can't keep heat up

This is my first ball python and I have her in a rubbermaid container. I have a heat mat under it and it is keeping the basking spot at about 95 degrees. My problem is is that the rest of the tub is at about 76 degrees right now. I am going to build a rack next week in hopes that that will keep the heat in better but for right now, what can I do to keep the air temp up?

Sometimes to get the heat up and, I know this works better for the humidty, i'll heat up some wash clothes to the point that there steaming and lay them in the tank with my balls. It seems to work the only off set with that is that you have to re heat the wash cloths every hour or so.

95 is a bit too high for a hotspot, it should be around 92. How big is the container relative to the snake? Some pics would also help.

76 is a little low but not too bad, I would drop the 95 down to about 92 or 93.
Are you using a dimmer/rheostat or thermostat?

I dont have a thermostat yet. I am getting one really soon its just that none of the reptile stores around here carry thermostats. The snake is in a 28qt bin and she is about 18". I got her sunday and she ate a mouse monday. Like i said I am building a rack next week and I will be getting flexwatt. Will that help keep the air temp higher?

In the time being use an incandescent light bulb of choice (around 60 watts) in a lamp with a dimmer. Place atleast 6 inches away from the tub lid (to not melt) and adjust as needed until the ambient temp is high enough. Incandescent light bulbs are cheap and get hot enough for a "heat" bulb. I use that for my bearded and it gets above 140 without a dimmer. Along with it can get as bright as it wants as the solid/non see thru lid will block the bright light not stressing out the little guy.

if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

temps don't have to be perfect... sounds to me like what you have is good enough.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Mike Cavanaugh

if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

temps don't have to be perfect... sounds to me like what you have is good enough.

---

But you should still strive for excellence in everything that you do, settling for 2nd best is no way help new people.
They should strive for perfection, but if they are off a bit and that works for them let them figure that out for themselves.

If you don't have a thermostat, I suggest not using flexwatt until you have one. Flexwatt gets pretty damn hot with no tstat hooked up. Don't want to burn your snake! That would be bad!

Obviously it's best to strive for those "ideal" temps etc but sometimes perfection may not be attainable. It definitely isnt in the wild!

Just do the best you can. As long as your temps are not too far off, your snake will be fine.

I agree that 95 is too high especially if you don't have the ability to measure temps accurately most affordable devices are 2ºF high or low. Due to that I personally would say 91 (89-93 depending on the device)

The problem you have is that the enclosure has a huge heat loss. So first question what is it sitting on? What is the room temperature? Is there drafts in the room?

I'd try bundling a blanket around the sides of the container to try to hold a bit more heat in. Or try a folded towel on the lid. Add one not both and check the temps every 30 min until they stabilize with out a thermostat it can get out of control very quickly. If after they stop changing (usually a couple of hours) add the other either top or sides. Make sure the container isn't sitting on a cold floor or something that will sap heat like nothing else.

I have it sitting on a wood shelf next to my lizard cage. I figured the heat lamp on that tank would bump up the temp a couple of degrees and it did. I have a flukers digital thermometer/hygrometer on the cool side and it is reading 77 degrees now. I have another thermometer with a probe but where should I put the probe to get the correct temperature? And when I build my rack and get the flexwatt I will defianately have a thermostat.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by MitsuMike

But you should still strive for excellence in everything that you do, settling for 2nd best is no way help new people.
They should strive for perfection, but if they are off a bit and that works for them let them figure that out for themselves.

---

:O easy tiger.

LOL,

The OP already tried to get it just right. The temperatures they now have in the tub are perfectly within acceptable limits.

I usually place the probe for the hot side under the hot side hide, that is where they spend much of their time, in the hides. I am guessing the other one is mid way up the side? if so you may fine that closer to the bottom will give you a different reading anyway. Thermal gradient by definition is a variable temperature it isn't like a dividing line. Check at 'snake level' and see what you get it is often a touch warmer.

Wood is good, it will act as an insulator I'd try just adding something insulating on the sides. Your cool temp is well within a normal range in fact many breeders will cool at lower temps Dr. M Seward suggests a cool end as low as 75 over night to promote breeding. So 77 certainly isn't in a range that would be harmful as long as you have a hot spot in the high 80s low 90s. The concern is that over night you cool end temp will likely drop some 77 could easily become 72, which is low, a little insulation should help slow the heat loss and by the time it get quite low it will be day time and the ambient room temps will begin to pick up.