How to lower temps in PVC enclosure

I moved my adult Cal king to a T8 from a glass tank. Hot side is about 88F but the cool side won't drop more than 80F. I read that the cool side should be around 70-75F. I would like it to go down to 75-77F as she used to hang out on the cool side the majority of the time in her glass tank, where the room temp/cool temp was no higher than 77F. I'm not trying to brumate her, I just want her to be comfortable. Since the move to the T8, she was in shed almost immediately so she soaked in her water bowl for days. I wonder if she was soaking also due to the enclosure of being too warm.

I bought a small fan and attached it to the outside. I also made some holes on the sides. Humidity is about 60%. I even tried placing a tile on the cool side thinking it would stay cool but dumb me, of course it wouldn't lol. I am thinking about buying a cool pad used for dogs to lower the temps. Any other ideas?

I'm thinking about returning her back to her old glass tank and keep the T8 for when my bp or dumerils is grown.

I think you've got the hot side too hot. My Cal King's hot spot is at 84-85* and she only uses it when she is digesting, otherwise she's on the cool side which is 74*.

I would lower the hot side to 84-86F and that should drop the cool side temps as well.

How big is the tank? What heating elements are you using?

I have 5 6FT X 2FT boaphiles, but 2 of the tanks having dividers in them making them 4 3FT X 2FT tanks. All 4 tanks have their own RHP's and heat tape. I have two corns, each in one of the 3FT X 2FT enclosures. I keep the hot side 83-85F and the cool side is usually about 77-79F. They spend most of their time, when not digesting, on the cool side. Can a corn or king thrive with a cool side temp of 75F? Absolutely. However, I know keepers' who keep their colubrids in a range of 78-82F all the time. The key is a spot warm enough to allow them to digest properly, and a temp gradient.

You can for sure drop to 84 for the hot side and that'll lower the cool side, unless your room temperature is warm to begin with.

Sorry, I meant hot spot is 84-85F. I originally had it at 88F but I changed that since last night. She using her hot spot but barely goes to the cool side. Cool side is still saying 80F. I use UTH plus thermostat. Temp gun for measuring the temps. Its a 4 x 2 Animal Plastics T8 enclosure.

All you have is a UTH + t-stat? No RHP or other heat source? Because a UTH usually doesn't raise the ambient much. What is the room temperature, and how are you measuring temps in the T8?

ETA: never mind just saw you had a temp gun. Did you calibrate it or try using some other type of thermometer?

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Originally Posted by bcr229

All you have is a UTH + t-stat? No RHP or other heat source? Because a UTH usually doesn't raise the ambient much. What is the room temperature, and how are you measuring temps in the T8?

ETA: never mind just saw you had a temp gun. Did you calibrate it or try using some other type of thermometer?

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What is room temp? I totally agree that without an RHP to warm the air, a UTH will not raise ambient heat much.

Please see this link for how to calibrate your temp gun (note: a real chemical/liquid thermometer you can get at Home Depot, etc. for $3 is recommended): https://ball-pythons.net/forums/show...highlight=temp

You guys are right - the problem was the room temp was getting too warm. Long story short, I moved my beardie to his upgrade which was below her tank. Heat lamp and all plus heat rises up... No wonder her cool side (Away from the side where the beardie's heat lamp is) stayed at 80F even when lights were turned off for the night, the PVC retained that heat for quite awhile. At least that is my theory but either way, I moved her cage to my bedroom which is the coolest room in the house and the temp dropped to 77F cool side. The temp gun is already calibrated. And no, no other heat source but a simple UTH and t-stat. Thanks for the help.