Ball Python tempature

Hey. My girl Athena just ate yesterday and I'm sort of confused. So for the last few days it jas come to my attention that her hotspot feels warm, not hot. The thermometer reads 95-97, but when i touch her hotspot it doesn't feel that hot. I am using an UTH and I have had my snake for like a week. Yesterday was her first time eating while in my care. I use a tub setup and paper towels as substrate. Sorry for all the questions lately. She is my first snake. Thank you in advance.

Your body temperature is 98 so of course 95 to 97 is not that hot to YOU however it is to hot for a BP, your max should be 92 even that is overfilled (leaving very little margin if there are fluctuations), 88/90 is really ideal.

Hopefully you have a thermostat, and the right thermometer in other words digital thermometer taking your reading off the floor on the warm side.

Are you using a thermostat to regulate your uth because 95+ is way too hot. It shouldn't be higher than 92.

The heat pad won't feel very hot to us because we are warm blooded, and our natural body temp is around 96, so if you think about it, what is cool to us will be warm/hot to snakes.

Edit: (Deborah you beat me to it! Lol)
Listen to Deborah

I thought it had to be around 95. I do have a thermostat and a digital thermometer. I will change the tempature setting rightnow. I was also thinking that it was just my body temp, but i wanted to make sure.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Hector108

I thought it had to be around 95. I do have a thermostat and a digital thermometer. I will change the tempature setting rightnow. I was also thinking that it was just my body temp, but i wanted to make sure.

---

No harm done , we are all still learning every day ... Nobody knows it all :)

I wonder if other people have any problem with regulating the temperature using a UTH pad with thermostats and Repti Chips as the substrate. I get different readings Laser thermometer ranging from 80 to 92 degrees over the heat pads in goth setups and if I take it of the glass it is 108 degrees. the depth of and size of the substrate chips makes a big difference, I was wondering if I use a reptile mat under hide area with out any substrate it would be better for more consistent temperature?

95 is the maximum temperature you would want to see.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by redcharger

I wonder if other people have any problem with regulating the temperature using a UTH pad with thermostats and Repti Chips as the substrate. I get different readings Laser thermometer ranging from 80 to 92 degrees over the heat pads in goth setups and if I take it of the glass it is 108 degrees. the depth of and size of the substrate chips makes a big difference, I was wondering if I use a reptile mat under hide area with out any substrate it would be better for more consistent temperature?

---

That's because you need to monitor the hottest surface your animal can touch...... UNDER THE SUBSTRATE.

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h1...psqcouxfgn.jpg

Thank you for your response!
I have the probes on the glass now and if I set the temp. to 90 degrees on the glass and then put coconut chips substrate 1" to 1.5" inches deep the temperature on top of the of that surface is 78 to 80 degrees and that's not warm enough. I have to use the temperature calibration setting of 13 degrees calibrate to run temp. 90 degrees on top of the substrate.(that is not consistent either) I also have a infrared heat lamp at the other end of the tank to warm the air temp. up to the low to mid 80"s What does everybody think about using a heat lamps for Snakes?

You snake can and will burrow though you are using way too much substrate too.
At your settings IF you snake burrows now its a guaranteed burn. I already have dealt with several rescues from people that "didnt know" or for a better term......ignorant.