90. A dual-probe termometer is on order (I'm using a single-probe one now), but I imagine the cool side temps will be fine at room temp in our house.

Hides are homemade. I tried to put in extra for a baby, as this is a 20 long. There is a Ziplock bag box and an oatmeal can on the warm side. There's another small cardboard box hide in the middle. On the cool side I made a moist hide out of a plastic jar with a hole in the side. The outside and the edges of the hole are covered in repticarpet attached with a hot glue gun. The substrate will be (moistened) reptile moss. There is a plastic dish about 1.5 inches deep to be a water dish. We also added some shredded newspaper for the little one to hide in and feel secure.

For light (other than indirect room lighting, since there are windows in the room, but not right by the tank), I have a grow bulb in a floor lamp on a 12-hour timer. I'll be getting some f/t pinkies for feeding, of course.

Does everything look OK?

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Amy

all looks good to me..personally I don't shred the newspaper I just use single flat sheet...it is easier to clean and spot poo!

can't wait for tuesday...u gonna love your new snake...promise!

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Don't be jealous the voices only speak to me...

www.herprecon.org

Looks fine to me. I to never shred the paper.

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Ken
"Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference in the world. But, the Marines don't have that problem." -- Ronald Reagan

Looks great Amy...your little guy just shed last night...hope you enjoy him

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MARSHA

:D I'm smiling because I have no idea whats going on!

How exciting, Marsha! I'll have to put up a sign in the front yard: "It's a boy! And he shed!" Won't the neighbors wonder...

The shredded newspaper was just to start with, so the little guy wouldn't be too unsettled in a new large container. But if you guys think it's unnecessary, I will take it out, because we'll be able to see him better (there's a layer of sheets of newspaper underneath).

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Amy

I would take out the shredded paper,,,,for easier viewing and monitoring...hes going to love his new home.

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MARSHA

:D I'm smiling because I have no idea whats going on!

looks great if you just use flat news paper he will get under neath it just fine.So he will be sercure.

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Live for today Not tomorrow.

Amy, which one of Marsha's babies are you getting??
I'm getting one too!!

Mine's coming around Wednesday!
The tank looks good! I love how you made all your hides!
I'm so excited!!
Keep the pics commin!

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I am owned by:
2 dogs, a Hahn's macaw, 2 parrotlets, 2 parakeets, 1 bearded dragon, 1 cornsnake, 2 yellow belly sliders, 1 razorback musk, 30 gallon saltwater reef, 10 gallon planted tank, 5.5 gallon planted betta tank

Great job Amy!! I can only imagine how excited your little ones are! Especially Betsy...Im gonna have to wander by and see the little guy !

Thanks for all the feedback, everyone. I removed the shredded newspaper. I got a "lamp dimmer" (rheostat) from Lowe's yesterday, but I am having real trouble with it. When I switch it to what I am pretty sure is the "all the way on" position, the temp above the Under Tank Heater (using a digital thermometer with probe lying on the ceramic tile -- where the temp before rheostat was up to 96F) is only like 73F! I've switched it to what appears to be "all the way off," (seems that way because the little LED light on the dimmer is off when I move the switch) and I'll see what that does. This is the only plug-in rheostat I saw at Lowe's. If it doesn't work, I'm thinking I need a thermostat made for use with reptile heaters instead. Can anyone recommend a decent one and explain how that works?

I already ordered a digital thermometer/hygrometer with dual probes, so I'd rather solve this with a simple (less expensive) rheostat... Or maybe thermostats aren't expensive? Seems like they'd need a temp probe, too, so it will duplicate the thermometer... But whatever it takes...

The Under Tank Heater in my Leopard Geckos' tank seems to keep things a steady 90F. It's a different type (not glued to the bottom of the tank, but laminated and lying in the tank under the repti-carpet -- says it's manufactured in Scotland). Anybody know where I could buy another one like this? This one came with the Leopard Geckos and their whole setup when I bought them from the previous owner. He got everything at a reptile show.

Sorry to blather on and on... I just want to get this setup right.

As an aside (as long as I'm blathering), we went to a party last night and the subject of pets came up. Several people were just horrified at the idea of a snake being mailed, lol. Of course, they were horrified at the thought of a snake at all...

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Amy