Is my ambient temperature to low ? If so what can I do?

The ambient temperature in my bedroom (where my animals have to be kept) is normally around 75, with the temperature range in the tubs going from 74-80 as it gets closer to the hotspot. Is this to low ? If so how can I make the tubs retain more heat ?


I'm using a PVC rack with the korean heat tape(KTG or something I forget) on a herpstat, with a 90 degree hotspot. I like having my room be cold, but for their sake I have it around 75, is this a happy medium ? I'd rather it be around 65 but that's obviously not good for them.

What you've done is a pretty good happy medium. I wouldn't go any lower than 75 for ambient temps. In a rack system you can't really make the tubs retain more heat without increasing room temp (space heater, house thermostat, etc).

Okay thanks. I've gone ahead and opened the vent up, that should give them a few more degrees also. I've been considering a space heater, if I kept it right next to the rack it probably wouldn't bother me that much.

Another option - that will be an added cost - is to have a second heat source. For example, I have PVC enclosures stacked and different species of critters in them that all require different temps. For my ball python, I have two UTHes with thermostats covering the bottom of the vive. One that covers just over half the vive is set in the low 80s, whereas the hot spot is set to around 90F. This does just enough for the ambients to keep them a few degrees warmer than the room, but allows the BP a gradient still.

Just one option, if you feel you really need your room slightly cooler!

I ran some heat cable on the sides of my tubs. And it helped keep me up in the 76 to 79 and my room stays about 68. Then agian i have my racks in the closet.

I've thought about this - I'm strongly considering it, I have a free herpstat probe(for now) and would only have to cut slits for the extra tape. Thanks !

Are you able to weave it through without needing to slit the PVC ?