Too Hot-Too Cold-Just Right?

[Ed Chisholm]

I have made changes and adjustments to my BP's habitat, and I hope I have it right. My main concern is the "cold" side being too cold. I have the hot side dialed in. Humidity is just right. She seems very happy and is feeding very well. The cold side is at 70 degrees, just two degrees hotter than the temperature of the room. In a couple of weeks the Texas Spring will be raising the temperature of the house, and I know as the room temperature goes up to around 78 degrees (we keep the house around 78 - 80 degrees in the summer) the "cold" side will respond by being in the 80 degree range. So do I buy another heater and thermometer for the cold side for the winter months, or leave it be since she is behaving as if she is not stressed?

[frankykeno]

Stress can be cumlative, Ed, and not show in these snakes immediately. 70 degrees is considered too low so I'd recommend you address this by adding another heat source dialled in low enough to raise that temp to 80 degrees. You want about a 10 degree difference from cool to warm side to allow your snake to properly thermoregulate which they need to do for digestion and good health.

[BeastMaster]

70 degrees is a little chilly for a BP. Try getting a cheap electric fan heater on clearance for like $5-10 from Rite-Aid or Walmart or maybe even hit a few flea markets. You might also want to try insulating the bottom of your tank and maybe even the back and sides too. This will help to create a more even temperature gradient and will help eliminate hot / cold spots. Aluminum foil or a trip to Home Depot or Lowes might help with this task.

From what I have gathered, 92 deg belly heat hot side, 80-82 deg belly heat cold side, 85 deg ambient and 50 -60% humidity are the #'s that you want to try to attain. Good luck and don't forget to be creative

[Ed Chisholm]

Okay, I am on it!!! My probe for the Accu-Rite is on the hot side, under substrate. The temp reading on the cold side is from the Accu-Rite sitting 1/4 - 1/2" above the substrate. That being said, my thermo-gun verifies that the floor temperature on cold side under substrate is exactly the same as the accu-rite is reporting. I have insulated the bottom of the cold side with 1/2 hardwood. My train of thought here is that I need another UTH and thermostat controller. I can mount it on the side of the enclosure on the cold end. Mount the thermostat probe on the floor inside cold side hide. Adjust to consistent 80 degrees.

[Ed Chisholm]

Off to the store for more supplies. I really do appreciate all your help with my BP.

[dr del]

Hi,

Just to say you want the thermostat probes outside of the enclosure if you can to prevent the snake messing with it.

Most people tape it to the UTH between it and the bottom of the tank, put a thermometer probe inside the tank and adjust the thermostat until it gives the right reading on the thermometer.

Does that make sense?


dr del

[Ed Chisholm]

Yes, makes sense, but too late.... My enclosure is fairly unique, it is PVC and not glass. Therefore I am able to modify and mount things easily. I cut a hole in the side and installed a vent that I can control the ventilation, which has gotten my humidity perfect (50 - 55% depnding on house humidity). I mounted both UTH probes and both thermomter probes on the bottom of the inside of tank, under the substrate. Now I have a hot side hide that stays between 88 - 92 degrees, and a cold side hide that stays between 78 - 82 degrees. I sure hope this is all okay, I spent a lot of time and money tuning this enclosure in, and I want the best for my BP.