Can't create a proper heat gradient

Hello,
I'm planning on getting my first ball python very soon, the only problem I have been having is with heat. I have a 12 by 24 inch piece of heat tape hooked up to a thermostat on one side of my cage (which is 4x2). The heat on the hot side directly over the heat tape is fine but as soon as I measure the temperature past it with my temp gun, it falls to the low 70s and high 60s, which is far too cold for my ball python. All the care guides I have read have said that just having the UTH on one side will be enough to create a proper gradient.

Thank you

A uth does very little for the air temps and it only heats the area it is covering. With surface temps in the 60s it seems like you may need to add another heat source.


Is this a glass tank?

It's a PVC enclosure, I've got a space heater in my room to raise ambient temperature but the problem is the ground temperature being too cold. The UTH does not seem to affect the rest of the cages floor at all.

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Originally Posted by DXter

It's a PVC enclosure, I've got a space heater in my room to raise ambient temperature but the problem is the ground temperature being too cold. The UTH does not seem to affect the rest of the cages floor at all.

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It shouldn't. They heat the are just above them and since they are controlled and not pumping a lot of heat they do not heat the entire cage floor.

I have seen some people with cold surface temps use a uth on each side of their cage. One running as a hotspot at 88-90 and the other running just to keep the temps good around 80.

Another thing that may help is changing what the cage is resting on. As in, if the cage is resting on a cold tile floor moving it to a wooden dresser or table may help raise the surface temps. Also maybe placing a piece or cardboard or other like material under the cage can help insulate the cage floor to keep the cold air in the room from cooling the cage by cooling in the gap.

Thanks for the advice! I'll try that insulating idea and see how that fares and then if not I'll get another UTH.

Thanks again.

I would try a radiant heat panel. I have one in my 4*2 wood cage. Keeps it nice and warm. I don't bother with heat tape once you hit that size enclosure. Also i find the heat doesn't penetrate the pvc too well.

If the ambient in the room is low then heat tape for a hot spot + an RHP to help bump up the air ambient may be the way to go. I have both in a arboreal setup in my office because that room runs a lot cooler than my snake room.

With the RHP, you can most likely ditch the space heater too (assuming the only reason you're using it is for the snake). My basement runs in the high 60s, but i have 88W RHP in my T8 cages as the only heat source. Heats ground and air just fine.


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Originally Posted by BPGator

With the RHP, you can most likely ditch the space heater too (assuming the only reason you're using it is for the snake). My basement runs in the high 60s, but i have 88W RHP in my T8 cages as the only heat source. Heats ground and air just fine.


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What do your warm and cool sides read? I woke up today and it was 67 in my apt and my two T8s with 65watt pro heat panels had acurites reading at 96warm 72cool for the top cage and 88warm and 73cool bottom cage. Not thrilled with the extreme temp range in the BP cage up top. If I set the bottom panel any lower the retic will be a bit cooler than is ideal but I worry I'm getting the BP too warm on the warm side. I have a 1/2"-3/4" gap between the two cages that takes care of some of the heat transference.


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Originally Posted by jmcrook

What do your warm and cool sides read? I woke up today and it was 67 in my apt and my two T8s with 65watt pro heat panels had acurites reading at 96warm 72cool for the top cage and 88warm and 73cool bottom cage. Not thrilled with the extreme temp range in the BP cage up top. If I set the bottom panel any lower the retic will be a bit cooler than is ideal but I worry I'm getting the BP too warm on the warm side. I have a 1/2"-3/4" gap between the two cages that takes care of some of the heat transference.


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I am still working on insulating my top cage from the lower one. I get a similar problem from the RHP on the lower cage heating the floor of the top cage. I put a piece of foam between them recently - I'll let you mow how that works.


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