Hi,

I will shortly be the proud owner of my first snake, a ball python. I have a vivarium setup, substrate is in, hides in place, heat mat for warm spot etc.

My issue is with the temperatures showing. I have one thermometer on the cool side and one on the hot side. They are the standard sticky thermometers made by Exo-Terra. The cool side shows a temp of about 68f or 69f. The warm side is showing temps of around 70f-72f. This concerned me greatly as I know it should be a lot warmer in there.

I then got a digital thermometer and placed it on the substrate in the hide of the warm side. This then showed temps of around 95f.

My question is, when I'm told what temp the hot and cold sides are meant to be, do they mean the surface that the snake touches (the substrate) or the general air temp? If it means the surfaces then I'm doing fine, but if it's the air temp then it needs to be a LOT warmer.

Picture of my setup below for a better understanding of what I'm dribbling about