Temps too low

Having trouble getting the temps up in my 35 gallon. Its currently 75°.
I've got a 75 watt bulb, a exo-terra desert UTH with coco-husk substrates (Just put in), and a Plexiglas lid. This was all setup like 3-4 hours ago.

Should I just wait it out? Substrate is still cold, so I'm guessing that I need to wait till more of the water evaporates. (75% humidity)

What is 75 degrees? The hot spot?
Sounds like your uth needs to heat up. I hope you have some kind of dimmer on it because the problem will be too hot if it is working properly. An UTH is all you will need for the hot spot, and maybe the light will bring up ambient temps, but be careful because the light can dry out the enclosure really badly.
What kind of substrate are you using by the way? Is it one of those 'add water' type? Coconut? Those can take a long time to dry out sometimes.
When do you plan on getting a snake?

The cold substrate will only bring you temperatures down a couple of degrees. I have a 40 gallon breeder tank, and I need a 150 watt bulb on it to keep me ambient air temperature at 82 degrees. I would think you would need about the same as I do, as well I use the red heat lights, but you could use a ceramic heat emitter or a black heat light as well. I only suggest those because ball pythons are nocturnal and white light can stress them out if left on all the time. Also, are you using a thermostat or dimmer for your under the tank heat mat?

If you have any other questions just ask.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by mr. s

What is 75 degrees? The hot spot?
Sounds like your uth needs to heat up. I hope you have some kind of dimmer on it because the problem will be too hot if it is working properly. An UTH is all you will need for the hot spot, and maybe the light will bring up ambient temps, but be careful because the light can dry out the enclosure really badly.
What kind of substrate are you using by the way? Is it one of those 'add water' type? Coconut? Those can take a long time to dry out sometimes.
When do you plan on getting a snake?

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I guess that would have been a better question to ask, is it your air temperatures that are 75 degrees or your dirt? The dirt will take about 24 hours to be at a good temperature, so if it is the dirt, wait a day and then check it.

Sorry about that, I didn't read the post right.

If your using some type of add-water substrate, you really should wait for it to dry out before adding your snake to the enclosure. The snake can get belly rot from too damp of a substrate. Also, if the substrate is cold along with the dampness, he can develope a RI.

As far as your temperature goes, maybe your thermometer isnt in the right place. Use a thermometer with a probe, and place the probe right above the glass where the UTH is. A lamp dimmer or thermostat will eb needed for the UTH.

Yes it is an add water type of substrate.
Yes my ball is inside the tank.
No, I dont have a dimmer as of yet. When I spoke the the salesman at the pet store, he told me he has a ball with the same UTH and substrate and says he doesnt use a dimmer or anything like that. Its on half the tank, so if it gets to hot, he should move away to the other hide.

Sometimes people say things to make a sale, but maybe it will heat up to the perfect temperature. I doubt it.
Ball pythons are known for staying on heat, even to the point of a terrible burn. Do not trust your snake to do what is best for itself.
It was a bad idea to buy a snake then try to get husbandry right. But thank you for asking here about what you can do. If things do not change, you will be paying vet bills in no time.
You never mentioned how you are measuring your temperatures. Where is the thermometer?
Maybe you should just include a picture of the enclosure all together. I am going to guess that this pet store guy told you a few things that aren't true.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by unhip_crayon

Yes it is an add water type of substrate.
Yes my ball is inside the tank.
No, I dont have a dimmer as of yet. When I spoke the the salesman at the pet store, he told me he has a ball with the same UTH and substrate and says he doesnt use a dimmer or anything like that. Its on half the tank, so if it gets to hot, he should move away to the other hide.

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the word salesman should be a hint. you dont want to leave your BP on a UTH unless it is controlled by a dimmer or thermostat. He can get serious burns.

I guess you can leave it the way it is if your not worried about your snake being burnt all over his body.

well now I'm worried lol. Do you guys think it'll be fine over night or should I throw it in a tub for now? And Ive got two thermometer, 1 analog and the second is digital. I've been moving them around all day, from ground level to rooftop, left side to right.

lol...and about the salesman thing. What your saying makes no sense,

"Sometimes people say things to make a sale"

Wouldnt he have tried to sell me a dimmer/reostat in that case? Cause I asked if one was needed.

But ya, on the safe side, I will purchase a dimmer.

Thanks

Quote:

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Originally Posted by unhip_crayon

lol...and about the salesman thing. What your saying makes no sense,

"Sometimes people say things to make a sale"

Wouldnt he have tried to sell me a dimmer/reostat in that case? Cause I asked if one was needed.

But ya, on the safe side, I will purchase a dimmer.

Thanks

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nah becuz he had a better chance of selling the snake and/or whatever else you were buying if he told you less things to buy.

If he named off a huge list of things you needed to buy, he probably figured youd not buy the snake because it would cost too much all added up lol.

ya...the glass, under all that substrate, is 102° while the substrate itself is 83°. Im afraid he might burry at night and burn himself. What do you guys recommend I do? Pet store will be closed now.

All I bought was a UTH. Then I assumed I needed a dimmer and asked him where it was, which is when he told me it wasnt needed.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by unhip_crayon

ya...the glass, under all that substrate, is 102° while the substrate itself is 83°. Im afraid he might burry at night and burn himself. What do you guys recommend I do? Pet store will be closed now.

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just buy a cheap lamp dimmer. It will work fine dude. You can find a cheap lamp dimmer at sears hardware, lowes, menards, ect ect. Some type of hardware store.

I got mine for $11 from lowes.

It comes with a plug (where you plug your UTH into it) then you plug the dimmer into an outlet. The dimmer has a power control thing on it that you can adjust until you get a perfect temperature.

Also, after you get the dimmer, reomve some of the substrate so that its around 90 degrees on the surface.

ok cool....thanks a lot

How many watt dimmer will I need? Threw out my UTH box

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Originally Posted by unhip_crayon

How many watt dimmer will I need? Threw out my UTH box

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uhh im not sure. I dont think they make different watt dimmers. I just got a normal lamp dimmer (the only one lowes had) and it works fine with my UTH.

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...YL._SL500_.jpg

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Originally Posted by PurplePython

uhh im not sure. I dont think they make different watt dimmers. I just got a normal lamp dimmer (the only one lowes had) and it works fine with my UTH.

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...YL._SL500_.jpg

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That will do the job! My local pet stores only sell thermostat(reptitemp 500r). They don't have dimmers! You definately need something to control the uth as they can get to 120 degrees plus! I use a 100 watt infrered bulb to heat up my air temp to 80 in the winter time!

If you can't get a dimmer tonight, just leave the lamp on and get a dimmer tomorrow. A dimmer is only a temporary way to control your heat source though. You will find that if you room temperature fluctuates by even a few degrees, it can cause your heat pad to over heat, or not heat enough. You will have to check temps a few times a day and adjust the dimmer accordingly. A thermostat takes the adjusting out. A thermostat will automatically adjust the power that goes to the UTH by measuring its temperature. You can buy a cheap reptile thermostat online called the reptitemp 500r. It is not the fanciest model on the market, but it gets the job done.


A good rule is to NEVER listen to pet store employees. They are often poorly educated and just want to sell you things you don't need. Do youself a favor and just don't listen to them.

As long as you can maintain 78-80 cool side and 88-90 warm side your golden:gj:

Bought the above dimmer and It doesnt seem to work with my heat pad. When I dial it down, it completely turns off the heat pad. Ive got the exo-terra pad.

The dimmer is fine, I can use it on my lamps with no problems

I'd listen to Kaorte and get a thermostat, instead.

Also, my 20 gallon tank wasn't keeping up to 80 deg. ambient at night. Then I put foam on the back and sides. Now it stays 82 instead of dropping down to 77 or so at night. I painted the foam with a water sealer stuff for tub/shower tile surrounds. It's dark green, and gives a cool look, too.

Radiant and conduction heat loss through glass is tremendous. If you can stop that, it will reduce the amount needed. I use 1 UTH and a 25 watt bulb now (instead of 100 watt bulb).

Quote:

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Originally Posted by unhip_crayon

Bought the above dimmer and It doesnt seem to work with my heat pad. When I dial it down, it completely turns off the heat pad. Ive got the exo-terra pad.

The dimmer is fine, I can use it on my lamps with no problems

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I would go with a tstat. All you will do is give urself more of a head ache when u finally get the heat pad to stay at 90-93 then ur ambient temp goes up or down now your uth will go up/down and u will be back on he asking why it does that :rolleyes:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by bsash

The cold substrate will only bring you temperatures down a couple of degrees. I have a 40 gallon breeder tank, and I need a 150 watt bulb on it to keep me ambient air temperature at 82 degrees. I would think you would need about the same as I do, as well I use the red heat lights, but you could use a ceramic heat emitter or a black heat light as well. I only suggest those because ball pythons are nocturnal and white light can stress them out if left on all the time. Also, are you using a thermostat or dimmer for your under the tank heat mat?

If you have any other questions just ask.

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The heat mat will take awhile to heat up. I have a 40 gallon also, and I have to use 2 100 watt bulbs to keep ambient up. If you need to get a stronger bulb, I dont reccomend anything more than a 100 or 125 watt because a stronger bulb will heat the whole tank well, but the spot directly below it will get VERY hot. I had a 150 watt bulb that from 18 inches away was creating a 115 degree hotspot right under it. I actually had to throw it out.