Stupid husbandry question

Sorry for such a dumb question but.... When we talk about basking temps, would that be the temp coming from the UTH? Or would that be the air temp of the hot side of the tank? In other words would basking temp be measured as the temp of the floor of the hot side or the air?

Basking temps would generally be referred to when talking about lizards or basking snakes, and is generally heat provided from above. Ball Pythons are not basking snakes, so there is no need for a basking spot. They just need a warm side and a cool side so they can move around to find the temperature they want and need.

Generally you are referring to the surface temperature of the basking spot, or hot spot. You want to measure the surface that the reptile comes in contact with, not the heat pad itself, or the bulb itself. The actual temp that the animal has access to.

"Basking" is typically used for lizard species, while "hot spot" is more commonly used for snake species. There is no hard and strict rule to that, and no painful punishmnent.

Best to measure the surface temp with a temp gun. A digital thermometer measures air temp, and even a quarter of an inch above the actual surface, air temps can be 30 degrees less than the actual surface temp (as in a basking spot for a lizard species).

We start with a target hot spot temp of 130F for lizard species and 92F for boa and python species, measured with a PE Temp Gun, then adjust it up or down accordingly.

Digital thermometers (or less accurately- dial thermos, and completely worthless- color changing strips) measure air temps, and are great for measuring ambient temps of the cage.

And not a dumb question at all : )

Temps are a commonly misunderstood aspect of reptile husbandry.

+1 to both :D