Is my set up ok?????

[guidofatherof5]

Where and how are you getting your temp?

[mark cope]

Digital Thermometer by Exo Terra | Pets at Home

Each day I place it at the warm end for 10 mins then place it at the cool end for 10 minutes.
but i am planning to get more so I can just leave one at each end full time

[guidofatherof5]

What actual location is the warm temp coming from? on the side, substrate?

[mark cope]

just above the substrate

[EasternGirl]

Like Steve said, ultimately you do want your temps on the warm side to be a bit warmer than that...you want to shoot for somewhere around 80-84 degrees during the day and not let it go below 65 degrees at night. You do have to be careful with heating devices...even if they are on the outside of the viv...I have lamps and heat mats on the outside of my tanks but I use a thermostat to shut the heat off should it get over 85 degrees. You also have to be careful with heat mats on plastic enclosures...you must make sure they are specifically made for plastic enclosures and not glass tanks or they can melt the plastic. Another concern that I have seen mentioned before on the forum with plastic enclosures like the one you have with slats for air in them in the top is the danger of the snake getting it's head caught in the slats in an attempt to get out of the enclosure. From the photo it doesn't look like your snake could get her head into the slats but keep in mind that garters can flatten their heads to squeeze them into small spaces. You may want to consider looking for a larger glass aquarium tank with a slid lock lid or a glass terrarium with front opening doors made for reptiles. She is a very lovely snake!

[Natrix]

Nice snake Mark. I would certainly look at getting rubs that will fit the full length and width of your shelving unit if that is how you are going to keep them. Obviousely you would need to drill ventilation holes in them. Try to get ones with a locking lid. garters are notorious for escaping, Arn't they Steve?

[Didymus20X6]

An easy heat solution: a cheap lamp and an incandescent bulb just outside the enclosure. Maybe try a low wattage to see how much that helps. The advantage is that it will provide both light and heat.

I have a heating pad under the west end of the land side of my enclosure, which I only use during late fall and early spring. It's actually one I got from the drug store, intended for human use, but it works well for what it does. And I have incandescent bulbs about 12 inches above both the land and water enclosures, in the 100w range. As the weather warms up even more, I will swap them out for florescents. But I live in the Mississippi Delta, and I keep my snakes in an non-air-conditioned room, which can get up to 90F during the hottest parts of summer. And my snakes are Mississippi wild-caughts, and seem to like things a bit warmer. And if they get too warm, they can always go into the water enclosure for a nice swim.

[guidofatherof5]

Nice snake Mark. I would certainly look at getting rubs that will fit the full length and width of your shelving unit if that is how you are going to keep them. Obviousely you would need to drill ventilation holes in them. Try to get ones with a locking lid. garters are notorious for escaping, Arn't they Steve?

I resemble that remark.

[Natrix]

I resemble that remark.

No Offence, Steve! But you of all people seem to be the one who has something on the loose at some point. And I've only been here a month or so.

[guidofatherof5]

No Offence, Steve! But you of all people seem to be the one who has something on the loose at some point. And I've only been here a month or so.

No offense taken.