Gertie's Gravid!

[jitami]

Gertie, you are going to have so much fun with these two boys!!! Their new home sounds very nice, too! The only little thing I can see, though, is that if it was 92 at 10:30pm, it may be a little too warm in the afternoon? And, until you get them in the larger tank, you probably don't need both the heat pad and basking light. The light especially will raise the overall temp in the enclosure, not just the corner it's in. You have some time to keep playing with the heat sources and the thermometer, tho. With your enthusiasm, I know you'll get it right!

Dwayne, what temps are they being kept at now?

[Garter_Gertie]

Gertie, you are going to have so much fun with these two boys!!! Their new home sounds very nice, too! The only little thing I can see, though, is that if it was 92 at 10:30pm, it may be a little too warm in the afternoon? And, until you get them in the larger tank, you probably don't need both the heat pad and basking light. The light especially will raise the overall temp in the enclosure, not just the corner it's in. You have some time to keep playing with the heat sources and the thermometer, tho. With your enthusiasm, I know you'll get it right!

Dwayne, what temps are they being kept at now?

Yes, Tami, I'm on it! I've started 1.5 weeks prior to birth so that when The Boys get here things will be down pat. I'm going to have enuff on my plate when they get here I don't want to be worrying about where they're spending their time 24/7.

It was 92 on the heat pad at 10:30 PM. Dang spot on!!! As I type, the temp at the other end w/o the light is 81.5 degrees. I'm gettin' the hang o'this!

Now, I have to turn the light on and watch the temp again at the right end. The bulb is, I don't know if you saw this, is not a true basking light but a 'real' bulb - one of those new energy saving lights that are all twisty and curly. Suggested by that there guy, Mr. Dekay Wayne. It's a 25w that's the equivilent of a 100w. The heat from ittiz, I believe, negligible. BUT... gotta test it! I want to be safer'un sorryer.

I think more than my enthusiasum, my knowledge and studying will carry me through. I'm not one to jump into the care of animals w/o knowing what they need from me. But... I guess without my enthusiasum for doing things correctly and putting the animals before myself I'd not seek knowledge! So, maybe you're rite!

Gonna go turn the lite on (I'm home today... Long story...). Lite on! We shall see what we shall see!

[Garter_Gertie]

W00T!!!!!!!! w00T!!!!!!!!! Jeepers is up on Dekay Wayne's new site! My little centerfold baby!

[Garter_Gertie]

Currently, with light on, temp at 'cool' end is 83.8 with humidity at 47%. Humidity went down. Still spot on.

Will continue to watch for awhile and then move thermometer to the pad - leaving the light on - and see what the temp is down there with the light on. Let me say, I've got the smallest heating pad that whatever that company is makes. It's supposed to be for what? A five? Ten? gallon tank, and this is a 20 gal L. I wanted to make sure I had a good gradient and took into consideration the 'basking' light.

Today's cooler than yesterday. Only getting into the 80's. Yesterday was like in the 90's/high 80's. I was roasting up here yesterday. Today I'm very comfortable.

[infernalis]

Ambient home air average 80, so I am using no heat, they are happier under the water bowl right now

We have so many reptiles in so many cages, I maintain a room temp of around 80. Then we provide additional heat for the tropical animals.

Garter snakes live outside in such varied conditions, If it goes above 80 I turn on the fans. But when it's 65-70 at night I see a lot of snake activity.

My Garters usually ignore the heat. I put a hot rock in a tank one, set it on low so it was only moderately warm to the touch, and they did congregate on it for about an hour, then lost all interest in ever sitting on it again, except to crap on it.

For basking in the winter, I like 50 watt halogen track light bulbs in a reflector hood. the warmest spot I try to keep around 80.

[jitami]

Sounds good Gertie! Thanks for the info too Wayne! Even with a 20 gal long I struggle to keep a decent gradient. I never did a basking light until this year, but Sly seems to love it, so it's staying. As long as i can keep the temp in the other corner to the low 80's he seems ok, but does burrow when the ambient temps go up in the afternoon. I've always over fussed about things, too, so I really do know where you're coming from Gertie and it's why I know you'll do well with your boys

[Garter_Gertie]

Hhuuummmm... Must reconointer here. Possibly only use the lamp and no pad in the summer. Yeah. That may be the best way to go. Right now on the 'hot' end with the pad ittiz 87/36% with the light giong at the 'cool' end.

Otay. Gonna unplug the pad and do testing.

Well, as of yet, I don't think I'm over fussing, Tami. This isn't over fussing but getting a good handle on what (watt? LOL!) I've got going. Once I've got things down and I'm comfortable with what the conditions are I'm not going to fuss. I will, as the year goes on, watch and re-adjust as necessary however. But I've never worked with heat pads and lights before. Once I understand their capabilities, that will be it. I'm not a fusser. I'm more of a "Okay, that's it" and moving on kind'a person. Fussing and messing can screw you up more than leaving be, or at least in my mind and experience. That's why I'm doing what I am now. Get it set, understood and stable. Then when The Boys get here I've nothing to worry about.

[Garter_Gertie]

Tank w/no pad and/or lamp is 81/37%. Has been at that for hours and hours.

While that's nice and cozy, when learning snakes need warmth to digest their food I took that to mean they needed to have warmth on their bellies. I understood that incorrectly?

[Garter_Gertie]

79 degrees at the end with the pad that's off. I turned the light on awhile ago, so will move thermometer down to that end and see what the temp is there.

It *is* a beautiful nite here. Perfect temp with a nice breeze.

I'm thinking the most difficult thing is going to be keeping the gradient in a consistent way. Guess that's why one has a thermometer! So it can be read and changes made accordingly! What a concept! LOL!!!

[infernalis]

""While that's nice and cozy, when learning snakes need warmth to digest their food I took that to mean they needed to have warmth on their bellies. I understood that incorrectly?""


Slightly misunderstood, the snakes like to bask on warm ground or rocks, but it is not necessary to warm their belly from below to digest.