Defining and measuring ambient temperature

Forgive this question if it has been asked before but I saw nothing definitive in a thread search:

What, specifically, is meant when the term "ambient temperature" is used. I do know that it is a measure of the air temperature but, used here, is it the temperature of the room in which the reptile enclosure sits? Or, is it a temperature found inside the reptile enclosure?

If it is the latter, how then, specifically, is it measured? Is it some balance, some percentage, or some mix of the hot side and cool side temps? Or, is it found some other way? If there is some simple equation used to garner it, I would greatly appreciate someone passing it on.

I'm trying to take care of these two critters (ball pythons) that I "inherited" and want to make sure that my efforts are helping them and not hurting them. Thanks for your help.

<><Marc

ambient temperatures are the temperature of the air within the enclosure.

for me: i have a digital thermometer that i place in the middle of the enclosure and use that to gauge my ambient temperatures. i (as well as my snakes) move them around sometimes so i can get a better idea of the overall temp.

depending on how you heat the enclosure can change how you should be measuring your ambient temps. if you're using a single lamp (either bulb or CHE (ceramic heat emitter (i prefer CHEs))), you measure the ambient temp directly under the lamp and adjust the thermostat/rheostat as needed. with two lamps you need to be measuring both using the same method as with one. for a RHP (radiant heat panel) a thermostat probe will measure the air in the enclosure and the thermostat will regulate the power as needed.

did this help? lmk if you have more questions!

My definition...

Hot side == temp of floor on hot side.
Cool side == temp of floor on cool side.

Ambient == Air temp of enclosure, which also often is the same as room temp
Ambient Only == room temp

Ball pythons only need under tank heat so the ambient temp is the air in the tank. We use a laser reader but we also have 18 and use tubs and have a humidity and temperature controlled room

Sent from my LG-H831 using Tapatalk

The larger snake (35") is in a 40 gallon breeder terrarium, the smaller snake (26") is in a 20 gallon terrarium. They are both heated by their own UTH and an overhead CHE. The CHE in the larger tank is 100 watts and the CHE in the smaller tank is 60 watts. I have digital instruments in the front corners of each enclosure measuring both humidity and temperature on the warm side and the cool side. The thermometer on the warm side of both enclosures is right on the floor of the enclosure while the thermometer on the cool side of both enclosures is about 1 and 1/2 inches off of the floor of the enclosure perched on top of crushed coconut substrate. I also use an infrared heat thermometer to spot check the heat in different parts of the enclosures. But I was worried that I was missing something important concerning the ambient temperature which is so often referred to in posts. Do I need to get two more thermometers??

<><Peace

Are your UTHs regulated by a thermostat?

Don't hate me but, not yet. And, yes, I've read the posts concerning the need of having maximum control of the heat of the UTH's in a snake's enclosure. I should be ordering two this week. I've just been researching which would be the most cost effective purchases to help me help these two critters.

<><Peace

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by dadofsix

Don't hate me but, not yet. And, yes, I've read the posts concerning the need of having maximum control of the heat of the UTH's in a snake's enclosure. I should be ordering two this week. I've just been researching which would be the most cost effective purchases to help me help these two critters.

<><Peace

---

If you're on a budget get the Jumpstart off of Amazon


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by BPGator

If you're on a budget get the Jumpstart off of Amazon


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

---

Done! Thanks. And the critters thank you, as well. :-)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by monks98

Ball pythons only need under tank heat so the ambient temp is the air in the tank. We use a laser reader but we also have 18 and use tubs and have a humidity and temperature controlled room

Sent from my LG-H831 using Tapatalk

---

And you keep that room at what temp?

My house is regulated at 74 F or lower, and most people would say that is too low for ambient for BP. UTH will not heat up anything except the spot its glued to.

So many misleading comments.....

People, understand not everyone lives in Florida and doesn't use an air conditioner in their home which tends to be the same space they keep a snake. My room temp varies from yours, therefore my setup will not be the same as yours.