Temp okay??

I know this temperature topic has been beaten to death, but I'd love to hear some feedback before I get my baby albino ball female in 3 weeks, as I want the perfect new home for her. I read so many varying opinions on what the ideal temps are for a gradient setup, so I'd like to hear what the fine people of BP.net have to share with me.

So, I set up a 20Long, yes I realize glass doesn't hold heat that well.
Herpstat 1 on the hotside controlling a UTH at 92 degrees, stays pretty rock steady 24 hours a day. I'm happy with my hotside.
I have tin foil covering 2/3 of tank and have also tried towels. Would like to avoid towels as to keep any fire hazards to a minimum.

My want for feedback spawns from my cool side.
I got a 60Watt ceramic heat emitter in a typical bell lamp centered over the tank and the cool side does not hit 80 degrees as I would like it to. It varies around no lower than 75.0 degrees up to maybe 77 degree and change depending on the time of day. My house is at 69 degrees year round and that has to remain this way.
Is hitting no lower than 75 on my cool side an okay scenario for for my ball?
Ready shoot, feedback and potential suggestions please.
Thanks, Brent

you will be fine as long as the temps don't drop below 75. 78-82 degrees is ideal but 75 is ok.

Yeah around 80-83 is is ideal, but below 75 can become unhealthy for the snake. What works great for me if my cool side is low, place the tank near a window and let the direct sunlight hit it. The greenhouse effect (letting light and heat in, but not out) will bump up your ambient temperature a good bit.

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Originally Posted by Trackstrong83

Yeah around 80-83 is is ideal, but below 75 can become unhealthy for the snake. What works great for me if my cool side is low, place the tank near a window and let the direct sunlight hit it. The greenhouse effect (letting light and heat in, but not out) will bump up your ambient temperature a good bit.

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just be careful, during the summer that can work a little too well...

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Originally Posted by The Serpent Merchant

just be careful, during the summer that can work a little too well...

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Haha yeah just always be sure to keep an eye on it.

I figured if she doesn't like the 75 she can always retreat warmer towards the 92 hotspot. Not the whole ambient would be 75 since the ceramic emmiter is centered on the tank and that should be 80ish or so below it. I hope my thinking is healthy/correct here.

I keep my snake room 75 degrees, 24/7, 365.

So, AGold you could say that your ambients or cage cool side temps would be 75 year round? If so, I'm starting to feel more okay with not having that 78-80 cool side.

Serpant Chamber, I saw you posted on another thread to place a second probe directly under the heat lamp..

If in my case the heat lamp is centered on the 20long, wouldn't I want the second probe as far on the cool side as possible to measure the coldest temp that the cool side is?

yes as long as you also know what the hottest part of the cage is as well.

If I were to set up a 20 long with a lamp in the center this is what I would do:

get 2 of these thermometers ($12 @ Walmart)

http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/...nt/photo-3.jpg

They have 2 temperature sensors. 1 in the probe and 1 in the box.

I would put 1 probe directly over the UTH to measure the hot spot, and place the box either outside the cage or in the hot side corner to read the humidity/ hot side air temperature

Then take the second thermometer and place its probe directly under the heat lamp and the box in the cool side corner. this will let you measure the temperature under the light and in the coolest part of the tank.

I like your thinking.

I know my hot side hide is 92 because the herpstat 1 probe is directly over the UTH in the hide.
The lamp being centered and my furthest cool side reads 75 degrees, so I'm assuming the hot side's air would be very similar to 75 as well. I am currently using a 60Watt ceramic heat emitter, maybe I'll through in my spare 100W instead. If it bumps my temp up even to 77 or so I'd be happy and not have this worry in the first place.

I'll defintely see what the air temp is directly below the emitter to make sure it's not insane. What would you say the hottest acceptable temp should be without being a problem?
Thanks for all your help.

No part of the cage should ever get above 95 or below 75

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Originally Posted by Brent

So, AGold you could say that your ambients or cage cool side temps would be 75 year round? If so, I'm starting to feel more okay with not having that 78-80 cool side.

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Brent,
You are correct. My " cool" side ambient is very close to the room ambient. In my case 75.
Anthony