No hot spot?

First of all, let me be clear: I'm talking short term, here.

I'm pondering getting a snake - a very specific snake, rather than just one in general (hence the lack of preparation). If I add this snake, I'm going to need another thermostat for quarantine. This is something I should probably do, with or without another new snake, but regardless I don't have one right now. *IF* I get this snake, depending on shipping speed it could be here a few days to a week before the t-stat arrives. I can keep ambient temps in that room at a steady 85 (or anywhere else). If I don't feed the snake until the T-stat comes to regulate the UTH, is this something I can do or is it an absolute no?

I would say yes. In the wild, snakes experience low temperatures all the time. I don't think there will be any problems.


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I watched a video with some big name breeders to include Kevin from nerd and one of them housed all of his ball pythons without belly heat and just used ambients. I could have been mistaken but I could swear that was the case.

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Originally Posted by alan12013

I watched a video with some big name breeders to include Kevin from nerd and one of them housed all of his ball pythons without belly heat and just used ambients. I could have been mistaken but I could swear that was the case.

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I have seen breeders do this too. It makes sense. Ball Pythons don't really have "hot spots" in the wild.


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Hot spots are a community based practice. There are many who dont run belly heat. I currently dont have belly heat on either of my boas. Simply because I am prepping to build a rack and buying 2 unneeded stats is not a priority ... they eat fine and shed fine. With just lamp heat for now.

I wouldn't sweat it too much.

Thanks, guys. I thought I would probably be okay, but I like getting conformation from other minds when going outside the box and established norms. My experience just isn't there yet.

If you can get your ambient to 85 or so, you actually dont *need* a hotspot or UTH.

I'm sure there's plenty of forum *warriors* that would disagree.



Make sure you take pictures of the new one!

You could also just go ahead and buy two thermostats, one for the snake in QT, and the other because it's always great to have a spare in case one fails or you end up with an unexpected critter.

Or you can pick up a lamp dimmer from Lowes or home depot turn the dimmer till you get the desired temp of the hot spot and leave it alone. It will only cost you around $10 and would work temporarily until tstat arrives.

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Originally Posted by CptJack

First of all, let me be clear: I'm talking short term, here.

I'm pondering getting a snake - a very specific snake, rather than just one in general (hence the lack of preparation). If I add this snake, I'm going to need another thermostat for quarantine. This is something I should probably do, with or without another new snake, but regardless I don't have one right now. *IF* I get this snake, depending on shipping speed it could be here a few days to a week before the t-stat arrives. I can keep ambient temps in that room at a steady 85 (or anywhere else). If I don't feed the snake until the T-stat comes to regulate the UTH, is this something I can do or is it an absolute no?

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You can feed them with that ambient temps! But if frozen make sure they are 100% dethawed... Just keep room between 85-86. And no hotspot will be need'd as other said alot of people do it! Belly heat is just a easier/more cost efficient way of creating a hot spot for them vs heating a entire room!

You also if its only temp, pick up a rheostat.

You'll be OK. There are many keepers who run them at that heat full time. This is not advised for anyone who hasn't kept balls for a long time, as you really need to understand their signs to determine if/when there's a problem that requires a reduction or increase in temps.

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Originally Posted by BPavery

I have seen breeders do this too. It makes sense. Ball Pythons don't really have "hot spots" in the wild.


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A rock in brush would hold more heat then the brush. That is a hot spot in the wild.

Yeah, and they also a much bigger space in which to thermoregulate.

I don't doubt big breeders are experienced enough to manage to use ambient temps. I also don't doubt that I'm *nowhere near* experienced enough to do it as a regular thing.

I'm pretty confident with these replies that the snake will be okay for a week, though.

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Originally Posted by vangarret2000

A rock in brush would hold more heat then the brush. That is a hot spot in the wild.

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Yes, but Ball Pythons live most of their lives underground and probably would prefer to stay hidden than find a hot spot above ground. The only time they would go find a warm rock is at night when the temps drop below a good ambient temp. I was just trying to prove that Ball Pythons can do fine without a hot spot, especially in a warm room. :)


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