Trouble heating tank!

This thread really helped me:

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...-With-Pictures!

I use a dual domed heat lamp in the center of the tank (a slight modification) and have a fitted cardboard top with air holes covered in foil tape over the screened locking top (see this thread too: http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...e-using-a-tank! )


The Accurite thermometers indeed show different temps than the analog, as well as the humidity levels

Quote:

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Originally Posted by tafletcher123

Thanks for all the help guys!

I have a temperature gun now. So the 150 watt bulb keeps the hot side at an average of 91.2 degrees and the cool side at 82.1 degrees during the day, is that ok? Also, the heat pad is now set at 90 degrees. But the way the tanks stand is built makes the heat pad not directly touching the glass, and is aprox half a centimeter away (with a flannel between it and the glass, to keep it in place). I felt that was nice to prevent against burns, and when i shoot the temperature gun at the glass bottom (above the pad) it reads 88.5 degrees... should it be warmer... cooler?

Although I know they do not require a temp drop at night i have a 100 watt ceramic bulb. Which keeps the hot side at 90.3 degrees and the cool side at 80 degrees.

Does all of this sound about right?

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Your temps sound great! And I love my temp gun! They're a lot of fun, and I use mine all the time.

I have never attempted housing a ball python in a glass tank, but I know that it is very difficult (especially if you are using a ceramic heat emitter) to keep the humidity up. It's one of the reasons a lot of people don't like housing ball pythons in glass tanks. Do you have anything to measure the humidity in the tank? A digital hygrometer is probably going to be the most reliable option (and the Acurite digital thermometer that was mentioned earlier in this thread contains a hygrometer). You want the humidity to be 50-60% normally, and then up to 70% when your ball python is about to shed.

The links scalrtn provided should be really helpful in covering the top of the tank to help trap in the humidity. Other ways to increase the humidity include using a large water bowl, using cypress mulch or coconut coir (they hold humidity really well), and spraying the tank with water, sometimes multiple times per day.

I am using a stick on thermometer however I am relatively confident it is accurate because it is brand new. I will still take your advice and invest in a digital one though. Currently it reads 65%. But i can knock it down to 60% by uncovering the half of the tank I have covered by a little more. I have reptile moss to keep the humidity up, should that be ok?

And YES it was very difficult to balance the temps, however after two days of fiddling around with things I have managed to get some good results!:)

She has eaten twice for me already, so I take that as a good sign that she is so far relatively stress free.

I am logging temp and humdity (daily), when she eats (weekly), and her length and weight (monthly).
If she is exactly 2ft, is there a good weight to be at (she is currently 175 grams)? or is it all unique based on the snake? Also is there any guesses to how old she might be from this?

Stick-ons are notorious for being inaccurate, so I would definitely get a digital one. Yes, reptile moss will work, as it's mold-resistant, too.

That's great that she's eating for you! Most people just keep track of weight and watch their general body condition, so I've never actually measured the length of my guys. I write down when they eat, when they shed, when they potty, and their weight after every potty. And unless you got her from a breeder, and they can tell you when she hatched, it's pretty much impossible to know how old she is. She could be 6 months old and has never been fed properly, or she could be much younger than that. Someone on this forum said that a guideline for good growth for babies/juvies is 50-100 grams a month, but that is assuming they are eating appropriately sized meals.

For reference, mine are from a breeder, and while he didn't provide me with their exact hatch dates, he said two were about 2 months old (and they were 101 grams and 134 grams when they came home), and the other was about 4 months (and he weighed 223 grams). That was almost 5 months ago, and they are now approximately 320 grams, 540 grams, and 650 grams, respectively.

If you post some pictures of her, that'd be an easier way to see if she looks like she's at a good weight (and everyone on this site loves seeing pictures of ball pythons :)).