Heating help needed

[Kinra]

I currently have my BPs housed in a DIY rack, but I designed it poorly, it's basically a shelf. It does a great job retaining humdity (which can be a struggle during the winter in WI), but keeping my ambient temps correct is difficult. Heat is included in my rent so I've been keeping my apartment at about 75-77 which puts the ambient temps in my tubs at about 78-80, but I can't take the heat any more. Me and my dog have been extremely uncomfortable since I moved my BPs to the rack last month. Is it alright to have a lower ambient temp?

[SlitherinSisters]

Are your tubs pretty big? And how hot do you have your flexwatt? Are those the ambient temps on the hot side or cool side? I really don't stress about my ambient temps since I have belly heat. I do however heat my snake room to 70 in the winter and it stays about 75 in the summer.

[snakesRkewl]

Pictures of the tub and shelf it sits on?
Are you using the tub with or without lid?
Size of UTH under the tub assuming you are heating with a UTH?
IMO your ambient temp is fine as long as you also have belly heat.

[Kinra]

Here is my rack:



I'm using 41qt Rubbermaid tubs without lids. I have 11" heat tape running along the back that is set to 92 and controlled with a herpstat. I have the prob for the herpstat on the heat tape and not in a tub. I don't have a temp gun yet but using digital thermometers, my hot side is at 88 and my cool side is at 77. I'm using news paper substrate and tupperware hides.

[snakesRkewl]

If the sides aren't closed I close them, your losing a ton of heat out of the sides.
Some say back heat provides better ambient temps but it won't if the sides are open.

I prefer belly heat but that's just my opinion, many people use back heat successfully.
I put my probes on the heat tape also and have never had an issue.

[SlitherinSisters]

I personally think those temps are just fine. Your snake is not going to get sick and die from ambient temps of 88. Plus, your snake cannot hover, it has to be touching the floor of the tub and if it's on the hot side, that means your snake is going to be sitting in 90ish degrees, given a 2 degree heat loss (that's generally what I see, I keep my heat tape at 94 for the youngins and 92 for the adults).