Trouble with ambient temps, help please

[amandasovereign]

Hi all. I need to explain my situation so please bare with me. I have a 30 gallon tank for my baby ball python. The UTH is consistently about 88-93 F, while her cool side drops way too low to about 70-73, unless I have the space heater going and then the ambient temps are fine (which is what I've been doing for the time being), but that is not working for me anymore bc it is heating and drying out the air in my room. I stuck a small UTH to the side wall of the cool side in hopes that it would help elevate the ambient temp, which it helped a bit but isn't consistent enough to be relied upon. I am reluctant to using any heat lamps bc she has been going through a pretty bad shed (that's a whole other post in and of itself). Yes, I already do the warm bath/steam soaks but for some reason she wont rub off the dead skin on her head and neck area....ANYWAY....
Also, I'm not sure if there is something faulty with the thermometer for her warm side or if it is true when it reads at only about 74 for the ambient temp, while the warm hide is still reading at 90-94. I'm stressed out about it. What can I do to raise the ambient temps without heating lamps that will only dry out her skin and further complicate her shed? I thought about getting another UTH to stick on the wall of her warm side as well, but I am concerned that she may climb and rub against it and possibly burn herself.....i dunno. I know I am ay overthinking all of this but I just want to do what is best for her. What should I do?

[frostysBP]

First and foremost are you regulating the heat pads with a thermostat? Second what type thermometer are you using dial or digital? Last what type of bedding are you using...

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[amandasovereign]

The thermostat for the warm UTH is set to 95 but still fluctuates.....the other is not on a thermostat but is up high, not under her belly, in hopes of raising the temps, the digital thermometer reads the surrounding area to be between 72 and 75 when I am not using a space heater. For substrate I am using the fake moss carpet because it is easy to change and throw in the washer to be cleaned, it's also really soft.

[bcr229]

If the ambient temperature in the room is in the low 70's then a glass tank is going to give you all of these problems as it's a poor insulator.

You can fight the laws of physics and continue to be frustrated, you can raise the ambient temp in the room to the mid-upper 70's (which coming into winter I suspect is not an option), or you can find a PVC or melamine reptile enclosure that will maintain the correct heat and humidity despite being in a cold room. Yes you will have to pay for the enclosure but it will pay for itself in time and energy savings, and it costs less than a vet visit to treat an RI because your snake was too cold and dry over the winter.

[AllThatInThemGenes]

I like bcr229's recommendation (long term solution). If for whatever reason you did not want to go that route I would recommend researching oil filled space heaters. They will keep the ambient temps up in a small to mid-size room on the 'low' setting. These type of heaters also do not dry out the air much because they are oil based and not blowing/fanning air constantly. You can find a reliable model online or at Wal-Mart for around $50-60 bucks. (if you got to Wal-Mart and don't see any they may not have put them out yet because the cold weather has just started. Ask an employee and they should have them in the back).

Be careful using the second unregulated UTH...always makes me so nervous especially now that I’m caring for a rescue with a horrible burn.

[grcforce327]

Sell the bp and buy a north american colubrid.

[Albert Clark]

As a alternative you can purchase a glass "versa top" from Petland, Petco, or Petsmart. They are stocked according to the gallon size of your enclosure. You would need a 30 gallon versa top. Its a folding glass top that serves two purposes. It will correct the humidity issue immediately and help with your ambient temperature fluctuation. Don't go with the unregulated heat pads. Too risky!

[amandasovereign]

Are melamine enclosures safe with UTHs? Might sound like a dumb question but as you can probably tell, I'm a newb. What types of heating elements would you use for an enclosure like that?

[bcr229]

Yes you can use a UTH with a melamine enclosure. Most people install a radiant heat panel (RHP) in the top of it as well.

[amandasovereign]

So I'm feeling really overwhelmed by all this. I've gone from looking into different heating elements to now having to buy/build my own custom enclosure?! Jesus why is this so complicated?
From other threads I've read, some are saying that plywood enclosures are more durable and will last longer than melamine. Anybody have experience with this?