optimal UTH temperature

Hello,

If a tank which houses a ball python can only be 1 temperature, and not a hot side and cold side - what temperature should it be?

I'd say about 87-88*. But I wouldn't really recommend it...

When I see the videos of large breeders they keep the adult females in small tibs on racks. how can a tub that small contain a cold and hot side? The ambient temperature must be prettymuch the same on both sides of such a small tub. No?

They have back or belly heat. They use a strip flexwatt heat tape kept at ~90 and the room is kept at a stable temperature to control the rest of the tub. Sure it radiates, but not so much that it's 90* throughout the whole tub. It might bump the cool end up a few degrees, so if the room is say 80* the cool end is probably about 82*. They need to thermo-regulate, and no one knows that better than the big breeders.

My tubs have a heat pad which is kept at 89-90* all the time, the cool side stays at 75 because that's the temp of the room and thats how they like it.

my tubs have an ambient temp of 80 and the UTH is set for 92-93.

ok, so i have taken everyones advise and i'll use the thinner flexwatt on one end, and hopefully that'll help to keep the other end cool.