Re: any suggestions on raising the cool side temp?
Quote:
Originally Posted by SGB_74
from my understanding anything that got down in the low 70's could turn out to be harmful for the snake
Breeders typically lower nighttime temps to 82/72 to induce the breeding cycle... the temps you have are lower than optimal, but not horrible.
Re: any suggestions on raising the cool side temp?
Quote:
Originally Posted by SGB_74
from my understanding anything that got down in the low 70's could turn out to be harmful for the snake
But your temps are not in the low 70's. You said "my cool side temp stays at a temp of 78.6-79.9". As long as you keep your warm side temps where they should be you will be fine. Moving your cool side from where they are currently up to 82 is not going to really affect anything IMO.
Re: any suggestions on raising the cool side temp?
1. Minimize ventilation through the top of the cage (see sticky posts).
2. cover three sides of the cage w/ rolled cork from a craft store. This was good for a few degrees on my 20g glass.
I use a uth for the warm side and put my heat lamp over the cool side.
I would also measure a few points in the tank to make sure you eliminate cold spots. I usually manage to keep a ambient temperature of 82 in the entire cage (except inside the warm hide of course).
Re: any suggestions on raising the cool side temp?
Quote:
Originally Posted by pfan151
But your temps are not in the low 70's. You said "my cool side temp stays at a temp of 78.6-79.9". As long as you keep your warm side temps where they should be you will be fine. Moving your cool side from where they are currently up to 82 is not going to really affect anything IMO.
I'd have to disagree there. I used to think that until my snake got an RI. You don't want to mess with a low base-line temperature. that's what's really dangerous.
If I was given a choice between having to keep my snake in a cage that was 82d everywhere or having to keep him in a cage that had a good warm hide and was 75 everywhere else I'd choose the 82d cage.
Re: any suggestions on raising the cool side temp?
gotta go with bear on this one, he learned the hard way. you want to keep ~82˚ for a healthy snake.
Re: any suggestions on raising the cool side temp?
i have no probs with the temp in the day but its at night when they tend to drop, and i was wondering is that a bad thing 'cause i see some users saying they have a night drop for their snakes but those are for breeders i dont have any intentions on breeding being as thought shes my only normal BP.
Re: any suggestions on raising the cool side temp?
Quote:
Originally Posted by bearhart
I'd have to disagree there. I used to think that until my snake got an RI. You don't want to mess with a low base-line temperature. that's what's really dangerous.
If I was given a choice between having to keep my snake in a cage that was 82d everywhere or having to keep him in a cage that had a good warm hide and was 75 everywhere else I'd choose the 82d cage.
A snake kept constantly at 94-95 on the warm side with a cool side of 79-79.9 will not get an RI. If there was no warm side I would agree with you. Ball pythons are not nearly as delicate as you seem to think. His temps are fine. There is no reason to change anything. If he did try to raise the cool side temps he would probably end up making his warm side too hot.
I saw on one of your other posts that you said:
"I would also measure a few points in the tank to make sure you eliminate cold spots. I usually manage to keep a ambient temperature of 82 in the entire cage (except inside the warm hide of course)."
Do you only heat under your hide? I have always kept one entire side of the cage warm with heat tape and allowed the temp to go down the further it got away from the heat tape. This gives me a gradient of 93 down to about 80. As long as he is measuring his temps accurately his snake will not get an RI at the current temps. I think a lot of people that get into trouble with RI's usually think the temps are higher than they actually are in the cage. I also think drafts cause a lot more RI's than temps. But he can change it if he wants. I just think he is worrying over a non issue.
Re: any suggestions on raising the cool side temp?
This is a blurb from NERDs care sheet:
"Provide your ball python with a basking spot of 88-92 °F and an ambient (background) temperature of 78-80 °F. The ambient temperature should not fall below 75 °F. It is vitally important to KNOW the temperatures at which you are keeping your snake(s)."
http://www.newenglandreptile.com/CareBall.html
Re: any suggestions on raising the cool side temp?
I agree its probably a close call here. I would still recommend measuring the cage in several spots.
Re: any suggestions on raising the cool side temp?
well i took some advice from the users which answered this blog, and woke up this morning with the cool side being at an even 70 :( so what i did was setup a 60watt blacklight over the coolside and got its temps up to 84.4 i think thats the best thing to go with. i'll post a pic of the current temps. let me know if the temps are right? i see all these post with diff temps to house your BP in..a petco caresheet i came across says 95F warm side and 78F cool side..the caresheet i came across on this site says 90F warm side and 80F coolside and now i see the post from the NERD site so is there a set temp that you should house your BP in or does it depend if you breed or whatnot..
