How Does This Sound

[R.W.]

Can't post a picture right now(camer/computer problem), but how does this setup sound?

I have about two inches of of aspen substrate in a 20 gallon long aquarium with a med. sized zoo med. uth under the right side. Inside I have stone/clay cave hide about halfway over the uth with another cave hide on the left/cool side. I have a glad container as a temporary water bowl in about the middle of the tank (I'll be getting a "better" water bowl today"), and a piece of driftwood leaning against the hides to give her something to climb on. I might throw in a silk plant if theres room. I'm using a digital thermometer with probe to monitor the temps. on the warm side and I'm using clingwrap to keep the humidity where it needs to be.

How does this sound? Should I change anything? Any suggestions?

 

[Rich in KY]

Sounds like you have planned this out well!

 

[Flagg]

Sounds like the only thing missing is a thermostat or rheostat to regulate that heat mat.

 

[R.W.]

Sounds like the only thing missing is a thermostat or rheostat to regulate that heat mat.

Thanks

About that. Any particular brand thet would be best. Do you just plug the thermosttat into the wall, plug the uth into the thermostat, and turn the knob to the right temp? How much much do they run for$?$

 

[RossiButtersnowCorn]

I have a habistat one which works well but I have also heard good things about the T-rex Cobra one.

That's pretty much it but you also have a prob sensor which should be placed on the area the UTH heats the tank so that the snake will not get burnt. E.g. if you have the heat mat under a glass tank I would put the prob under the aspen touching the bottom of the glass as the snake could burrow and get burnt.

 

[Cat_Eyed_Lady]

Sounds really nice hmmm I think I might change where the water is though.. if its a new viv for the snake it usually works better (they can find it easier) if the water is along the side instead of directly in the middle but otherwise it sounds nice

 

[Flagg]

Low end thermostats, $23 plus shipping - ZooMed 500R reptilesupply.com reptiledirect.com

ESU makes one as well for around 26 but I have no experience with it and have read complaints.

These are both on/off type thermostats with no display. I've used several ZooMeds and am still using them for various jobs. They keep the temp to within 3-4 degrees with a ZooMed UTH.

Next step up in quality would be a Ranco or Johnson Controls, $75-$80 at various online vendors (reptilebasics.com is the only one I can think of). I've heard these will keep the temp to within a degree or maybe 2, depending on the heat source.

Then there are the digital proportional thermostats like Herpstat and Helix, which adjust it proportionally to keep the temperature within about 1/2 a degree or less. $109 and up
spyderrobotics.com for the Herpstats.

The cheapest way to still be safe is a rheostat, there is a thread here on how to make your own for about $7, you can buy a pre-made lamp dimmer at WalMart for $9.
This will control the amount of current going to the heat mat which will keep it at a set amount above the ambient room temp. So if your room temp varies, you will have to check and adjust the rheostat often.

The main point is, you need something to lower the temp on your heat mat, as un-regulated it will be well over 100, even 120 degrees which is dangerous or deadly for your corn snake.