Snake Behavior/ Warm Side ?

[T2theG]

Hello,

I have a 36 x 18 x 18 exo terra cage for my ball python with an under tank heat made for 50-60 gallons on one side. I also have a thermostat to control the temp just right for the warm side. I have it set to 90 degrees, but my snake seems to favor the cool side even more. He's active and eats every 6 or 7 days when I see he's very curious. Warm side ambient air temp is usually 81, cool side 77 and the humidity stays about 62 on the cool side and 50 on the warm side. I had glass cut to fit the cool side to lay on the screens to keep it in more.

My questions is that I have the probe for the thermostat under his warm right on top of the substrate because I want to make sure the substrate is the temp that is set for the thermo. The thermostat probe is water resistant, not water proof and I also check the temps with a temp gun. The temps stay right at 90 or 91. I know a lot of people say to adhere the probe to the bottom of the heat pad, but I just dont see how that will get the substrate the right temp for the snake to be on. My substrate is about 4 inches thick of Herptopia coconut bedding.

Just wondering why he might not like the warm side so much? Maybe he hangs out in there when I'm away at work or not watching him while I sleep.

Other than that he is fine, eating, gaining weight shedding and going to the bathroom.

Some tank pics:

[Aste88]

The probe must be either between the UTH and the bottom of the cage or, if water proof, under the substrate.

You want to regulate the highest temp the snake can reach, then maybe set it to something more than the tipical 90 f but still within safe parameters.

As for staying on the cool side, as long as both provide the same security like your setup, just trust your animal, he knows best his needs.

[tttaylorrr]

there's a few reasons why placing the 'stat probe between the heat pad and bottom of the tank is common practice:
• this ensures the probe cannot be messed with/moved/urinated/defecated on and give a false temp to the 'stat, this increasing or decreasing the output. it should always remain the same.
• snakes can and will burrow down to the bottom of the tank. you say you have 4' of substrate: that's a lot of mass for the heat to pass through to get to the probe. what is the temperature at the actual bottom of the tank? i'm sure it is much hotter than 90°, which is probably why the snake avoids the warm side.

[T2theG]

there's a few reasons why placing the 'stat probe between the heat pad and bottom of the tank is common practice:
• this ensures the probe cannot be messed with/moved/urinated/defecated on and give a false temp to the 'stat, this increasing or decreasing the output. it should always remain the same.
• snakes can and will burrow down to the bottom of the tank. you say you have 4' of substrate: that's a lot of mass for the heat to pass through to get to the probe. what is the temperature at the actual bottom of the tank? i'm sure it is much hotter than 90°, which is probably why the snake avoids the warm side.

Thanks for the input, I guess I just don't understand why the probe would go in between the uth and the glass on the bottom other than if the snake burrows down so it wont burn him. Even if I place the probe between the uth and glass I will have to set it to a higher degree to get the substrate warm enough. I guess I can always make the substrate less thick under his warm hide. Sorry to be a pain, I just trying to understand all this.

[Bassball Fever]

Thanks for the input, I guess I just don't understand why the probe would go in between the uth and the glass on the bottom other than if the snake burrows down so it wont burn him. Even if I place the probe between the uth and glass I will have to set it to a higher degree to get the substrate warm enough. I guess I can always make the substrate less thick under his warm hide. Sorry to be a pain, I just trying to understand all this.

By putting the probe between the glass and the UTH, you are making sure that it will be in a consistent spot and your Tstat will work the way you want it to. I would suggest you get a digital thermometer and put its probe under the substrate and over the UTH to measure the hottest spot the snake can touch. You will need to set the Tstat higher in order to get the hot spot up to temp.

I hope I am explaining this clearly.

ETA: Don't worry about being a pain. Most here will be happy to help.

[tttaylorrr]

Thanks for the input, I guess I just don't understand why the probe would go in between the uth and the glass on the bottom other than if the snake burrows down so it wont burn him. Even if I place the probe between the uth and glass I will have to set it to a higher degree to get the substrate warm enough. I guess I can always make the substrate less thick under his warm hide. Sorry to be a pain, I just trying to understand all this.

no worries. 😀 the main idea is constant temps with as few variables as possible. yes you'll have to monitor and adjust your temps when you move it, but it'll save you headaches down the road. i have an additional thermometer with a probe placed over the hot spot inside so i know the temps of everything. you can get one of those or just check with the temp gun.