Surface(bottom) temp.

How hot is too hot for the surface (meaning bottom of the enclosure) temp.?

Also, for some reason, I'm now having a hell of a time getting the temps right in both enclosures. Sophie is in a ten gallon glass tank (this will change to a 50qt. rubbermaid this weekend), Mark's BP is in a 50 qt. rubbermaid (we will be buying a 90 qt. this weekend). I can't get the temps. in either to go over 80/85 degrees on the hot side (low sides stay between 75 and 80, so those need to be higher as well). I'm using a heating pad in both (the $10 one from Walmart)....HELP!!

Sounds like you need to incorporate a light with the heating pads (if you don't already have one in place, of course).
I have a 100w infrared on a dimmer switch over the heat pad side left on 24/7. It stays on all the time and keeps the ambient air temp of the hot side about 88-90 (belly heat from pad is set to 92......but it fluctuates from 88 to 92 as the day progresses and he moves cooler parts of his body on it to heat up) and the air temp on the cool side stays around 78-82 (day and night fluctuations).
Unfortunately, those darn bulbs will wreak havoc on humidity control, so I've got a humidifier from the DIY section running to help with that.
Good luck, hope this helps you out......


Oh, and how hot is too hot? I hear that you don't want it more than 93 or 94.

I have a light for Soph's enclosure, but I haven't been using it lately, guess I'll be putting it back on. We've got one of the humidifiers from the DIY, we need to make another one for the new guy though. I only have to run it in Soph's house for 20 minutes and the humidity stays right (even w/the light) for 24-34hrs. I pretty much figured we'd need a light source for the rubbermaid...thanks for the advice.

Caren, what air pump do you use for the DIY humidifier?

I bought a small one from Walmart for around $6 (for up to 15 gallon tanks).

Indeed - surface temp should never exceed 95. Measure it directly, especially if there is any way the snake can come into diret contact with the heated surface. Normally with UTH to get decent ambient temps while using thick substrate you'd be alarmed and shocked how hot the bottom of the enclosure can get.