New to Ball pythons trying to make the perfect home before he/she comes home :)

I'm setting up a 36x18x12” glass tank for my first BP. I have been running it for 3 days warm side air temp is 85f in the warm side hide it is 90f I'm using a UTH on the warm side without a thermostat I have a large piece of slate that is about an inch thick so he/she will not be able to come in contact with the glass. the temp of the slate holds at 90, I also have a 100 watt CHE over the hot end. The cool side hide seems to be 80 with an air temp of 78 I know that is a bit cold. I just wanted to ask what I should do to raise the cool side temp a bit an UTH with thermostat or a moonlight bulb? also this is my first post and I have to say this is a very nice site to gather information :)

Raising the overall room temperature a few degrees should do the trick. :)

Thanks,

RJ

What kind of thermometers are you using? If you are using digital thermometers with a probe or a laser thermometer then you are good to go, if not, I would look into getting some so you can get the most accurate temp readings.

I would also HIGHLY recommend getting a thermostat for that UTH. It is a very common problem on this forum where people come with pictures of burned snake bellies from an unregulated heat source. Take the precaution and get a thermostat. Avoid all the costly vet bills a belly burn would bring!

Also, ambient air temp of 78 is perfectly fine as long as you are providing an adequate hot spot. I usually keep my house around 75* and all my snakies are just fine.

Kaorte I'm using two types 1 digital with probe for the slate in the hot hide and 2 gauge types to measure are temps hot/cold. thanks for the warning on the UTH Ill head out to get a thermostat asap. that will also free up the stone for another rubbing post :) as for digital thermometers could you recommend one with 2 probes?

I don't think there are many out there with 2 probes. I know pet stores usually carry the simple black digital probed thermometer. If you head to home depot or lowes you might be able to find an indoor outdoor thermometer that has a probe. I have a bunch of those that I use.

Those gauge thermometers are next to useless.

The important reading is the hot spot one. Your probe should be right on the glass where the UTH is under the substrate. You want to measure the hottest point in the cage that the snake can reach, that way you know for sure that he can't be burned :)

I think your ambient air temp is fine, as long as there's a nice warm spot for your snake. Definitely get a thermostat ASAP, and like Kaorte said, those temp gauges are pretty much garbage. I believe lowes is were I got my thermometer with probe, but I could have sworn I saw one a Walmart too.

Good luck and make sure you take pics for us when you get your new baby :D

I bury my probes so they are touching the glass, for the reason Kaorte mentioned.

How is your humidity holding up?

Oh and welcome to bp.net!!!!!

I have this one linked to me all the time:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Accurite-Dig...#ht_1829wt_952

Good luck and post pics when you can! :)

Thanks,

RJ

my humidity has been at 55% for 3 days w/o misting. 55-60 is okay till they start to shed then your looking for 65-70 is that right? so I was looking into thermostats and I found the Zoo Med ReptiTemp 500R has anyone used them in the past or using them now? also Im thinking of getting two UTH 1 for the cool side the UTH on the hot side set at 90 and the cooler at 80 what are your thoughts on this, is it over kill? as for pic's I have 4 babbies im looking at I get to feed them on thursday make sure they all eat b4 I decide then Ill prob bring one home mon or tue then the pics will start flowing :) and I will be going to lowes to get the right thermometers the others are dead to me now :P should have joined and asked b4 I got them.