Heating question

[Kinra]

Hi,
I'm relatively new to owning BPs, and have a question about heating. I recently took my BPs the vet for a routine checkup. This was the first time I had taken them to the vet so I ended up explaining my cage setup. I have my cages setup with a UTH at one end and a heat lamp at the other to provide a basking spot. My temps are correct for balls, but my vet told me it was not a good idea to use a UTH. My vet recommended I stop using the UTH and switch to using just a ceramic heat emitter. I was wondering what other people thought about this. I assumed using a UTH was pretty standard.
Thanks!

[PitOnTheProwl]

1st: do you have some type of controlling device on the UTH?
2nd: what reasons did the vet give you for not using UTH? (just my curiosity)
3rd: Is this a regular vet or a reptile vet?

[dragonboy4578]

As long as you have a thermostat on you UTH I would keep using that. Ceramic heaters dry out the tank making it difficult to keep humidity up... If your vet really believe ceramic heaters are better that UTH I would start looking for a new vet....

[PitOnTheProwl]

If your vet really believe ceramic heaters are better that UTH I would start looking for a new vet....

I was thinking the same thing LOL but wanted an answer to #2 first

[Kinra]

1st: do you have some type of controlling device on the UTH?
2nd: what reasons did the vet give you for not using UTH? (just my curiosity)
3rd: Is this a regular vet or a reptile vet?

1.) No I didn't have anything controlling the UTH. I was using an Apsen bedding giving about 3-4 inches of padding. I check the temp with a digital thermometer throughout the day and it remained consistant.

2.) The reason he gave me for why UTHs are not recommended is still a little confusing to me. He said that snakes have the ability to sync their temperature with the rock they are sitting on, so it's always a good idea to provide heat from above. I don't quite understand it.

3.) This was a reptile vet.

I did switch to the ceramic heat emitter, because I was also advised to remove the aspen bedding and use astro turf and I was afraid there would be too little padding between the heater and the snake. To combat the loss of humdity, I have provided my snakes with a humid hide (another suggestion from my vet). They don't seem to mind the change, but I wanted to make sure I was following good advise.

[PitOnTheProwl]

1.) No I didn't have anything controlling the UTH. I was using an Apsen bedding giving about 3-4 inches of padding. I check the temp with a digital thermometer throughout the day and it remained consistant.

Get a good thermostat, and put the UTH back on........

2.) The reason he gave me for why UTHs are not recommended is still a little confusing to me. He said that snakes have the ability to sync their temperature with the rock they are sitting on, so it's always a good idea to provide heat from above. I don't quite understand it.

Find a new vet!!

3.) This was a reptile vet.

See above answer!!!!!!

I did switch to the ceramic heat emitter, because I was also advised to remove the aspen bedding and use astro turf and I was afraid there would be too little padding between the heater and the snake. To combat the loss of humdity, I have provided my snakes with a humid hide (another suggestion from my vet). They don't seem to mind the change, but I wanted to make sure I was following good advise.

Get rid of the astro turf, cleaning will be hell and it can irritate some snakes.
Put the aspen back
Ditch the CHE because your humidity is going to go to crap, the humid hide is great IF your snake uses it.
So your vet gave you ONE piece of advice on the humid hide.

[cinderbird]

1.) No I didn't have anything controlling the UTH. I was using an Apsen bedding giving about 3-4 inches of padding. I check the temp with a digital thermometer throughout the day and it remained consistant.

2.) The reason he gave me for why UTHs are not recommended is still a little confusing to me. He said that snakes have the ability to sync their temperature with the rock they are sitting on, so it's always a good idea to provide heat from above. I don't quite understand it.

3.) This was a reptile vet.



I did switch to the ceramic heat emitter, because I was also advised to remove the aspen bedding and use astro turf and I was afraid there would be too little padding between the heater and the snake. To combat the loss of humdity, I have provided my snakes with a humid hide (another suggestion from my vet). They don't seem to mind the change, but I wanted to make sure I was following good advise.

1. you want to get a thermostat, asap to control the UTH.

2. ball pythons are nocturnal, ground dwelling snakes. They do not bask. They benefit more from belly heat than back heat or above heating.

3. Having been a member here for years, I've seen some "qualified reptile vets" say some really ridiculous things.

Ditch the astroturf. Its impossible to santize properly once soiled and will begin to harbor bacteria. Aspen is good because the snake can burrow and feel more secure. It also holds humidity pretty well.

[LeviBP]

Wow, this guy went to school to do this?
I guess that makes me a Rocket Scientist.

[Johan]

As above, ditch the vet and get yourself a thermostat.