Trouble on the cool side

I've spent the past couple of days trying to get my temps dialed in before my snake arrives Tuesday and I'm having trouble keeping the cool side in the low 80s during the day. My current setup is a 36x23x14 pro-line cage from Constrictors Northwest and a 55 watt Pro-Products RHP on a Hydrofarm thermostat (upgrading in the near future). I'm also using the AcuRite thermometer. The thermometer body sits on the cool side and the thermometer and thermostat probes are hanging 3/4 of the way down the wall closest to the RHP. With the thermostat set to 90°, the warm side fluctuates between 88 and 90 day and night. During the day the cool side stays around 86 and drops to 83 late at night. The ambient room temperatures are 75 late at night and 78-82 during the day. The humidity in the enclosure stays between 55% and 60% constantly. I don't currently have a temp gun, but I can order one via Amazon and have it here in two days. Any recommendations?

Here are my current readings
Warm side: 90
Cool side: 87
Humidity: 57%
Room: 80

Should I add a couple of vent holes on the cool side? If so, where? Top, bottom, middle, etc. This will be my first snake and I want to have everything as close to perfect as possible before he gets here, so any help would be greatly appreciated.

Everything sounds great so far, so well done :)

I would add some ventilation to the set up, near the top to let the warmer air flow out. You may have to mist your viv as the humidity may go a little below desired, but that might not even happen! Hope it goes well for ya!

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Originally Posted by George1994

Everything sounds great so far, so well done :)

I would add some ventilation to the set up, near the top to let the warmer air flow out. You may have to mist your viv as the humidity may go a little below desired, but that might not even happen! Hope it goes well for ya!

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Thanks! I did months of research, mostly on this forum, before ordering any supplies. Now it's all done and I'm really excited for Tuesday.

Which side do I add the holes to? Cool, warm, both? It stays pretty humid here this time of the year and I run a humidifier all winter, so that shouldn't be a problem.

It is nice to see, I was the same before I got mine! I still look up information all the time regarding reptiles :)

Id them to both, that should allow some airflow. Remember, you can always add more holes, it will be difficult to plug holes though. So take it slow until you reach a good temp!

Your terrarium is way too hot.

Your ambient temp in the enclosure should be 78-82. If you want to create a hot spot for your BP, you should do it with heat tape. Most breeders however have been very successful in just keeping the ambient temps at the suggested temperature without providing a hot spot.

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Originally Posted by Mr. Misha

Your terrarium is way too hot.

Your ambient temp in the enclosure should be 78-82. If you want to create a hot spot for your BP, you should do it with heat tape. Most breeders however have been very successful in just keeping the ambient temps at the suggested temperature without providing a hot spot.

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Okay. I was under the impression that I needed a temperature gradient, which is what I was aiming to provide. So would you suggest that I skip the ventilation holes and lower the thermostat to try and get the whole enclosure in the lower 80° range instead of having a warm/cool side?

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Originally Posted by callie

Okay. I was under the impression that I needed a temperature gradient, which is what I was aiming to provide. So would you suggest that I skip the ventilation holes and lower the thermostat to try and get the whole enclosure in the lower 80° range instead of having a warm/cool side?

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You should have a temp gradient. Allowing the snake to thermoregulate is natural. Vent holes will lower your ambient temps. That is what I was assuming you meant to be honest.

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/07/21/zumy2uqu.jpg

Aim for this as your ambient, with a warm side of 32c/90f

How are you heating the viv? A heat mat shouldnt heat the air that much...

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Originally Posted by callie

Okay. I was under the impression that I needed a temperature gradient, which is what I was aiming to provide. So would you suggest that I skip the ventilation holes and lower the thermostat to try and get the whole enclosure in the lower 80° range instead of having a warm/cool side?

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I'd definitely suggest to lower the temp for right now. If you want to create a temp gradient, you can buy a peice of heat tape (reptilebasics.com even connects it for you)and put it under a third or half of your enclosure (regulated with a thermostat) and that will create a temp gradient for your enclosure.

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Originally Posted by Mr. Misha

I'd definitely suggest to lower the temp for right now. If you want to create a temp gradient, you can buy a peice of heat tape (reptilebasics.com even connects it for you)and put it under a third or half of your enclosure (regulated with a thermostat) and that will create a temp gradient for your enclosure.

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In accordance with this, purchace a infrared heat gun and find out the temps of the heat tape you are using. Make sure your thermostat isnt faulty.