Question about the basking spot and heat......

[EvesFriend]

When people refer to the "basking spot" needing to be around 90+ degrees F, does this 90 degrees just include the substrate area? So if you start moving upward directly above the "hot spot" should the ambient air around it also be 90 degrees or should it drop a bit?

[Danounet]

When it comes to BPs since they are ground snakes, it points out the the area of the substrate. Since they have their bellies right on the heat. You dont want it too hot (95+) for them to get burn.

Still, Hot air rises so the ambient area on top of the heat source would end up being warmer too.

[EvesFriend]

When it comes to BPs since they are ground snakes, it points out the the area of the substrate. Since they have their bellies right on the heat. You dont want it too hot (95+) for them to get burn.

Still, Hot air rises so the ambient area on top of the heat source would end up being warmer too.

So should the ambient air be around the same onboth sides of the tank, "cool" side included, or should it be significatly hotter above the basking area?

[Danounet]

The ambient in the cool side should be around 80 or above.

[EvesFriend]

Generally do you want the ambient air on the warm side to be greater than the air on the cool side?

[Vypyrz]

The basking spot for a Ball Python is inside the warm hide. As long as the heat is there, the air will be warm enough inside the hide. The air directly around the outside of the hot hide may be a little warmer, depending on how big the UTH is. Generally, the air outside the hide is going to be about the same all through the enclosure, which is ok as long as it stays arou 78-80F. If you are using a tank and need to warm the ambient air temp up you can:

1) use a ceramic heat emitter, or a heat bulb.
2) use a space heater to keep the room temperature where you want it.
3) use the house thermostat to keep the whole house at the desired temp.

Since I keep my house at 68F in the winter, I use a space heater in the room I have my snakes in. I have it controlled by a Johnson thermostat set at 81F. It keeps the whole room at that temp so that is what my tubs ambient temp stays around. Inside the warm hides it is about 91F, which is done by the UTH's controlled by my Herpstat thermostat. ...

[Vypyrz]

Generally do you want the ambient air on the warm side to be greater than the air on the cool side?

for a BP this is not as important as it would be if you had an arboreal snake. Since BP's spend most of their time in their hides, that is where the temperature difference is more important...

[EvesFriend]

for a BP this is not as important as it would be if you had an arboreal snake. Since BP's spend most of their time in their hides, that is where the temperature difference is more important...

Thank you, that was very helpful.


I just checked my temps and I have 92 degrees in the substrate where the hide rests and 81-3 degrees a few inches above the hide on both sides of the tank. Should this be ok?

[Vypyrz]

Thank you, that was very helpful.


I just checked my temps and I have 92 degrees in the substrate where the hide rests and 81-3 degrees a few inches above the hide on both sides of the tank. Should this be ok?

Yes, you are going to be ok with that...

[EvesFriend]

Thanks!