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  1. #1
    Registered User KittyLex's Avatar
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    Unhappy Having trouble keeping the cool side cool

    Hello!

    I've been researching this issue like crazy with few results, as most people have trouble keeping the hot side hot enough and not the cool side cool. My apartment is hot and my air doesn't reach my room fully until hours after I turn it on. I've recently had trouble with the cool side of the terrarium hovering around 86 degrees, with the warm side remaining at 90 and a basking spot of 95. I have a mini fan that I clipped to the top but I'm worried about all the dust that could be flying in and it only drops the temp about 2-3 degrees. I've also tried putting ice packs on the top but that's a very temporary fix.

    I would appreciate any suggestions on how to cool off the cool side. Thank you!

  2. #2
    BPnet Lifer decensored's Avatar
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    Re: Having trouble keeping the cool side cool

    When you say a basking spot are you talking about a heat lamp?

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  3. #3
    Registered User KittyLex's Avatar
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    Re: Having trouble keeping the cool side cool

    I guess it's more like a warm spot; it's 95 right above my UTH and 90 where my heat lamp is.

  4. #4
    BPnet Lifer decensored's Avatar
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    Re: Having trouble keeping the cool side cool

    Ditch the heat lamp and dial the pad down to 92. They don't need the lamps and lamps are notorious for pulling the humidity out of your enclosure. The lamp will also have more heat spillage and raise the temp of your whole cage.

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  5. #5
    Registered User KittyLex's Avatar
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    Re: Having trouble keeping the cool side cool

    Quote Originally Posted by decensored View Post
    Ditch the heat lamp and dial the pad down to 92. They don't need the lamps and lamps are notorious for pulling the humidity out of your enclosure. The lamp will also have more heat spillage and raise the temp of your whole cage
    Will that mess with his day/night cycle at all? I don't get that much natural light where his tank is.

  6. #6
    Registered User KittyLex's Avatar
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    Also then there won't be a true gradient and both hides will be the same temperature. My UTH doesn't have a temp control setting so I have to be able to monitor the heat via a thermometer placed on it, so I don't have it under the warm hide.

  7. #7
    BPnet Lifer decensored's Avatar
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    Re: Having trouble keeping the cool side cool

    Not really. Ball pythons are neither nocturnal nor diurnal they are crepuscular meaning that day cycles are not particularly important to them, they are awake when their prey normally is. But in the wild they dont see a whole lot of sun. Most breeders and keepers with extensive collections house them in bins where they see little to no natural light. Give it a try and see how your Temps settle. Hope this helps

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    Craiga 01453 (06-12-2017)

  9. #8
    BPnet Senior Member tttaylorrr's Avatar
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    Re: Having trouble keeping the cool side cool

    Quote Originally Posted by KittyLex View Post
    Also then there won't be a true gradient and both hides will be the same temperature. My UTH doesn't have a temp control setting so I have to be able to monitor the heat via a thermometer placed on it, so I don't have it under the warm hide.
    your UTH isn't regulated?? ALL heat sources MUST be regulated, either by thermostat or dimmer/rheostat. your taking a risk on the safety of your animal by running a UTH unregulated.

    here's a relatively cheap and relatively reliable thermostat you can use until you can save up for a Herpstat. i'd unplug the UTH until you get it regulated.
    Last edited by tttaylorrr; 06-12-2017 at 09:33 AM.
    4.4 ball python
    1.0 Albino 0.1 Coral Glow 0.1 Super Cinnamon paradox 1.0 Piebald 0.1 Pastel Enchi Leopard het Piebald 1.0 Coral Glow het Piebald

    1.0 corn snake
    1.0 Hypo

    1.0 crested gecko
    0.1 ????

    0.1 cat
    0.1 Maine Coon mix

    0.1 human ✌︎

  10. #9
    BPnet Lifer decensored's Avatar
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    Re: Having trouble keeping the cool side cool

    I'm not trying to be a jerk but under heat is the best heat source and I always strongly advise against lamps. I'm not even a fan of back heat in racking systems. You really do need a way to regulate your UTH, I've stopped pushing people to buy herpstats and VE systems but you can get a inkbird controller on amazon for like $40, it sounds like it might solve your heat issues.

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  11. #10
    BPnet Lifer decensored's Avatar
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    Re: Having trouble keeping the cool side cool

    Quote Originally Posted by decensored View Post
    I'm not trying to be a jerk but under heat is the best heat source and I always strongly advise against lamps. I'm not even a fan of back heat in racking systems. You really do need a way to regulate your UTH, I've stopped pushing people to buy herpstats and VE systems but you can get a inkbird controller on amazon for like $40, it sounds like it might solve your heat issues.

    Sent from my SM-G920W8 using Tapatalk
    And an unregulated UTH can quite often lead to burns on the animal which is a whole can of worms no body wants to open. In the mean time you can purchase a dimmer switch for like a lamp at a hardware store for under $5. It's not a solution but it will hold you over until you get your thermostat set up.

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