heating question

[isanta666]

heating question
I keep my ball python in a 28 quart sterlite tube in a melamine rack and I'm having trouble keeping the cool side at 75 or greater. My warm side with the hide is constantly at 89-91. I was thinking of running some flex watt on the inside of the melamine rack to raise the temp to 80 on the cool side. Do you think this will work?

[VicShell]

what is the temp 75 is ok but an exact number would help.

[isanta666]

what is the temp 75 is ok but an exact number would help.

my cool side temp is 75 constant because i heat my room to 75. I have read other threads and some people say this is too low and it should be no lower than 80.

[VicShell]

Mine are at 76 right now i have the a/c kickin to keep it there and they are fine.

[kitedemon]

What is the ambient temp in the tub (mid point and centre?) Ambient temps should be at least 80 and 82 is better. Air temps matters more than most realize the lungs (well one of them anyway) is very long and runs beside the heart, liver and major arteries. Cool air temps drops the core temps and the snake simply cannot get warm no matter how hot the hot spot is.

[isanta666]

What is the ambient temp in the tub (mid point and centre?) Ambient temps should be at least 80 and 82 is better. Air temps matters more than most realize the lungs (well one of them anyway) is very long and runs beside the heart, liver and major arteries. Cool air temps drops the core temps and the snake simply cannot get warm no matter how hot the hot spot is.

My mid point air temp is only getting to 75-77 and the heat pad still partially covers this area. The air temp in the hide is around 88. Thats why i was thinking of running flexwatt around the sides and controlling the temp using a thermostat. I would not actually attach the flexwatt to the tub but run it along the inside of the rack. Do you think this wil work? I'm not sure what else to do.

[VicShell]

Are the sides of your rack enclosed this will help retain heat in there better and keep your air warmer.My racks are only open in the front to pull out the tubs.

[isanta666]

Are the sides of your rack enclosed this will help retain heat in there better and keep your air warmer.My racks are only open in the front to pull out the tubs.

ya, i have that same system, the only opening is in the front to pull out the tubs. do you always keep your room at a constant temp?

[kitedemon]

Ok those are quite low ambient temps. I run hot and cool side dual controls on my rack as well so yes it will work. (My temps are 90 High 80 cool and ambient is 83) My set up is two fold. I run 17 inch heat tape for the cool end. 17 does not get as hot as the smaller sizes and that makes it perfect for the secondary heat source in an event of a t-stat (yes you still NEED one) it will only hit 86-88ºF max so it should not be able to cook your rack. I can't recommend enough a T-stat is needed for this kind of set up and a proportional would be preferable. A herpstat 2, would be perfect. The second step is to keep heat loss at a minimum I run a rack insulated (3/4 inch ridged foam) on the bottom between the floor and rack and top, in the winter the sides as well. This will increase the tub temps and the ambient temps with it. You could likely use side in place of 17inch belly heat, it might work just as well or better the 17 was cheap and I feel it to be fairly safe due to the low maxed out temp. I also run a back up t-stat for both... yup that makes me a spazz.

[isanta666]

Ok those are quite low ambient temps. I run hot and cool side dual controls on my rack as well so yes it will work. (My temps are 90 High 80 cool and ambient is 83) My set up is two fold. I run 17 inch heat tape for the cool end. 17 does not get as hot as the smaller sizes and that makes it perfect for the secondary heat source in an event of a t-stat (yes you still NEED one) it will only hit 86-88ºF max so it should not be able to cook your rack. I can't recommend enough a T-stat is needed for this kind of set up and a proportional would be preferable. A herpstat 2, would be perfect. The second step is to keep heat loss at a minimum I run a rack insulated (3/4 inch ridged foam) on the bottom between the floor and rack and top, in the winter the sides as well. This will increase the tub temps and the ambient temps with it. You could likely use side in place of 17inch belly heat, it might work just as well or better the 17 was cheap and I feel it to be fairly safe due to the low maxed out temp. I also run a back up t-stat for both... yup that makes me a spazz.

Thanks,

i'm defiantly going to try this setup. I already have a herpstat 2. Hopefully it works out thanks