Baby BP question

Hi everyone! I just got a baby ball python today. She is settling in nicely. My question is about my heat lamp. The temp in her cage is at 92 degrees right now with a 100 watt bulb. Is this too high of a wattage and if so, how do i regulate the temp with a lower wattage? I already have a heat pad on there too. Looking for some suggestions and just trying to figure out if what I'm already doing is ok. Thanks!

BP thrive with ambient temperatures in the low 80s (most people give a "hot spot" of around 90 degrees). If the entire cage is 92 degrees the snake is probably going to be stressed. She will likely become irritable and could eventually become sick. Your safest option regarding the heat pad is to make sure you have some sort of temperature controller (reptile thermostat or lamp dimmer if you must)

Unplug the heat pad asap if its not regulated. It can and will burn snakes....second ambient temps from 78-82 ,hot spot around 90. You can use a lamp dimmer on the heat bulb to dial it down and I would highly suggest a quality thermostat...you can use a dimmer..but if you can afford it fork out for the tstat.

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The temp isn't 92 degrees in the whole cage, that's just the temp under the hot spot. And as far as the heat pad goes, I don't have it under the cage, it's on the side. I will look into getting one that is temp regulated. Also, do I need to turn the light off at night or should I get a night bulb?

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Why would you put the UTH on the side of the tank? All they do is heat the glass surface, they don't do much for ambient temp.

The temp isn't 92 degrees in the whole cage, that's just the temp under the hot spot. And as far as the heat pad goes, I don't have it under the cage, it's on the side. I will look into getting one that is temp regulated. Also, do I need to turn the light off at night or should I get a night bulb?

I read the directions. That's what it said to do.

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Originally Posted by Megs

I read the directions. That's what it said to do.

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Sadly many companies don't know how to use the products they manufacture.
On the side of the tank, it will work like back heat but it wont travel far.

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Originally Posted by Megs

I read the directions. That's what it said to do.

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You're right the directions on some of them tell you to put it on the side. I was a bit confused when I bought my first one but for a ball python at least, you want it on the bottom. It gives them a nice hot spot for belly heat which helps them with their digestion. Like it's been said though, you want to make sure you buy a thermostat to plug it into. It only takes a moment for them to malfunction and cook/burn your snake. The instructions also don't seem to ever mention the importance of that. I think that's why so many people go without one in the beginning.

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Originally Posted by Tash

It only takes a moment for them to malfunction and cook/burn your snake.

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Its not a malfunction, there is nothing telling it to stop heating.

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Originally Posted by PitOnTheProwl

Its not a malfunction, there is nothing telling it to stop heating.

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True but I've heard of times where they stay are certain heat levels for a long time which is why people sometimes assume they don't need one. Or they think unplugging it after a time will keep it from getting too hot. Heat pads are notorious for malfunctioning though and they are not supposed to go past a certain max temp (at least that's what some packages say). I hear about malfunctioning UTH all the time. When they do they get overheated fast.