Hi folks,

I just got my first ball python here a week ago, and what I can say is he is a great little guy!

It's taken a lot of fiddling around with his tank and heat sources, but I've finally got the day temperature correct in his tank, with just a small issue with the cold side at night. However, throughout all my reading, I've read a lot about thermal burns and have a question for you all!

What is an appropriate SURFACE temperature on the substrate above my UTH? I just want to make sure that I am not making it possible for my little guy to get a burn. He tends to stay in his hot hide, which was half over the UTH. I have a IR temp gun, and one area of the substrate over the UTH hit about 100 degrees. This was NOT where his hide is, and now has his water dish over it as his humidity is too low anyways, and it seems to be helping the humidity issue.

So when temping the area directly over the UTH, what is the temperature I'm looking for? What is the maximum? Is 100 too hot?

Thanks for your help!
Kourtney