Heat Lamp Question

[Blam18]

Hi guys!
First post here! Get ready for newbie questions. LOL (*disclaimer – yes, I have searched thru existing posts before posting, but I may have missed this question already being asked, so please forgive me if I missed it. J)

We just got my daughter her first BP on Sunday. He’s a nice pretty and simple Fire BP. I forgot to ask his age, but he’s quite small and according to how many times he’d fed on his container at the reptile store, and what I’ve read online, I’m guessing maybe 2 months at most. We have him in a 10 gallon glass tank right now with a couple hides, hot/cool sides, and all that good stuff. I am having a hard time keeping the cool side warm enough, tho. It’s pretty consistently staying around only 74-75 degrees. I have a heat lamp on the warm side and that’s been great keeping it around 89-90 degrees. So, one would think that he’d be staying on that end. Nope. He’s staying on the cool end. We have a paper towel roll that goes across the middle of the tank and that’s his favorite spot, but on the cooler side of the tank. I know BP’s are nocturnal so I bought the red heat lamp so he’s not being completely blinded 24 hrs…is it possible that the red lamp is still too bright and that’s why he’s staying away from that side? I don’t want him to get sick from being consistently too cold.

Thanks!

[Craiga 01453]

Hi guys!
First post here! Get ready for newbie questions. LOL (*disclaimer – yes, I have searched thru existing posts before posting, but I may have missed this question already being asked, so please forgive me if I missed it. J)

We just got my daughter her first BP on Sunday. He’s a nice pretty and simple Fire BP. I forgot to ask his age, but he’s quite small and according to how many times he’d fed on his container at the reptile store, and what I’ve read online, I’m guessing maybe 2 months at most. We have him in a 10 gallon glass tank right now with a couple hides, hot/cool sides, and all that good stuff. I am having a hard time keeping the cool side warm enough, tho. It’s pretty consistently staying around only 74-75 degrees. I have a heat lamp on the warm side and that’s been great keeping it around 89-90 degrees. So, one would think that he’d be staying on that end. Nope. He’s staying on the cool end. We have a paper towel roll that goes across the middle of the tank and that’s his favorite spot, but on the cooler side of the tank. I know BP’s are nocturnal so I bought the red heat lamp so he’s not being completely blinded 24 hrs…is it possible that the red lamp is still too bright and that’s why he’s staying away from that side? I don’t want him to get sick from being consistently too cold.

Thanks!

First off, welcome to the forum and the wonderful world of snake keeping!!

Is the heat lamp yoyr only heat source? Is it regulated by a thermostat?
Where is it positioned on the enclosure?

[Blam18]

Yes, the heat lamp is the only heat source right now. I was going to get a UTH but without a thermostat I didn't want to risk it getting too hot, and since I've been able to keep that side at 89-90 I wasn't overly worried about it.

I have a simple thermometer sitting on the bottom of the hot side and we have a digital one on the cool end. Do not have a thermostat yet so I'm monitoring it closely. It's been staying pretty consistent. The heat lamp sits on top of the right side of the tank. With trial and error I've found just the right position/height above the lid to get the correct 89-90 on that side. I tried moving it more towards the middle to try and get some of the heat on the other side, but doesn't seem to be working. We have a screen top and I've put foil and a towel over the cool side to try and trap some heat & humidity.

[Craiga 01453]

Yes, the heat lamp is the only heat source right now. I was going to get a UTH but without a thermostat I didn't want to risk it getting too hot, and since I've been able to keep that side at 89-90 I wasn't overly worried about it.

I have a simple thermometer sitting on the bottom of the hot side and we have a digital one on the cool end. Do not have a thermostat yet so I'm monitoring it closely. It's been staying pretty consistent. The heat lamp sits on top of the right side of the tank. With trial and error I've found just the right position/height above the lid to get the correct 89-90 on that side. I tried moving it more towards the middle to try and get some of the heat on the other side, but doesn't seem to be working. We have a screen top and I've put foil and a towel over the cool side to try and trap some heat & humidity.

Ok, good idea holding off on a UTH til you get a tstat. I would strongly advise getting one for your heat lamp too. Heat spikes happen and can turn fatal quickly.
I would get a tstat asap.

Once you have one you can almost set it and forget it. It does the work for you. Then all you have to do is monitor it to make sure it's functioning properly. But it takes all the guess work out as well as provides critical safety for your pet.

I also use foam board insulation to wrap the back and sides as well as top of my glass enclosures. It helps immensely with heat and humidity control as well as improves efficiency of my heating equipment saving me money on my electric bill.

[Blam18]

Oh, yes, we have corrugated cardboard on 3 sides, also.

Do you think the red heat lamp is still too bright for him? Should I get a ceramic instead?

[JRLongton]

My bet is that once you get the Tstat on that bulb, you'll be able to dial in the temps on both the warm and cool side pretty well.

My balls all love those paper towel rolls, at least until they outgrow them!

Sounds like your well on your way down the correct path. Enjoy the little noodle!

[Craiga 01453]

Oh, yes, we have corrugated cardboard on 3 sides, also.

Do you think the red heat lamp is still too bright for him? Should I get a ceramic instead?

I've never used red, and the reason is actually pretty silly. I'm superstitious against red (no clue why, but red and the number 5 are the worst, hahahaha). I've used the dark purple ones for years and have never noticed any negative effects.

Great job covering the 3 sides. BPs appreciate the privacy and security. In my experience, cardboard didn't help at all with the temp though, so I decided to go with the insulation board and am happy I did.

[Cheesenugget]

You can go UTH plus t-stat + 50 watts or less bulb placed about midway to get a warmer ambient and cool side. I think CHE would be an overkill for a 10 gallon. Dries everything right up. But can be doable with a t-stat on that plus covering the top partially keep humidity in. The bulb may have to be infrared for night time. Some say the snakes can see it but others not so. I can't comment on that even though I have them, I never had the chance to try them out.

Or use 2 UTH separately with a t-stat for both. No light bulb. I would prefer this option more if you don't mind the hassle.

Or you can move the tank to the warmest room in your house where it would be around 80F the lowest day in and day out. Cool end prob solved. Only need to warm up the hot end.

Imo i would drop your heat temp down to no higher than 88F. 86F-88F works well. When I had mine at the same temps as you, he also stayed away from the hot side. After I made the changes, he is almost always found by the hot side.

Lastly, identical hides that HUGS your snake on all sides are best. I prefer the ones Deborah recommended for babies: a 6 inch plastic flowerpot dish. Cut a hole and all of my snake babies (including the bp) love their 6 inch hides.

[Blam18]

Is there such a thing as a thermostat with two sensors to monitor/control two heat sources, like a heat lamp and a UTH? I've been looking on Amazon and can't find anything. There are some with two plug ins, but they still only appear to sense one temp?

[Craiga 01453]

Is there such a thing as a thermostat with two sensors to monitor/control two heat sources, like a heat lamp and a UTH? I've been looking on Amazon and can't find anything. There are some with two plug ins, but they still only appear to sense one temp?

Herpstats. Check out reptile basics.