At what temp can a BP burn its belly?

[rj1204]

I was at the Arlington, TX Reptile Expo 2 months ago and I heard two different breeders tell customers they should have a heat source (UTH or heat rock) and keep it at 100*. I asked the breeders and they said they had been breeding BP's for years and always keep their hot spots 97-100*. I was thinking about when I was a kid, I had a large cage built out of wood by my dad and we had 3 heat rocks in with the Ball Pythons. I wrapped the heat rocks in 2 layers of newspaper (easy to clean when they defecate on them) and of course, those rocks were still very hot. I would say the rocks were at least 100*, if not probably closer to 110* and for the 2-3 years I had my snakes, they never ever got burnt. I was a dumb 11 year old kid at the time and I was going on the advice from the local pet store, so I probably just got lucky that my snakes never had any problems.

At what temp can and will a BP get burnt? My Helix is set to 96* which makes my tub surface about 93* right now.

[JLC]

I think your temps are perfect as is...wouldn't change a thing.

I've never heard of anyone keeping bp's at 100*....but I do know there is not a precise science to keeping these guys and different folks will use different methods and still have success. I sure wouldn't go that high, though....ever.

As for what precise temperature they will start to burn...I don't know. The way I look at it is that there's no reason for them to ever be exposed to temps above 95 at the most...(I never keep my hot spot near that hot anyhow)...and so long as you follow that guideline they won't get burnt.

[Animals As Leaders]

I was at the Arlington, TX Reptile Expo 2 months ago and I heard two different breeders tell customers they should have a heat source (UTH or heat rock) and keep it at 100*. I asked the breeders and they said they had been breeding BP's for years and always keep their hot spots 97-100*. I was thinking about when I was a kid, I had a large cage built out of wood by my dad and we had 3 heat rocks in with the Ball Pythons. I wrapped the heat rocks in 2 layers of newspaper (easy to clean when they defecate on them) and of course, those rocks were still very hot. I would say the rocks were at least 100*, if not probably closer to 110* and for the 2-3 years I had my snakes, they never ever got burnt. I was a dumb 11 year old kid at the time and I was going on the advice from the local pet store, so I probably just got lucky that my snakes never had any problems.

At what temp can and will a BP get burnt? My Helix is set to 96* which makes my tub surface about 93* right now.

Thats fine. I wasn't able to get my rack to heat up properly. Bottom level varied a decent amount more (B:87/T:91) from the top so I had to turn it up. My temps are the same as you and all mine are fine. I also wonder what will burn them. I did notice when I was using my dimmer when it would get past 96+ they all would move off of it. 90 seems to be just right.

[rj1204]

Yeah, I am happy with my temps and my BP's seem to be fine on them. I just wonder somtimes......I bet 95% of the reptiles/ball pythons sold probably come from pet stores like Petco/Petsmart and most people buy UTH's and heat rocks without thermostats or rehostats for them (I know some buy heat lamps). I wonder how many poor BP's get burned out there which made me wonder why my BP's didn't get burned when I was a kid.

[Generationshell]

Until I bought something to regulate my UTH and a accurite thermo/hydro my UTH was at 130+ degrees. It was crazy. I dont know how my bp didnt get burned. Now Mine is at 105. Which I know it still high but rheostats suck. So im in the process of getting something to regulate mine. But Im not quite sure at what temp they get burned at.... mine seems to do really well at 105. And I check his belly regularily to make sure he isnt getting burned.

[ameh78]

Until I bought something to regulate my UTH and a accurite thermo/hydro my UTH was at 130+ degrees. It was crazy. I dont know how my bp didnt get burned. Now Mine is at 105. Which I know it still high but rheostats suck. So im in the process of getting something to regulate mine. But Im not quite sure at what temp they get burned at.... mine seems to do really well at 105. And I check his belly regularily to make sure he isnt getting burned.

go to home depot and get a dimmer for $10. I did that several months ago and got my temps on target. Just need to check your temps daily.

[flatsix02]

Out of curiousity, how can you tell if your bp is burnt? What kind of signs will their belly show if burnt? My h/c sits around 91/80, so I'm not worried, but just want to know as I'm still learning.

[IndySnake]

Out of curiousity, how can you tell if your bp is burnt? What kind of signs will their belly show if burnt? My h/c sits around 91/80, so I'm not worried, but just want to know as I'm still learning.

I had a BP get burnt and with mine it was a big, clear blister on his belly. I felt soooo bad because it was my own fault and naivety for getting a BP before doing much research and I was running a UTH with no thermostat. He is fine now though but I had to clean him 3 times a day and apply triple antibiotic twice a day for about a month to get him healed.

[volkert13b]

i did exactly what the other guy did. no one around here sells thermostats(at least not within a 1hr30min dirve) so i went to ace hardware and bought a touch light dimmer set my snake in a tub and found what setting on the dimmer marked it, and badda bing. works like a charm only cost me 11 bucks

[Joelolly]

They problem I'm having is my thermostat is set on 96 and my surface temps barely reach 90. I use repti bark and layer it thin. Any suggestions?