reptile room questions

hey guys im setting my reptile room this week, just a few questions. i will be doing a rack system, is belly heat recommended for every ball python size? meaning should i use the tape in very rack from hatchling to adult? what temp should i set my heat tape to? also as far as ambient temp, i live in Florida so in the summer it gets hot but some days during the winter it gets pretty cold, i use a programmable ceramic heater to keep my room at 81 all day, is this acceptable? and what can i do to keep my humidity at a right percentage for them?

Thanks!

Belly heat is not necessary however when provided it is the most efficient source of heat compare to back heat since heat travels up.

A hot spot of 88-92 is what you are shooting for with adults (your t-stat setup is something YOU will have to figure out)

Hatchling I recommend 86/88 as a hot spot.

To me 81 as ambient temp is a bit overkill but it is your electricity bill, I keep my room heated during the winter between 76 and 78.

Deborah is 100% correct if you are going to run heat tape. I am just adding a bit here because I am in South Florida. You said you are already set at 81. If you were to bump that up to 84 (with a reliable thermostat) you would not have to use heat tape at all and rely on ambient only. For most of the year I actually have to be more concerned about too hot. For the months I do have to heat my snake room I use an oil filled heater controlled by a thermostat. I am guessing this adds around $20 a month to my electric bill. For only a couple animals it is going to be cheaper to use the heat tape monthly billing wise.

ok so keeping my room at 78 and running heat tape should be pretty successful in your opinion?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by jlcalero

ok so keeping my room at 78 and running heat tape should be pretty successful in your opinion?

---

Should be fine

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by jlcalero

ok so keeping my room at 78 and running heat tape should be pretty successful in your opinion?

---

Yes.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Deborah

Belly heat is not necessary however when provided it is the most efficient source of heat compare to back heat since heat travels up.

A hot spot of 88-92 is what you are shooting for with adults (your t-stat setup is something YOU will have to figure out)

Hatchling I recommend 86/88 as a hot spot.

To me 81 as ambient temp is a bit overkill but it is your electricity bill, I keep my room heated during the winter between 76 and 78.

---

I'm not a huge royal guy as we only have my son's here but I like what Deb posts. If you are new, look up her trip to Africa as there are pictures and personal accounts of the experience. Very few herpers actually get to experience the wild environment of the animals they keep.

I'm a bit A-D-D right now so I apologize for not offering my advice, however anything Deb posts has some real merit behind it and should be taken into consideration.

None of this is rocket science and there are certainly different way to do things.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Gio

I'm not a huge royal guy as we only have my son's here but I like what Deb posts. If you are new, look up her trip to Africa as there are pictures and personal accounts of the experience. Very few herpers actually get to experience the wild environment of the animals they keep.

---

Where can I find this?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Gio

I'm not a huge royal guy as we only have my son's here but I like what Deb posts. If you are new, look up her trip to Africa as there are pictures and personal accounts of the experience. Very few herpers actually get to experience the wild environment of the animals they keep.

I'm a bit A-D-D right now so I apologize for not offering my advice, however anything Deb posts has some real merit behind it and should be taken into consideration.

None of this is rocket science and there are certainly different way to do things.

---

Apologies Deb,

I had you mixed up with JLC when I was thinking of that trip.


Here is the link to the trip for the person who was interested.

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/show...ht=trip+africa


BUT Deb knows her stuff too!!!