optimal UTH temperature

[rimelame]

Hello,

If a tank which houses a ball python can only be 1 temperature, and not a hot side and cold side - what temperature should it be?

[sarahlovesmiike]

I'd say about 87-88*. But I wouldn't really recommend it...

[rimelame]

When I see the videos of large breeders they keep the adult females in small tibs on racks. how can a tub that small contain a cold and hot side? The ambient temperature must be prettymuch the same on both sides of such a small tub. No?

[sarahlovesmiike]

They have back or belly heat. They use a strip flexwatt heat tape kept at ~90 and the room is kept at a stable temperature to control the rest of the tub. Sure it radiates, but not so much that it's 90* throughout the whole tub. It might bump the cool end up a few degrees, so if the room is say 80* the cool end is probably about 82*. They need to thermo-regulate, and no one knows that better than the big breeders.

My tubs have a heat pad which is kept at 89-90* all the time, the cool side stays at 75 because that's the temp of the room and thats how they like it.

[mpkeelee]

my tubs have an ambient temp of 80 and the UTH is set for 92-93.

[rimelame]

ok, so i have taken everyones advise and i'll use the thinner flexwatt on one end, and hopefully that'll help to keep the other end cool.