Please Help ball python I'm new to reptiles

[DLoc]

--He is 6 months old. (born 8-09) I've only had him for 2.5 days. His set up looks like this, 12x12x30 it is tall not long. exo terra I got as a display model. I got a large four paws natures heat (710000) heat pad. But at the bare glass the temp is 100+ but if I lay the digital thermometer on top of the substrate I can get temps 85-92 using a rheostat. The cool side is about 74. (This whole setup except heat pad is temporary for a few months)
--But I'm freaked out over the temperature thing. (a side from who's version I read) The store owner said 90. My book says 85. But my biggest concern is this the surface temp of the glass botttom. It's currently covered with about a inch of Fur bark bedding. I don't want to cook him! But I don't want him to freeze to death as a result of my paranoia. The worst part is because I'm freaking out. I keep moving him and it's already feeding day and I doubt he's going to eat.
PLEASE let me know, where should I be measuring the cage temps from?
On top of the substrate? Below the substrate against the glass? Or like the stupid generic directions say "against the top of the lid on the inside"?

[jben]

I'm sure others will help but the temps should be around 78-82 cool side and 88-92 warm side. Sorry, I'm not sure where you'll need to measure the temps with a glass setup being that i have a rack but i believe is on top of the substrate. Since you had him for 3 days i would give him a week to settle in first then try feeding him. pictures of your setup would help. hope this helps.

[justinsane82]

You measure the temps from the glass as the snake can move the bedding out of the way and lay right on the glass. That being said, you HAVE to have a rheostat or thermostat to regulate and control the heat manually. It's one of, if not the most, important pieces you have. This is nothing something to be cheap on and think you can get away with not having. I made my own dimmer for all of $7 each which is easy to do. If you are able to follow simple instructions you may want to check out doing them yourself.

http://www.cornsnakes.com/forums/showthread.php?t=93490

That's an example of what I'm talking about.

[DLoc]

Ok so now the glass is 90.x and the substrate is about 85 on the hot side.
Should I be ok with that?
Like I said it's been 2 days since I got him. I looked at his belly last night to see if I could see any signs of thermal burn. (It was just white irradicent) but it felt a softer than when I got him. (last fed last tuesday) What should I watch for as signs the temps are ok for the snake (besides the range) and I'm worried, I don't think he has a thermal burn, but what behavior/symptoms would suggest it? He spends about 85-90% of his time in his hide.(not unusual sense I just got him, worried about choosing safe hiding place over correct heat causing a thermal burn from the 2 days.) He soaks for about 15 miniutes or so during the night. He was rubbing his nose at the corner behind his hide at substrate level off and on. (temp issue?) He climbed his cage glass corners (all sides) Was he just being active? Or is it a symptom of stress? (both I'd suppose) He doesn't seem to leave his hide at night unless distrubed. (Should I assume that's normal?)
What is the absolute hottest safe heat for a heating pad's hot spot for a ball python? (I want to avoid burns)
What is the absolute coldest the warm area should be? (85?)
To avoid health problems what is the coldest/warmest the cold side should be? (could cause RI?/death?)
I'm sorry I'm just really worried about his set up, and I don't want to hurt him. I want him around for a long time. Thanks for your patients with me.

[dr del]

Hi,

How are you measuring those temps?

By that I mean is it a digital or analogue (dial ) thermometer?

Can you get us a picture of your enclosure at all?


dr del

[Vypyrz]

--He is 6 months old. (born 8-09) I've only had him for 2.5 days. His set up looks like this, 12x12x30 it is tall not long. exo terra I got as a display model. I got a large four paws natures heat (710000) heat pad.

Just so I have the correct picture in my mind. The floor of your tank measures 12 inches X 12 inches and is 30 inches tall. According to the website I just looked at, you UTH should measure about 12 inches X 7.5 inches. Which leaves a strip of 12 inches X 4.5 inches for your cool side. Is that correct?

[kc261]

You are going to have trouble keeping enough heat & humidity in an enclosure that tall. Start by insulating 3 of the sides, and covering most of the top with some layers of aluminum foil if it is a screen top.

If Vypyrz is correct about how much of the cage floor is covered by the UTH, then you really don't have a large enough cool area. It does seem like the snake could get totally off the heat by squishing up against the one side of the enclosure, but this is far from ideal.

You could adjust the rheostat so that the hot spot is 94-95 on the glass. That is the hottest that is safe, but you may need to in that tall enclosure to get the air warmed up at all. I'm hesitant to suggest even that, since you are using a rheostat. If there happens to be a hot day when you aren't home to adjust the rheostat, the temperatures could get too high.

You said this is temporary housing. What are you planning on changing to? Why not change now? If you don't change it now, you will probably spend a lot of time, effort, and money trying to get everything right in this enclosure, only to have to do it over again.

[DLoc]

I'm at work but will take pics when I get home. The heating pad is slightly sticking out on the back. (covering just under half the tank) Yes I am using a rheostat now. (1st day was without)

[DLoc]

I'm at work but will take pics when I get home. The heating pad is slightly sticking out on the back. (covering just under half the tank) Yes I am using a rheostat now. (1st day was without)

I am using a $10 Zoo Med digital thermometer with a single probe. Then I have a just short of worthless thermometer (not tape but still stick on glass) which I'm using to monitor the ambient air temps. (usually about 79) I have placed aluminum foil over half the top to trap humidity and heat. (humitity varies from 60-70.) As for my enclouser if you think of a ten gallon that is square except having slightly more depth to it. 12x12 then it's 30 tall. It also has metric measurements but I can't remember them off the top of my head. Another thing for when I get home.

[Kyle@theHeathertoft]

I'm sure people with more experience can help better than I, but were I you, I'd ditch that glass box in favour of a plastic tub. Much cheaper, easier to keep warm, easier to regulate humidity (where I live the air is so dry it hurts).