Freaking out BAD.

[Gemma]

Brand new ball python owner. I've had her since August 1st. It took a while for me to get everything straightened out (her humidity, temperatures, equipment, etc.), but I got it straightened out & she's been a happy snake since. Now it's starting to get cold. It's a downright struggle to keep her warm side over 90 & her cool side over 80. I've bumped up heating bulbs (which I'm probably about to do again) & I've wrapped towels around her terrarium (a suggestion from a local pet salesman), but it still only creeps up. If it keeps going like this, I'm going to have to buy a ceramic heater, but I don't want to fry my baby. Any tips, experiences in which you prevailed, ANYTHING YOU CAN OFFER, I will try. This is scaring me. I've always wanted a snake & I plan on getting more in my future. I can't do that if I can't even take care of one properly. So please, anything will help.

[albinos_rule]

Do you have a UTH for the warm spot? You don't want it much over 90!! 86-92 is about right. How are you measuring your temps? Are you using a t-stat?

[JPR]

What type of thermometer are you using to measure temps and where are they placed? Also, as I'm sure many people Will tell you, the use of an under tank heater (uth) regulated by a thermostat will help.

[200xth]

It's a downright struggle to keep her warm side over 90 & her cool side over 80.

Her cool side doesn't need to be over 80. Mine are down around 72 to 74 most of the year.

Hot spot doesn't need to be over 90, either. My hotspots range from 87 to 90, with most of them around 88.

What's the temperature in the room with the snakes at?

[bcr229]

Add a UTH + thermostat under the warm side to keep her belly heat at 90*F, and then put a hide just big enough for her on top of it.

[Eric Alan]

What type of thermometer are you using to measure temps and where are they placed?

This is an important question for you to answer. Could you also provide us with a description/picture of your setup? It's hard to give anyone good advice without accurate information to begin with.

[Gemma]

I'm sorry I haven't gotten a picture up yet. But I think I may have gotten it. I was under the impression snakes NEEDED a red light at night, but after more research, I found out she doesn't need the actual light, just the heat. *duh moment* But yes, I have a UTH that stays at 90 (covered with substrate so she doesn't burn herself) with a hide directly over it. I check on her frequently when she's in there to make sure she hasn't moved it. I've managed to stabilize her temperatures using a 65w ceramic heater, & other than her being in the blue-eye phase of shedding, she seems pretty happy. But thanks for everything, guys. I greatly appreciate it.

[Pyrate81]

If you find the CHE is drying out the enclosure too much, you may need to spray it a couple times a day. Especially when the snake is in shed.

[bcr229]

But yes, I have a UTH that stays at 90 (covered with substrate so she doesn't burn herself) with a hide directly over it.

Snakes, especially ball pythons that live underground in the wild, will burrow. Covering up the tank floor over the UTH will not prevent her from being burned. You must get a thermoSTAT to regulate it.

[Mr. Misha]

As bcr229 already stated, you need to get a thermostat for that UTH ASAP or turn it off because your snake will burn itself with an unregulated UTH.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Tapatalk