Temperature Issues

[HermiesAreGreat]

Hello! I need help maintaining my temperature. It stays between 66-73 which is terrible for my poor hermie and I don't know what to do.

I have a 20 gallon plastic tank and I'm currently looking for a glass one, since I'm under the impression they provide a more stable environment. My humidity is excelling -staying 85 and above.

I bought my UTH from PetSmart. It was recommended for a 10-20 gallon tank, and I naively bought it. I'm thinking of buying their biggest UTH and adding it on to help, but I'm not sure if that will help. Please help! Two of my little ones I bought from PetSmart died recently (rip my babies) and I know it was probably PPS but the low temperatures surely didn't help.

My hermie is constantly burying himself, which can he happening for a multitude of reasons. I think it's because it's warmer under the substrate than above it.

[piratetoothgir]

Hello! Welcome to the HCA!

Plastic doesn't normally hold up with heat and humidity like glass, so it definitely is worth getting a glass tank.
You have favorable humidity, which isn't at a bad level at all.
Personally, I use and recommend, as well as members here, an Ultratherm from either ReptileBasics or BeanFarm You should have your heater on the backside of the tank, not underneath.

What top do you have on the tank right now?
If it's a mesh or screen top, then you can cover it with Press & Seal, or SaranWrap, that'll hold in heat and moisture in a pinch.
I recommend 80/80 for both humidity and temperature.

I hope you have good luck with the new tank!

[GotButterflies]

Hi there! I'm sorry about your two recent losses.

You are right in the fact that glass does hold heat and humidity better. I'm sure you have looked on apps such as OfferUp, LetGo, Bookoo, and Craigslist. Search Tank, Aquarium, Reptile, Vivarium and Terrarium.

Have you tried insulating your tank? You can do this two ways. The first way, is use a product called Reflectix. It looks like car shade material. You can buy it at Home Depot or at Lowe's. They sell a roll of it for $15. You can hang it with duct tape, packaging tape or Reflectix tape. You cannot cover the kind of UTH that you have though. Zoomed UTHs are already insulated. You have to insulate around those. The second way is by using aluminum foil (shiny side facing inside the crabitat, then cardboard styrofoam, and repeat as necessary. Once again, do not cover zoomed Uths. Only ones from www.reptilebasics.com or www.beanfarm.com can be insulated.

[ciaraalston]

i'm having the same issue! I looked on reptile basics and their heater for a 20 gal tank is only 21.99. bean farm was a few dollars more, like 24.99 i think. Petco usually has sales on their glass tanks, $1 a gallon. They run these specials randomly but pretty often.
hope that helps!


PS- are you near louisiana? i have a 10 gal glass tank we aren't using.

[wodesorel]

Don't look at the gallon size - those are there as a reference for basking areas for reptiles, which will only heat about a third of the enclosure.

You want to look at the overall measurement of the pad, and get one that matches the dimensions of the back of the tank as much as possible. I know a lot of people suggest getting one that goes no lower than the substrate line. I have a cold house and have ones that cover the entire back.

[ciaraalston]

Oh yeah, that's what i meant. Lol. My tank measures 30 inches long, and the heater is like 24 inches or something like that, sorry should have specified that part. Thank you!

[HermiesAreGreat]

i'm having the same issue! I looked on reptile basics and their heater for a 20 gal tank is only 21.99. bean farm was a few dollars more, like 24.99 i think. Petco usually has sales on their glass tanks, $1 a gallon. They run these specials randomly but pretty often.
hope that helps!


PS- are you near louisiana? i have a 10 gal glass tank we aren't using.

No, I'm not near Louisiana, sorry! And thanks, I will definitely keep an eye out for those random sales.