How to get correct temperatures?

So I'm getting my first ball python (first snake) this weekend, and I'm currently in the process of trying to get my temperatures right. I have an Animal Plastics T8 with the divider, a Herpstat 2 and some digital indoor/outdoor thermometers from Home Depot. I have been checking my temperatures with a temperature gun, also from Home Depot. I am using 11 inch flexwatt heat tape. The cool side is at around 72 degrees and my hot side is... well.. it's uneven. One part of it is 98, another is 81, another is 85... you get the idea. The heat tape is in the center of the cage (keep in mind the divider is in, so it heats the areas of both areas near the divider). How can I even out my warm side temperatures and heat up my cool side? I most definitely know I don't have the right temperatures. All help appreciated!

Where do you have the thermostat probe placed and how do you have it secured to the heat tape?

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Originally Posted by Eric Alan

Where do you have the thermostat probe placed and how do you have it secured to the heat tape?

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The thermostat probe is in the back of the hot side of one of the divided mini-cages. It is around 87 degrees where the probe is. I'm not sure I understand what you mean by how do you have it secured to the heat tape, but the heat take is plugged into output 1 on the Herpstat if that helps any.

Photos would help.
The probe should be between the heat tape and the bottom of the enclosure, both mounted on the outside.

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Originally Posted by PitOnTheProwl

Photos would help.
The probe should be between the heat tape and the bottom of the enclosure, both mounted on the outside.

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Wait, the probe goes on the outside? I'll try and get pictures when I have a chance.

The probe goes directly on the heat tape (on the outside of the enclosure), yes.

Check out this thread about how to properly set up a AP T8: http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showthread.php?t=165571

If you notice, on the back-bottom of the cage, there's slots. The Herpstat probe goes in there. I put a small strip of foil tape so it doesnt fall out.
http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/14...8c70795f8d.jpg

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Haha, newbie mistake. I thought it was supposed to go inside the cage. I'll move it when I get home. I'll let you know if it helps! Thank you! xD

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Originally Posted by Penultimate

Haha, newbie mistake. I thought it was supposed to go inside the cage. I'll move it when I get home. I'll let you know if it helps! Thank you! xD

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it would be best to put the probe under the hottest spot in the tank, but under the tank on the outside. I keep mine 87- 89 checking the inside with a temp gun and a digital temp. that I place in every couple of days just to make sure...cool side 78 -82 typically stays 79 and 80.....as for evenly heated you will have different temps within 3 to 4 in. apart...

Ok, I moved the probe and set the Herpstat to 110 degrees. The temperature on the substrate (aspen) is about 70-75 on the warm side, so it either needs to be heated up more or isn't up to temperature yet. It's still around 70 on the cool side.

It's not the substrate temperature you want. It's the temperature of the PVC directly above the heat source. Your BP will move that substrate around no problem and situate itself on the floor of the enclosure. You want to make sure that it's safe when (not if) it does that.

For comparison's sake, the Herpstat 2 on my T8s is set to 90 for one and 92 for the other (stacked on top of each other). With the ambient temperature of the room never dropping below 78 degrees, this keeps a hot spot of 90 degrees.

Edit: The heat tape will do nothing for your cool side temperature. It's not supposed to. You'll want to find a solution for bumping those temperatures up a bit, as most will say that they aren't comfortable with temperatures below the 78 degree mark.

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Originally Posted by Eric Alan

It's not the substrate temperature you want. It's the temperature of the PVC directly above the heat source. Your BP will move that substrate around no problem and situate itself on the floor of the enclosure. You want to make sure that it's safe when (not if) it does that.

For comparison's sake, the Herpstat 2 on my T8s is set to 90 for one and 92 for the other (stacked on top of each other). With the ambient temperature of the room never dropping below 78 degrees, this keeps a hot spot of 90 degrees.

Edit: The heat tape will do nothing for your cool side temperature. It's not supposed to. You'll want to find a solution for bumping those temperatures up a bit, as most will say that they aren't comfortable with temperatures below the 78 degree mark.

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The temperature on the PVC is ranging from 81-95 on the warm side.

What are some ways you would suggest to raise the temperature on the cool side?

I'd turn the thermostat down until the hottest measurement you get is around 90.

For the cool side/ambient temperatures: radiant heat panel, oil filled radiator, another UTH, etc... There are a few options out there.

This is similar to the setup I have going on:
1) Thermostat: http://www.reptilebasics.com/thermos...stat-prewired/
2) Oil Filled Radiator: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000TGDGLU/...6V4L8DGF&psc=1

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Originally Posted by Eric Alan

I'd turn the thermostat down until the hottest measurement you get is around 90.

For the cool side/ambient temperatures: radiant heat panel, oil filled radiator, another UTH, etc... There are a few options out there.

This is similar to the setup I have going on:
1) Thermostat: http://www.reptilebasics.com/thermos...stat-prewired/
2) Oil Filled Radiator: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000TGDGLU/...6V4L8DGF&psc=1

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Hmm, ok. Is there any temporary solution I could think about before I could do that? I'm thinking a radiant heat panel might be a good idea, but there's no way I can get one by this weekend. Could I maybe just raise the room temperature for now?

(If you're wondering why this weekend, it's because there's a reptile expo then and we only have one or two a year in this state. If there's no temporary solution, I'll wait.)

He'll be fine in the short term. It's safer to err on the cool side than on the warm side. Don't forget, you'll need to have a way to regulate the heat panel too (thermostat or similar). Have fun at the expo!

Edit (why can't I have a complete thought the first time tonight?): Yes - you can just raise the room temp too.

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Originally Posted by Eric Alan

He'll be fine in the short term. It's safer to err on the cool side than on the warm side. Don't forget, you'll need to have a way to regulate the heat panel too (thermostat or similar). Have fun at the expo!

Edit (why can't I have a complete thought the first time tonight?): Yes - you can just raise the room temp too.

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So it would be alright to keep the snake at a lower cool side temperature for a week or two (until I could get better heating)? I could potentially raise the room temperature, but that would be an absolute last resort because my mother prefers that I don't do that. I might find something to heat the cage with at the expo tomorrow (crossing my fingers!!), but not totally sure. Whatever the outcome, even if I don't get a snake this weekend, I'm looking forward to the expo! Really want to see what the breeders around here are producing!

(Don't worry, I can almost never complete a post without editing at least once, haha.)

I would say it'd be fine, yes. Lower than usual temperatures don't tend to create health problems (unless you're not providing a warm spot at all for proper digestion) - they would usually just magnify any existing health concerns.

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Originally Posted by Eric Alan

I would say it'd be fine, yes. Lower than usual temperatures don't tend to create health problems (unless you're not providing a warm spot at all for proper digestion) - they would usually just magnify any existing health concerns.

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So would the warm side of the cage (80-90 range) work for digestion? Just checking to be sure.

You aim for the cool side to be close to 80 with the warm side to be close to 90. This 10 degree range gives them the best way to thermoregulate as they see fit.

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Originally Posted by Eric Alan

You aim for the cool side to be close to 80 with the warm side to be close to 90. This 10 degree range gives them the best way to thermoregulate as they see fit.

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Alright, but temporarily would my range of 80-90 on the warm side and 70-73 on the cool side be ok until I can raise it? I might be lucky enough to find heating stuff at the show, but I'm not sure. I've never been to a reptile expo before. Excuse all of the stupid repetitive questions please, haha. I tend to be a very worried parent to my animals...

Yes. Those temperatures will be fine. And, don't worry about it - I don't see any stupid questions here. :)