Temp Regulation Question

[jadekris00]

So I am very new to snake keeping and I absolutely love my about 4 month old Ball. Great Temper, good eater, etc.

On one side of my 40 gallon tank (yes I know this is big for a young ball, I have a lot of hides and plants for comfort), the hot side is regulated by an under tank heater and a thermostat, the ground temperature being about 95 degrees. I also have a dome lamp with a ceramic heater overhead to warm the air to what is a bit over 80.

However, my real problem is the cold side. It stays around 70-75 degrees which from what I read isn't appropriate. Sometimes the snake will stay around the cold side but moves back and fourth as it pleases (unsure of the gender right now). I don't think it is too uncomfortable because it still eats once a week and doesn't appear reckless in its tank. It just chills in hides.

Should I be worried? Is there anything I can do to fix this problem? It is also the winter time in NYC.

[tttaylorrr]

move the dome lamp closer to the cool side? 70-75° F is too low and i would be concerned; you need to get to at least 77° F.

also, 95° F is entirely too hot. the hot spot inside the enclosure shouldn't go above 92° F and i try to keep my hot spots around 90° F.

EDIT: welcome to the forum!!!

[jadekris00]

Got it!!! I'll give it a try.

[SDA]

Where are you taking the temp on the cool side? Against the glass will be cold unless you insulate that glass. If it is above 75 around the cool hide you are safe. Also remember stable temps are the most important thing you can provide. So long as the swing stays within say 3-5 degrees throughout a 24 hour period you aren't going to harm your snake.

[jadekris00]

Where are you taking the temp on the cool side? Against the glass will be cold unless you insulate that glass. If it is above 75 around the cool hide you are safe. Also remember stable temps are the most important thing you can provide. So long as the swing stays within say 3-5 degrees throughout a 24 hour period you aren't going to harm your snake.

I use a probe to determine temp on the cold side. It usually stays bellow 75 though. I will be trying to move my CHE to above that area when I get home.

[tttaylorrr]

I use a probe to determine temp on the cold side. It usually stays bellow 75 though. I will be trying to move my CHE to above that area when I get home.

do you have a probe thermometer for your hot spot as well?

[jadekris00]

do you have a probe thermometer for your hot spot as well?

No. Should I? The thermometer has a probe attached to it that I usually look to.

[tttaylorrr]

No. Should I? The thermometer has a probe attached to it that I usually look to.

i would move the probe over the hot spot below the substrate as you will always need to know this temperature. in all my enclosure i use one probed thermometer/hygrometer for the hot spot and one stand-alone thermometer/hygrometer for the cool side. you need to be measuring the hottest temperature your snake can touch, which would be below the substrate over the hot spot.

where were you taking your hot spot temperature readings before? above the substrate?

EDIT: here's a diagram that shows the standard way to set up a UTH, thermostat and probe thermometer:

[ckuhn003]

i would move the probe over the hot spot below the substrate as you will always need to know this temperature. in all my enclosure i use one probed thermometer/hygrometer for the hot spot and one stand-alone thermometer/hygrometer for the cool side. you need to be measuring the hottest temperature your snake can touch, which would be below the substrate over the hot spot.

where were you taking your hot spot temperature readings before? above the substrate?

EDIT: here's a diagram that shows the standard way to set up a UTH, thermostat and probe thermometer:

Great information as always. Wondering if you could reduce the need for two thermometer / hygrometer units and just get something like this:

https://www.acurite.com/digital-indo...r-00891a2.html

This way you could measure the hot side surface temp w/ your probe and sit the unit on the cool side to read both your ambients and humidity.

[tttaylorrr]

Great information as always. Wondering if you could reduce the need for two thermometer / hygrometer units and just get something like this:

https://www.acurite.com/digital-indo...r-00891a2.html

This way you could measure the hot side surface temp w/ your probe and sit the unit on the cool side to read both your ambients and humidity.

you're totally right! 2 is kind of over-kill, but for me, i like having more than one reading from different sources. it eases my anxiety.