Ever since getting a 100 watt CHE

[kasmir]

my guy has been alot more active & 'chillin' on top of his hide, rather than in it. I have 2 UTH's on either side of my 20L tank & was having trouble with my ambient temp being too low, so I obtained a CHE. What is more important, belly heat or top heat? Is he just really enjoying this new basking spot? I've been having quite a hard time getting the temp & humidity just right, it seems like a constant, never ending battle

[Kaorte]

Ball pythons do better with belly heat. They love hiding and will sit in their hides 24/7 if they had the choice. Ball pythons are much of baskers since they are nocturnal.

How are you measuring temps? If you aren't using digital thermometers with probes then you probably aren't getting an accurate reading.

How are you controlling your UTHs? If they are unregulated they are probably getting too hot and that is why your snake is laying on top of the hides.

[kasmir]

Ball pythons do better with belly heat. They love hiding and will sit in their hides 24/7 if they had the choice. Ball pythons are much of baskers since they are nocturnal.

How are you measuring temps? If you aren't using digital thermometers with probes then you probably aren't getting an accurate reading.

How are you controlling your UTHs? If they are unregulated they are probably getting too hot and that is why your snake is laying on top of the hides.

I have 2 digital thermometers with probes on either side. I also use a temp gun. Dimmer switches control the UTH's, but for some reason my temps are always fluctuating...not sure if it's a problem with my thermometers or the dimmers themselves. When I use the temp gun, things seem more consistent.

[Kaorte]

The dimmers are what is making the temps inconsistent. I would recommend getting a reptile thermostat. Dimmers just limit the power that goes to the UTH whereas a thermostat keeps it at the same temp.

[rockhardchick666]

Also know that power spikes aswell throughout the day. The power company guarentees the base volts but there are many points in the day where you're recieving much more than that.
So with dimmers you can adjust the ammount of power allowed through to heat, but it's a ratio deal, not a number.

[seeya205]

My male loves to go under the lamp! My ambient temps during winter are low so I use a lamp with an infred bulb! This and your che sucks the humidity! I will be putting my snakes in the basement soon and will have a heater to warm it up so I won't need lamps! If you can put it in a small room then heat that room, you may be able to avoid the che!