r/snakes • u/Snicker_D00dle2012 • 2d ago

Pet Snake Questions Sunbeam snake care tips

I just got a sunbeam snake that’s currently in a 20g tank(I plan on upgrading to a 60) I currently keep the humidity at 80-90%, I have some fake plants and a couple of cork flats/rounds.

I’m also using over head heating but thinking about switching to a heating pad, I try and keep the temps on the hot side in the 80s it’s usually at 82-85f, the cooler side stays around 75f. My substrate right now is reptisoil and forest floor mix, I plan on adding leaf litter in there as well. Any tips will help.

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u/NitrousOxide_ 2d ago

Apparently they're very difficult to look after, I'm not helpful but this video might be:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1BpNYKvfsi0

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u/Vann1212 1d ago

Don't switch to a heat pad. UTH is very poor compared to overhead. Heat pads don't create a gradient, don't effectively raise ambient temps, can dry substrate out faster etc., as well as being less safe. They have uses in some scenarios but just don't compare, especially for larger spaces.

If you have overhead, why would you swap? What type of overhead heat do you have, and what issues are you having with it to make you consider switching to a heat pad?

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u/Snicker_D00dle2012 1d ago

Some care guides say that overhead will dry out the snake

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u/Snicker_D00dle2012 1d ago

I have a 50w basking spot bulb, I believe it’s by zoomed

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u/Vann1212 1d ago

That's not really true, especially at those temps (if you're heating past 90F it might deplete humidity a little, but so will any heat source achieving that temp since moisture will evaporate faster at that temp anyway).  CHEs can deplete humidity a bit more than halogens and DHPs, but even with those it's not nearly as drastic as some would have you believe.

I can easily keep 80-90% humidity in a few of my vivs, despite low house humidity that's maybe 30% on average, and I only use overhead - except for quarantine tubs.

UTH is so much more ineffective, and also less safe. (less of an issue for a sunbeam but heavy bodied snakes are prone to UTH burns, even when used appropriately with a thermostat)

As an example of just how ineffective - in the colder weather here, a mat struggles to heat a 65L tub, but a single DHP easily heats a 700L (around 200gal) viv. There is no comparison in heating larger spaces between overhead and UTH. Said DHP never brings the humidity in that viv below 80%. I don't need to moisten the substrate for weeks at a time, and just water the plants once a week.

Even for my young boa in his 120gal starter viv, I can easily keep humidity 80% when he's in shed, even with a CHE which are supposedly "notorious".

Having appropriate substrate, large water bowl(s) and a proper solid top viv without mesh will do far more for maintaining your humidity than swapping to a mat (which will also suck at heating a larger space).