Freaking out BAD.

Brand new ball python owner. I've had her since August 1st. It took a while for me to get everything straightened out (her humidity, temperatures, equipment, etc.), but I got it straightened out & she's been a happy snake since. Now it's starting to get cold. It's a downright struggle to keep her warm side over 90 & her cool side over 80. I've bumped up heating bulbs (which I'm probably about to do again) & I've wrapped towels around her terrarium (a suggestion from a local pet salesman), but it still only creeps up. If it keeps going like this, I'm going to have to buy a ceramic heater, but I don't want to fry my baby. Any tips, experiences in which you prevailed, ANYTHING YOU CAN OFFER, I will try. This is scaring me. I've always wanted a snake & I plan on getting more in my future. I can't do that if I can't even take care of one properly. So please, anything will help.

Do you have a UTH for the warm spot? You don't want it much over 90!! 86-92 is about right. How are you measuring your temps? Are you using a t-stat?

What type of thermometer are you using to measure temps and where are they placed? Also, as I'm sure many people Will tell you, the use of an under tank heater (uth) regulated by a thermostat will help.

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Originally Posted by Gemma

It's a downright struggle to keep her warm side over 90 & her cool side over 80.

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Her cool side doesn't need to be over 80. Mine are down around 72 to 74 most of the year.

Hot spot doesn't need to be over 90, either. My hotspots range from 87 to 90, with most of them around 88.

What's the temperature in the room with the snakes at?

Add a UTH + thermostat under the warm side to keep her belly heat at 90*F, and then put a hide just big enough for her on top of it.

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Originally Posted by JPR

What type of thermometer are you using to measure temps and where are they placed?

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This is an important question for you to answer. Could you also provide us with a description/picture of your setup? It's hard to give anyone good advice without accurate information to begin with.

I'm sorry I haven't gotten a picture up yet. But I think I may have gotten it. I was under the impression snakes NEEDED a red light at night, but after more research, I found out she doesn't need the actual light, just the heat. *duh moment* But yes, I have a UTH that stays at 90 (covered with substrate so she doesn't burn herself) with a hide directly over it. I check on her frequently when she's in there to make sure she hasn't moved it. I've managed to stabilize her temperatures using a 65w ceramic heater, & other than her being in the blue-eye phase of shedding, she seems pretty happy. But thanks for everything, guys. I greatly appreciate it.

If you find the CHE is drying out the enclosure too much, you may need to spray it a couple times a day. Especially when the snake is in shed.

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Originally Posted by Gemma

But yes, I have a UTH that stays at 90 (covered with substrate so she doesn't burn herself) with a hide directly over it.

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Snakes, especially ball pythons that live underground in the wild, will burrow. Covering up the tank floor over the UTH will not prevent her from being burned. You must get a thermoSTAT to regulate it.

As bcr229 already stated, you need to get a thermostat for that UTH ASAP or turn it off because your snake will burn itself with an unregulated UTH.

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Even having substrate over the UTH - you need a thermostat. I made that mistake since my snake never burrowed in 1 1/2 years - one day he decided to and now he needs injections every 3 days for a month plus antibiotic cream 2x a day.
Snakes don't feel the heat and they won't move when getting burned. I thought I was giving him the absolute best care but one simple mistake now he's suffering.
I would unplug that UTH until you get a thermostat to regulate it and use another source for heat in the meantime.

I've had my balls for about a year now and have had pretty good success just using a 250 watt infrared bulb (the kind used for brooding baby chicks) suspended from the ceiling over each tank and raising/lowering it depending on the time of year. It gets cold where I live during the winter (~50 degrees in the house) and these lights are powerful enough to provide a good heat gradient in the tank even during the coldest nights. They work well because directly under the light will be the hottest and serves as a basking spot, and the edges of the tank are cooler. The snakes can choose which spot in the tank suits their temperature needs. I check thermometers at least twice a day to ensure that the temperature range is where it should be. The tanks are near windows, so they have natural light for their dark/light cycle. It's worked really well for me and is definitely not as expensive as some of the alternatives.

Just so I don't have to start another thread, I have a UTH heating my tank and having a lot of difficulty keeping the temperatures high, my house is not very warm and the thermostat is reading 68F. I'm wrapping her tub with towels and letting the humidity raise a bit but if I can't get her warmed up I will have to return the animal cause I'm terrified! I was told getting the THG tape wasn't necessary because the brand I got will do it.

As for her, she's out of her hide today and seems curious about her new home so that's good?

Invest in a thermoSTAT (note: a thermometer measures temps a thermostat controls temps).
The best you can afford. (personally I would suggest either Herpstat or Vivarium Electronics although others swear Helix is reliable and even Hydrofarm is better than nothing)

Eliminate drafts in the room and yes, insulation will help keep the heating cost down. My concern is that you are having issues as the ambient temp changes, That tells me your set up is likely running at its' max which is not where you want to be. The max or even less should still have enough output to maintain optimum temps in the worst conditions you expect to experience and the thermostat idles the output back to keep the temps ideal for you in warmer months.

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Originally Posted by Sapphirescript

Just so I don't have to start another thread, I have a UTH heating my tank and having a lot of difficulty keeping the temperatures high, my house is not very warm and the thermostat is reading 68F. I'm wrapping her tub with towels and letting the humidity raise a bit but if I can't get her warmed up I will have to return the animal cause I'm terrified! I was told getting the THG tape wasn't necessary because the brand I got will do it.

As for her, she's out of her hide today and seems curious about her new home so that's good?

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UTH will not heat ambient temperature in your tank. In order to bump up temps in your terrarium I recommend getting a heat lamp.

Check thread for how to properly set up a 20 gallon tank: http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showthread.php?t=201740

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There is a thermostat that I use with great success to regulate my UTH's and it's from hydrofarms you can get it on amazon and i'm sure other places as well. I started with some of the models in the pet store and moved to this one and I love it even though it is meant for heat mats for plants . It works great and according to my thermometers is very accurate once set . I use one for my big red-tail as well as my bp , juvi red-tail and cali king and all are in great condition .