Too cold?

Ok so i know many people say that hot side should be around 90, but my very young ball python stays in his hide which is usually around 80, and my hot side is usually only around 86 (+ or - 1 degree). However i never see him laying under my lamp (red light bulb) so i don't think hes cold. Right now hes in a 10 gallon so its hard to have a huge difference in temps, two hides, etc. but in a month i will have my snake rack system so i won't have to worry then. Any suggestions for the time being? Is he good the way it is?

I don't keep anything 90 degrees except the hot spot.

78-80 cool end
86-87 warm end
92-93 hot spot

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Originally Posted by snakesRkewl

I don't keep anything 90 degrees except the hot spot.

78-80 cool end
86-87 warm end
92-93 hot spot

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Well thats what im saying, my hot spot is only 86. But he never uses it and is always in the hide. So i really dont know what to do. I guess he's fine? i feel like he would come out if he got cold. He is also only about 70 grams, and i've heard that smaller snakes actually like it a bit cooler, i don't know how true this is though.

Is the red light bulb the only source for heat in your tank?
If so ditch the lamp. The lamps suck humidity out of the tank like crazy. An undertank heater is a much better choice. The snake can benefit from belly heat when digesting food.
Used with a thermostat you should have no problem maintaning the hot spot at 90-92.
A hot spot of 85 is kind of chilly.
The snake im sure is in no danger with the bulb and the temps your at, but you may find yourself running into problems later with other husbandry issues.
If perfection in husbandry can be reached then you have a healthy and happy snake.

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Originally Posted by Ezekiel285

Well thats what im saying, my hot spot is only 86. But he never uses it and is always in the hide. So i really dont know what to do. I guess he's fine? i feel like he would come out if he got cold. He is also only about 70 grams, and i've heard that smaller snakes actually like it a bit cooler, i don't know how true this is though.

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Just because you dont see her using the hot spot doesnt mean she isnt using it.
Im sure you have a job and sleep at night, theres alot of hours in the day that the snake can be moving around.
Most of my snakes only use the hot spot after eating a meal anyways.

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Originally Posted by mues155

Is the red light bulb the only source for heat in your tank?
If so ditch the lamp. The lamps suck humidity out of the tank like crazy. An undertank heater is a much better choice. The snake can benefit from belly heat when digesting food.
Used with a thermostat you should have no problem maintaning the hot spot at 90-92.
A hot spot of 85 is kind of chilly.
The snake im sure is in no danger with the bulb and the temps your at, but you may find yourself running into problems later with other husbandry issues.
If perfection in husbandry can be reached then you have a healthy and happy snake.

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I actually maintain about 55% humidity without even spraying. I had to take the stuff off the top of the tank to LOWER the humidity. :P (i live in a dorm, idk whats up with the high humidity, guess its just the southeastern US's humidity)

I think im moving him to a friends apartment tomorrow where it should be warmer so will that be sufficient until i have my snake rack?

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Originally Posted by mues155

Just because you dont see her using the hot spot doesnt mean she isnt using it.
Im sure you have a job and sleep at night, theres alot of hours in the day that the snake can be moving around.
Most of my snakes only use the hot spot after eating a meal anyways.

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Very true, and today was my first feed, i guess ill just move him tomorrow where it will be warmer. I mostly wanted to make sure this wasn't harming him in any way. He's been in these conditions less than a week

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Originally Posted by Ezekiel285

I actually maintain about 55% humidity without even spraying. I had to take the stuff off the top of the tank to LOWER the humidity. :P (i live in a dorm, idk whats up with the high humidity, guess its just the southeastern US's humidity)

I think im moving him to a friends apartment tomorrow where it should be warmer so will that be sufficient until i have my snake rack?

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How long have you had the snake? From you saying its your first feed then probably not long, believe me theres plently of time for that lamp to give you problems. Just because it hasnt happened YET doesnt mean it wont.
And i would not suggest just leaving him at your friends without a heat source.
Unless it stays 88 degrees in the house which i doubt :P
Give him the lamp at your friends until you get your rack setup with proper UTH and a thermostat

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Originally Posted by Ezekiel285

Very true, and today was my first feed, i guess ill just move him tomorrow where it will be warmer. I mostly wanted to make sure this wasn't harming him in any way. He's been in these conditions less than a week

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I would suggest waiting at least 3 days before you move the snake. If you just fed him, moving around alot can cause the snake to regurgitate and become stressed.

You only have one hide, and it's on the cool side?
You should have at least 2 identical hides, one the warm side and one the cool.
BP's are VERY secrective snakes. You BP will choose to stay hidden even if he feels unconfortable rather than lay out in the proper tempature and feel exposed.
I HIGHY recommend adding a indentical hide on the warm side so your BP can thermoregulate and still feel secure.

Key things: BP's usually don't "bask" in the open and BP's will choose security over proper thermoregulation.

a ball python will give up comfort for security. get a second hide that's exactly the same as the one you have on the cold side and place it on the hot side so you have 2 hides. this way he can chose his temp.

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Originally Posted by mues155

How long have you had the snake? From you saying its your first feed then probably not long, believe me theres plently of time for that lamp to give you problems. Just because it hasnt happened YET doesnt mean it wont.
And i would not suggest just leaving him at your friends without a heat source.
Unless it stays 88 degrees in the house which i doubt :P
Give him the lamp at your friends until you get your rack setup with proper UTH and a thermostat

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I've had him about 2 weeks, so that's probably part of the reason for so much hiding.

Sorry i guess i didn't explain well enough, im moving my entire setup to my friends apartment, so the lamp and everything will go there, and yea i was gonna wait at least a day or two, but three is probably safer :)

speaking of a thermostat is there one you would recommend? my rack will house 3 full grown BPs and will have flexwatt tape.

Ok thanks, i didn't realize 2 hides were that big of a deal, i'll get another tomorrow. Is it necessary for them to be identical though? (i've heard yes and no)

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Originally Posted by Ezekiel285

speaking of a thermostat is there one you would recommend? my rack will house 3 full grown BPs and will have flexwatt tape.

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I recommend a Herpstat

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Originally Posted by Ezekiel285

I've had him about 2 weeks, so that's probably part of the reason for so much hiding.

Sorry i guess i didn't explain well enough, im moving my entire setup to my friends apartment, so the lamp and everything will go there, and yea i was gonna wait at least a day or two, but three is probably safer :)

speaking of a thermostat is there one you would recommend? my rack will house 3 full grown BPs and will have flexwatt tape.

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ok that sounds good.
We just like to make sure people have the most education to make the right choices with their animals. Hope i didnt come off wrong.

I use the VE-300 thermostat from http://www.reptilebasics.com/index.php?p=home But if thats not in your budget then I cant really help you. Ive only had VE brands.

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Originally Posted by mues155

ok that sounds good.
We just like to make sure people have the most education to make the right choices with their animals. Hope i didnt come off wrong.

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It's quite alright I completely understand :)
I've tried to become as educated as possible about BPs but as its my first one i'm still learning. Experience teaches better than just reading about it. Hopefully my new setup at my friend's apartment will be better for him and I will work on getting another hide.
Thanks for all the responses :D

What size tank is the snake in? Describe the set up for me please
A good thermostat for the money is hydrofarm. around $28 on amazon.

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A good thermostat for the money is hydrofarm. around $28 on amazon.

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Good for a UTH for a glass tank, but not good for use with a rack like you are looking for.

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Originally Posted by llovelace

What size tank is the snake in? Describe the set up for me please
A good thermostat for the money is hydrofarm. around $28 on amazon.

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It's a 10 gallon with a rock under the light to soak up the heat, and then a vine thing in the middle that he can hide under/climb on. water bowl in the middle. and then his hide on the cool side. But like I said im getting a rack soon so i need a thermostat that i can use for a rack

Hydrofarms work fine on racks as do repti-temp 500R's and johnson controls a419 and herpstats and helix's among others.
They all "work" but the better your collection the more you'll want quality thermostats running your racks.