First carpet - Page 2

MDT · 07-21-15, 06:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EL-Ziggy

Thanks Doc. I've been looking forward to keeping carpets for well over a year now. You and Mikoh have both been a great help and inspiration. Quick question for you. Do you heat your enclosures with heat tape, UTH, or RHP? Where do you keep your ambient temps and hot spots? I'm ordering the AP enclosures and was wondering what's the best heating method.

Right now, I have mine heated with the 6"heat tape from AP. I have the thermostat set hot side to 100 F daytime and a drop to 85 at night... With the insulation from the cage itself, I get (measured w a IR temp gun) around 92 F daytime and about 78 at night. Because the cages are stacked, I actually get a vertical gradient as well. They seem to be doing well. I was a little worried at first and thought I may need the RHPs, but thought I'd give the tape a try. So far, so good. Not saying that I won't eventually switch, but my guys are putting on size, they are active, they are pooping and shedding, so.....I'm not gonna jack up the apple cart just yet

oh....and, you do need a diamond now

**EL Ziggy** · 07-21-15, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MDT

Right now, I have mine heated with the 6"heat tape from AP. I have the thermostat set hot side to 100 F daytime and a drop to 85 at night... With the insulation from the cage itself, I get (measured w a IR temp gun) around 92 F daytime and about 78 at night. Because the cages are stacked, I actually get a vertical gradient as well. They seem to be doing well. I was a little worried at first and thought I may need the RHPs, but thought I'd give the tape a try. So far, so good. Not saying that I won't eventually switch, but my guys are putting on size, they are active, they are pooping and shedding, so.....I'm not gonna jack up the apple cart just yet

oh....and, you do need a diamond now

Copy that. I was going to start with a UTH but would get the RHP if necessary. I can get the desired hot spot with a uth but I was concerned about the ambient temps especially during the colder months. My cool sides are usually in the low 70's during the winter days.
I was actually very interested in a diamond or diamond cross but knew I really wanted a jungle. The coastals kinda took me by surprise and I got a really good deal on mine.

toddnbecka · 07-22-15, 12:13 AM

Really outstanding caramel coastal in the pic, gratz on the double down deal, lol.

pinefamily · 07-22-15, 03:34 AM

Well done on your new additions! Is the coastal pure or a jag?
BTW, 34 degrees at the warm end, and low to mid 20's at the other. That's Celsius, I don't do Fahrenheit sorry. Coastals are pussycats, but I hope you know about jungles. 😀

revent · 07-22-15, 06:55 AM

Great looking snake Ziggy, love the head pattern on that guy. Just for the record I have constrictors new cages not ap cages and I heat with rhp. They heat so efficiently even in the winter they are probably only on about 40% of the time and I almost never see them running over 60%ish power.

**Minkness** · 07-22-15, 07:25 AM

What is an RHP?

eminart · 07-22-15, 07:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Minkness

What is an RHP?

Radiant Heat Panel

**EL Ziggy** · 07-22-15, 08:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by toddnbecka

Really outstanding caramel coastal in the pic, gratz on the double down deal, lol.

Thanks Todd. I got such a good deal on the coastal that I couldn't pass it up. I'll end up with the coastal and the jungle for just a tad more than I was prepared to spend for the jungle alone. Thanks again to Nick Mutton.

Quote:

Originally Posted by pinefamily

Well done on your new additions! Is the coastal pure or a jag?
BTW, 34 degrees at the warm end, and low to mid 20's at the other. That's Celsius, I don't do Fahrenheit sorry. Coastals are pussycats, but I hope you know about jungles. 😀

Thanks Pine. It's a pure coastal. I love the look on some of the jags but the potential neuro issues kept me away. The breeder did say that coastals are usually pretty mellow. I've read and heard that jungles can be nippy when they're young. That's why I wanted to start with a hatchling. I hope I get one that's not too bitey but I'm looking forward to working with it. I'm confident it'll calm down with some gentle, consistent handling. Those temps seem right in line with what I've read.

Quote:

Originally Posted by revent

Great looking snake Ziggy, love the head pattern on that guy. Just for the record I have constrictors new cages not ap cages and I heat with rhp. They heat so efficiently even in the winter they are probably only on about 40% of the time and I almost never see them running over 60%ish power.

Thanks Revent. I like UTH's for my colubrids but it seems like the RHP's are the best way to keep the ambient temps up for the carpets. I guess that'll help with the vertical gradient as opposed to only having belly heat even though I know others that use heat tape or UTH's without issues. UTH @ $25 or RHP @ $80? That is the question. Our humidity here is always 50-60% which should be fine.

eminart · 07-22-15, 09:22 AM

Don't forget the ceramic heat emitters either. I'm using a small one for my boa, and it is working quite well. I'm not sure how they'll work when he moves to a larger enclosure, but so far it's great.

pinefamily · 07-22-15, 02:56 PM

We use CHE's for all of our python tanks, with no problem at all.

toddnbecka · 07-22-15, 11:59 PM

I'm use CHE's for my carpet, BCI's and 2 smaller DRMB enclosures. Screen topped aquariums (29-55 gallon) with foam board covering most of the tops, holds humidity in quite well. When I finish building larger enclosures (and the snakes outgrow their tanks) I won't be using the CHE's, likely ultratherm UTH's and RHP's deoending on the inhabitants. The carpet seems to prefer hanging from branches, so the RHP would be a better option there, but the BCI's are most often on the substrate. The larger DRMB's are set up with UTH's and seem to do well with those.

Mikoh4792 · 07-25-15, 10:11 PM

Nice pick!

**EL Ziggy** · 07-26-15, 04:01 AM

Thanks again you guys. I forgot about CHE's. I was advised by the breeder to start the young ones in very small tubs until they get some size on them so it's UTH's to start.
On another note, does anybody use eco earth as substrate? I was thinking of giving it a try instead of the aspen sani chips I typically use.

dave himself · 07-26-15, 05:16 AM

Nice pick up Ziggy looking forward to seeing pics when they arrive

MDT · 07-26-15, 05:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EL-Ziggy

On another note, does anybody use eco earth as substrate? I was thinking of giving it a try instead of the aspen sani chips I typically use.

I have used both over the years....the overall cleanup for me is the issue.

I started using this recently.....

Disposable Cage Liners Inc.

Bulk roll, cut to size for my APs. I like it over loose substrate.