Why Do they like Cold so much??

I have been working so hard to get the temperatures in my tubs consistent for my 2 new ball pythons. I have finally gotten the hot side to 86.5, but the cool side is only around 74.1. I have been messing around with the temps and when its like 81 on the hot side they lay on it, but when it gets too hot the move to the other side. Is it normal for ball pythons to like it so cool? I just got them from an expo so i know it was around 72 or something at the show, maybe they just need to get used to it? I guess the only one that can tell me if they like it is the snakes themselves right? :rolleye2:

I'm not sure I got what you were exactly asking for but hopefully this will help.

Ball pythons thermoregulate. This is why we need to provide them a warm side and a cool side. You warm side should be between 90-94 degrees and your cool side should be between 80-84 degrees.

It is normal for a snake to go from the hot end to the cold end and vice versa.

Temperatures in the mid to low 70s can cause an increased risk of your snake developing a respiratory infection.

Well im asking cause when i do raise the temperatures to that high they just seem uncomfortable and stay as far away from the heat element as possible. Even by going vertical up the tub.

I will raise temps if it will be ok for them, but i just want to do whatever is best for the snake ASAP.

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Originally Posted by steveboos

Well im asking cause when i do raise the temperatures to that high they just seem uncomfortable and stay as far away from the heat element as possible. Even by going vertical up the tub.

I will raise temps if it will be ok for them, but i just want to do whatever is best for the snake ASAP.

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Well, what's best for the snake is appropriate temperatures. Vet bills can get very costly with a respiratory infection. What are you using to heat up the enclosure, are you using anything to control the heat source, and what kind of thermometer are you using?

Mine really dont spend a lot of time on their hot side. It's just the way they thermoregulate. They are usually only over there if they are digesting. You will notice, with cooler temps it takes longer to digest.

Like Rich said, anything below 75 is dangerous. How are you heating your tubs? Are you using a thermostat?

How are you monitoring the temps?

All great questions, I have 2 11x11" UltraTherm heat pads and only 40% of the tub is on the heating element. I have a Rheostat controlling the pads. I am using A digital thermometer in each cage, humidity is perfect in the tubs between 60 and 70% and they are very accurate and on the bottom of the tub for best temperature detection. Substrate is newspaper and the tubs are a 1.5 gallon rubbermaid and a 1 gallon tupperware container. Water bowl is on cool side. I will raise temps but will it stress them out alot more?

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Originally Posted by steveboos

All great questions, I have 2 11x11" UltraTherm heat pads and only 40% of the tub is on the heating element. I have a Rheostat controlling the pads. I am using A digital thermometer in each cage, humidity is perfect in the tubs between 60 and 70% and they are very accurate and on the bottom of the tub for best temperature detection. Substrate is newspaper and the tubs are a 1.5 gallon rubbermaid and a 1 gallon tupperware container. Water bowl is on cool side. I will raise temps but will it stress them out alot more?

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Does the digital thermometer have a probe, and if so is the probe on the bottom of the enclosure on the tub, right above the UTH?

For humidity, you should aim a little lower, like between 50%-60%.

Raising the temps will NOT stress them out. It will keep them healthy:D

Proper temps will not stress them out but I suggest you pick up a temp gun to accurately measure your floor temps to make sure they are correct :gj:

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Originally Posted by CoolioTiffany

Does the digital thermometer have a probe, and if so is the probe on the bottom of the enclosure on the tub, right above the UTH?

For humidity, you should aim a little lower, like between 50%-60%.

Raising the temps will NOT stress them out. It will keep them healthy:D

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X2 for me :) 2 11X11 and only covering 40%? Sounds like a pretty big tub. How big is your ball python? It sounds like one of the tall tubs, but I could be wrong. It would be easier to keep it warm in there if you use the short, long tubs. Like the ones that fit under a bed frame.

Yes the probe is on the bottom touching and i just raised the temps so its around 90 right now i will adjust as it warms up. I was going to get a heat gun yesterday but NO ONE carries them around me and the radioshacks didn't have them in stock. The tubs are proportionate to the size of the snake and they fit well when curled up or hanging out and with the water bowl in their it gives them security.

My ball pythons haven't been weighed yet because i just got them on sunday and no need to hold them yet. I would imagine the albino male is around 110 grams and born early september. the female spider is probably around 170 grams, i believe she was born a little before male.

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Originally Posted by steveboos

The tubs are proportionate to the size of the snake and they fit well when curled up or hanging out and with the water bowl in their it gives them security.

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Lol. I meant the enclosure you are keeping them in.

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Originally Posted by steveboos

Yes the probe is on the bottom touching and i just raised the temps so its around 90 right now i will adjust as it warms up. I was going to get a heat gun yesterday but NO ONE carries them around me and the radioshacks didn't have them in stock. The tubs are proportionate to the size of the snake and they fit well when curled up or hanging out and with the water bowl in their it gives them security.

My ball pythons haven't been weighed yet because i just got them on sunday and no need to hold them yet. I would imagine the albino male is around 110 grams and born early september. the female spider is probably around 170 grams, i believe she was born a little before male.

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Alright that's good. Keep the temps around 90F-94F. My temps on the warm side normally stay around 90F-93F during the day and 88F-91F during the night.

Typical wild behavior is to bask to raise their temp, and then continue to go about their hunting and exploring. When their body temps drop again, they bask shortly, then go about again. If they were to spend very much time in the hot spot at all, I would say that the temp is too cool. So in your situation, it sounds like you're just about there. They're not supposed to spend too much time in their hot spots.

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Originally Posted by stratus_020202

Lol. I meant the enclosure you are keeping them in.

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I listed that in the original post. They are a 1.5 gallon rubbermade container Dimensions 16x10x5". The other one is a 1 gallon tub that is 7x8x3". Water bowls cover about half of tub so the snake can fit in it.

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Originally Posted by ballbreeder

Typical wild behavior is to bask to raise their temp, and then continue to go about their hunting and exploring. When their body temps drop again, they bask shortly, then go about again. If they were to spend very much time in the hot spot at all, I would say that the temp is too cool. So in your situation, it sounds like you're just about there. They're not supposed to spend too much time in their hot spots.

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Ok that would make sense, thanks for your reply. I have temps slowly increasing as of now, just wanted to know why they never liked the hot spot.

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Originally Posted by steveboos

I listed that in the original post. They are a 1.5 gallon rubbermade container Dimensions 16x10x5". The other one is a 1 gallon tub that is 7x8x3". Water bowls cover about half of tub so the snake can fit in it.

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You listed the gal size, I had no idea what that was for dimension. It sounded like it was the tall ones used for storage. I got it now.

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Originally Posted by stratus_020202

You listed the gal size, I had no idea what that was for dimension. It sounded like it was the tall ones used for storage. I got it now.

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Oh ok, yeah there is no quart size listed on the tubs, but thats usually what people go by on here so i guess gallon tubs could be any shape.

Part of that desire to be a little cooler may be due to the fact that at this time of year the snakes genetic inheritance says it's time for brumation.

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Originally Posted by singingtothewheat

Part of that desire to be a little cooler may be due to the fact that at this time of year the snakes genetic inheritance says it's time for brumation.

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Except that ball pythons are equatorial and don't brumate. :)

Ball Pythons that young wouldn't be effected by the time of the year, they probly wouldn't seek out the cold side other than reason being they don't like the warm side.

Sounds like they just like the colder side better!