Ambient heat and belly heat question?

My BP has an UTH on a thermostat. The thermostat is set to 95f to compensate for the few degrees lost through the glass and substrate (the probe is sandwiched between the glass and UTH). Temp gun on hot side reads about 90f.

My problem is that my thermometer reads an ambient temp of around 82-83f on the hot side, sometimes a bit more, but all in all usually the same temp as the cold side. I know that UTHs aren't for upping ambient temps, but is this okay? I have a lamp I could use if it's that much of a problem, but I think that might kill my humidity.

Technically I have a hotspot of 90f, but it's belly heat. Is belly heat sufficient enough? What do you guys think?

Those ambient temps are totally fine! There's nothing wrong with them.

You should be measuring the temp against the glass though, not above the substrate. The snake will push aside the substrate and lay on the glass eventually. Probably just set the thermostat a degree or two lower and it would be fine.

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Originally Posted by 55fingers

My BP has an UTH on a thermostat. The thermostat is set to 95f to compensate for the few degrees lost through the glass and substrate (the probe is sandwiched between the glass and UTH). Temp gun on hot side reads about 90f.

My problem is that my thermometer reads an ambient temp of around 82-83f on the hot side, sometimes a bit more, but all in all usually the same temp as the cold side. I know that UTHs aren't for upping ambient temps, but is this okay? I have a lamp I could use if it's that much of a problem, but I think that might kill my humidity.

Technically I have a hotspot of 90f, but it's belly heat. Is belly heat sufficient enough? What do you guys think?

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I keep my ambient at 80 and my belly heat at 90, so your temps seem fine to me. I would bring the ambient down a few degrees but I don't know that it's necessary.

I am concerned when you say that you set your UTH thermostat to 95 to compensate for heat loss through the substrate. You should be measuring your belly heat directly on the bottom glass inside the viv, not on top of the substrate. Your BP will eventually move whatever substrate you have and come in direct contact with the bottom glass. The temperature of the bottom glass should be set at 90.

Don't worry if the substrate lowers the temp a few degrees. If your BP wants more heat, he'll dig down to the glass.

Should be fine. I keep all my snakes with a cage temp/ambient temp of 77-80F with a 11x24 piece of flexwatt set to around 88-90F and my snakes still dont sit on the warm side that often.

Thanks for the help! I'll be sure to measure the temp on the glass as well. I'm using eco earth and to be fair there's not much covering the glass anyway (I used a whole block of it and it only just covers the bottom of the tank) so I doubt that it's that much of a temperature difference, but better be safe than sorry.

I was worried that 82-83 was too cold, so I'm glad to hear it's okay. I'm thinking I'm gonna set the thermostat lower by a couple degrees, just to be safe.

Well, you will know if the snake likes it warmer. If the snake is ALWAYS on the warm side, then the cool side is a little too cool. But from my experience, i find most snakes that people say are 'tropical' seem to actually like it around 80F. At least all my snakes do. Like i said, i very rarely see them on the warm side on the flexwatt unless they are shedding, otherwise they spend a good portion of their time on the 77-80F cool side.

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Originally Posted by Sauzo

Like i said, i very rarely see them on the warm side on the flexwatt unless they are shedding, otherwise they spend a good portion of their time on the 77-80F cool side.

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Do BPs tend to hang out on the warm side more if they're in shed? I didn't think temps had much to do with shedding. Huh.

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Originally Posted by 55fingers

Do BPs tend to hang out on the warm side more if they're in shed? I didn't think temps had much to do with shedding. Huh.

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All of my snakes tend to sit inside the warm hide on the flexwatt when in shed. I think it might have to do with them feeling a little cooler with the fluid between their new skin and the old skin aka the 'blue' which is actually body liquid. That's why if you grab a very fresh shed, you will notice it is all wet.

I equate it like when you get out of a swimming pool and feel kind of chilled until the water on your body warms up from the sun etc.