Does anybody not use a hot spot?

Well long story short I was talking to my government professor today turns out he's a big ball python breeder in our area. We started talking and he told me he never used heat tape to provide a hot spot for all of his snakes, (he has about 80+). He just keeps the room at a constant 82 degrees. He's bred snakes for 8 years and he says he never had any issues. What do you think of this?

I don't doubt it...

I know plenty of breeders that have rooms that are just temp to a certain temp all day everyday


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I only use a hot spot a few month of the year, most of the year I only use ambient temp.

It can be done however I would not recommend it to a first time snake owner that has no experience.

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Originally Posted by Deborah

I only use a hot spot a few month of the year, most of the year I only use ambient temp.

It can be done however I would not recommend it to a first time snake owner that has no experience.

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Same here

I'm certainly no expert, but from what I've gathered, being ectothermic snakes need to be able to vary their body temperature to suit their needs, so to speak. If a room is kept at a steady ambient temperature, I'm curious how the snake is supposed to regulate it's body temp as needed if it's only able to be in one constant ambient temperature no matter where it goes...??

Maybe this is a ridiculously, naive question, maybe not, but my snakes, all of them, use both sides of their gradient heated enclosure. My room stays 70+, because I keep my door shut which holds in most of the heat from their heating elements. Then they all have UTH's, one an infared bulb to help with the ambient temp, and another a similar heat emitter bulb for his ambient temp also. I do know many people use the heating of the room in which they keep their snakes heated to a steady temp as their means of a heat source. But for example, what if you have different species requiring different temps? And again perhaps another silly question, but where would the snake go if it wanted to escape that warm of temp??? I've wondered these things for awhile, would love to be more knowledgeable on the subject=p Thanks!

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Originally Posted by Deborah

It can be done however I would not recommend it to a first time snake owner that has no experience.

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Why so? Is there any different care for when you only keep a constant ambient temperature?

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Originally Posted by Trackstrong83

Why so? Is there any different care for when you only keep a constant ambient temperature?

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Why? Because I can and it is the most efficient way to do it in the current snake room.

During the winter I maintain an ambient temps of 76/78 in the room with a oil filled heater and provide a hot spot, when temps start warming up the snake room naturally gets to 84/86 degrees (the room is located right under the roof), I could use the AC get the ambient temps to 76/78 and provide a hot spot but I found it counter productive and energy inefficient when all I have to do is simply take advantage of the room temp as it is. The care is the same their core temps is about 85 which is warm enough to facilitate digestion.

Now for someone who gets started I highly recommend to start of with optimal temps and gradient of 78/80 and 88/90, once they become experienced, feel comfortable enough and know their animals I would encourage them to find what works for them and their animals. (There are many successful way to keep those animals)

I too know a number whom do this that said I don't know any that use 82º most I know of use a warmer temp than this. I too would second Deborahs comments and add that a know accurate thermometer should be included and given the price of accurate (slippery term I mean less than one degree error) and traceable to insure it is within that range. Sadly this is often a higher cost than most are willing/able to spend. The breeders I know of whom just use ambient temps have very good regulation and thermometers to insure the temps they use are constant and accurate.

I question the hot spot myself sometimes cause my temps are pretty spot on and the only time my snake goes in his hot side hide is when he is in shed. He actually doesn't use the 2 identical hides I got from reptile basics. He uses a flat piece of cork bark 98% of the time which is at the coolest part of his cage. If fact, He digesting 2 rats he ate last night and is at the coolest part of the cage.