Temperatures.

Ok so last Sunday I got a wood vision cage measuring 33"x16"x12 it has a built in heat lamp with no dome. I'm using aspen bedding. The problem that I'm having is I can't get a straight answer as to where to put my sensors for my thermomiter I'm using a 40 watt red bulb. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

First off, I hope that heat lamp is outside the cage so the snake cant come into contact with it. As for your answer, put one sensor on the cool side of the cage(generally the opposite end of where your heat lamp and/or UTH is). Put the other sensor close to the basking spot or hottest spot on the warm side. I put my sensors just above the snakes height and let them hang. That way if the snake bumps them, they just swing back into position. Also the snake cant sit on them, pee on them or bury them as that would give the wrong ambient temp thus causing your heating device to overheat the cage. For a ball python, its not too bad but for something like my 6ft BCI girl who pees a tsunami, it would destroy a sensor if she pee'd on it.

Ok. So what ever the heat range is out side of the hottest part doesn't matter. (On the hot side). As long as the hottest spot doesn't get above 90. I'm also having trouble keeping my cool side up at night. It stays around 75 and I keep the hot spot betwen 82 and 84. Is this ok.

Post a pic and we can help you better by giving suggestions and fixes you can try.

If I understand correctly the heat bulb is inside the cage. It needs a guard around it if it is.

Well to sum it up, you want a temp gradient between 90F and 82F roughly. A few degrees wont hurt as long as the snake can get out of the heat or get into the heat depending what it wants. For my little girl I have a hot side of 85-87F depending on time of day with a cool side of 81-83F with the UTH set to 94F. She seems to love it warmer and spends 95% of the time in her warm hide. Each snake will have their own preference but like I said, as long as the snake can get out of the heat or get out of the cold, its ok. I would try and raise that cool side though as 75F is the lowest of the low for cool side.

My advice is get a higher wattage heat bulb or CHE and a lamp dimmer from Home Depot or somewhere and go from there. Pictures would be nice too. Do you have the heat lamp on one side of the cage? You can try and move it more towards the center to bring up the cool side but that will lower the warm side thus why I say get a higher wattage with a lamp dimmer. I'm using a 100 watt CHE on a 36x18x12 glass tank and have it offset to the warm side a little bit. The room temp is also 75F. I have the lamp dimmer set halfway or just under halfway to get those temps too.

Oh also try and get the same hides for both warm and cool side so your snake doesn't have to sacrifice security for correct temps as from what I have been told, they will choose security over the right temp thus putting themselves in danger of being too hot or too cold.

I just switched the light out to a 60w I'm gonna buy a ceramic heat emitter when I get this under control so I get the temps down. I'm trying to post pics but it won't let me. I was using a dimmer switch but I ended up switching to a thermostat. What are your guys take on the night time drop.

Use a service like Photopucket. Uplaod the pic there and then copy the "IMG" code and paste it into your text here. When you submit the post the pic will appear in the thread.

i loaded one on my page and on in bp General gallery

If you haven't already, unhook that light figure or get a wire cage for around it. Major burns will happen if your snake touches it. Personally, I think NO heat source should be in your tank. Above or under is fine but NOT in.

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Originally Posted by Yoganderson

I just switched the light out to a 60w I'm gonna buy a ceramic heat emitter when I get this under control so I get the temps down. I'm trying to post pics but it won't let me. I was using a dimmer switch but I ended up switching to a thermostat. What are your guys take on the night time drop.

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Hopefully with the higher wattage bulb you won't have lower temps. Like someone mentioned above you want one end of the tank around 80-84 and a hot spot around 88-90 or so. Ambient temps (everywhere but the hot spot) should be the 80-84.

What kind of cover is on the tank?

For the time being if your snake is young and small it probably can't reach the bulb but its still needs to be fixed. You need to get a screen to keep the snake from being able to touch it.

You may also want to check into radiant heat panels(rhp). Many using wood enclosures have good luck with them and they are much safer than your current setup.

Check out Pro Products. You can call them and they will ask some questions and get you exactly what you need.

So I upped the bulb again. And I just bought a acu rite thermometer under the light is 88-90 the cool side is 80 and the hot side ambient temp is 85-87. I will check out the panels. Or do you guys think I should just simply cut a hole in the top and attach a dome and keep it that way. Also and recamendations on the night time drops.

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Originally Posted by KMG

Use a service like Photopucket. Uplaod the pic there and then copy the "IMG" code and paste it into your text here. When you submit the post the pic will appear in the thread.

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We really have to start boycotting photobucket. Imgur is so much easier to use. Reliable sharing, easy and quick uploading, and no broken links.

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Originally Posted by CBB24

We really have to start boycotting photobucket. Imgur is so much easier to use. Reliable sharing, easy and quick uploading, and no broken links.

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I will have to check it out. Photobucket is all I know.


OP, Lets see if you even have night drops now with the new bulb. If you decide to keep the lamp over a rhp I think cutting a hole and placing a dome fixture outside would be a good idea.

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Originally Posted by KMG

I will have to check it out. Photobucket is all I know.


OP, Lets see if you even have night drops now with the new bulb. If you decide to keep the lamp over a rhp I think cutting a hole and placing a dome fixture outside would be a good idea.

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But are you supposed to have nite drops. According to the reptile shop where I go you are.

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Originally Posted by Yoganderson

But are you supposed to have nite drops. According to the reptile shop where I go you are.

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That's not true. Your snake does not require or want a night temp drop. The only times dropping temps comes into play is for breeding. My snakes stay the same temp all day and all year. Even my hognose which can go into brumation.

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Originally Posted by KMG

That's not true. Your snake does not require or want a night temp drop. The only times dropping temps comes into play is for breeding. My snakes stay the same temp all day and all year. Even my hognose which can go into brumation.

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This^^