I have a couple questions about my soon-to-be-snake (Mexican Black King). This is my first reptile and I am a total newbie. First is, I'm running out of money (haha isn't everyone?) and it will be about a month before I can get absolutely everything the little guy is going to need...so I want to know what kind of heating equipment he must have. Would it be better to get a heat pad or a heat lamp? My house is very warm actually...almost always 25 C, so I don't know what would be better. Also can someone point me in the right direction for desert terrarium ideas. I have searched and searched and there seems to be tons of info and pics on tropical and rainforest themed terrariums but nothing on the dryer atmospheres.

Anyway Im slowly getting everything set up and this is what I have for him so far:

10 gallon Terrarium (about 20" X 10" X 10")
2 Plastic plants
1 plastic rock hide
1 water dish
2 stick on thermometers
1 twisty branch thingy
1 separate plastic feeding cage
lots of gorgeous black pebbles from a beach I used to live near (great for holding heat)
1 Terra liner (substrate)

This is only until he grows out of the 10 gal tank....

I just want to know what kind of heat source he can live with for the time being, and please feel free to let me know of anything else I have missed. Thank you very much

Here's a nice link to get you started

Bearded Dragon backwall makeover,step by step. - Herp Habitats - Tanks and Terrariums

I think it would be the best if you built an enclosure yourself.
This way you can costumize it the way you want and it is a lot of fun.

I am in a process of building one myself you can take a look at it here before it is moved to HC. (There are TONNS of pix).


See Ya.

Welcome to HC
Making your own enclosure is really interesting, but it can be costly if you're not sure exactly what type of enclosure you need and make bad choices. (I speak from TONS of experience in building mistakes!!!!)
It sounds like you have most of the things you need to start off with a young King.
As you are finding out, the correct set-up for your snake is FAR more costly than the snake itself!! Good for you for doing your research and getting it all ready BEFORE getting the snake!!!
As for your questions:
I would get a second hidebox. You should heat about 1/3rd of the terrarium: for a ground snake like a King, a heating pad is fine. You can get human heating pads form Walmart (if they have Walmarts in Canada) -- just make sure it doesn't have an automatic switch off!!
There should be a hidebox on the warm side and the cool side of the terri, so he doesn't have to choose between security and comfortable temps.
I'm not sure what kind of stick on thermometers that you bought, some of them are OK, others are worthless. You really need to have reliable measurements.
Also you might want to invest in a thermostat/rheostat, that you can program the maximum temps etc.
You should have a light source in the terrarium on a timer 12 hours on/ 12 hours off. This may add some warmth, but you'll have to see how much of a difference it makes. (I use florescent tubes in my terris.)
You might want to look into making a moist hidebox with some sphagnum moss in it for the snake to use when shedding. Here's a link with instructions: Moist Hide Creation
Good lucK!

Hey thanks for the tips. You guys are a great help.

I have one more question too about lighting...do all different bulbs have to have different sockets? When I am in the pet store I am looking at like 30 different types of lighting (florescent, ceramic, mercury vapor, and what seems like ordinary bulbs). I almost wanna pull my hair out, cause there are too many, and the freakin prices are insane....for a 'lightbulb'....go figure. I have no idea what type to get for a kingsnake and if each one requires another fixture....can someone help me out again....haha

ty ty ty
Sara

for my kingsnakes, I use just regular household bulbs for daytime heat....and they have heating pads for at night....hope this helps....

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Warmest Regards from Lyn

Yeah, a normal house bulb will usually do the trick. You just have to figure out what wattage is right for your setup. Pet store lights are more aimed at lizards and turtles, most of which require UVB lighting, which your snake doesn't need. The fluorescents are more for light than heat, and the mercury vapors are specially made UVB lights. You need to stick with incandescents.

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+5 bonus points to whoever finds me a job!

"Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines." - John Benfield

Or you could just use heat pads. I have all my corns and kings on human type heating pads and the light is just the ambient light in the room. With your normal temperature in the house the heat pad should give them what they need.

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Merlin,
What's Life Without A Little Magic!

Awesome thanks guys....Im thinking that the room he will be in will be fine for light. Its a west facing room with plenty of natural light so I will definetly get the heat pad. I have everything else set up so far, I just need the snake....cant wait, only 5 more days to go till the little guy comes home! Yay!!! Will post pics as soon as I get him

Just make sure that at no time will direct sunlight fall on the enclosure.
That will turn the tank into an oven!

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Merlin,
What's Life Without A Little Magic!

Dont worry I wont......He will be in a safe spot