Confused about heat/lighting for gopher snakes

I've read all I can find on different light/heat sources for our gopher snakes there are so many choices and still can't quite figure out what we need. The overall temp in their enclosure has been fine through the summer, but I'm concerned as it gets colder into fall/winter (we have only had them since spring). We have the stick-on under-tank heating pads, but they don't seem to effect the overall tank temps by more than a couple of degrees. Do they also need a basking lamp or something else to warm them up? Trying to do right by these guys but I really don't know anything about snakes and I need help.

I only use belly heat for my bull snakes and they're fine even during the winter months which aren't so bad here in the Southeast. Their warm sides stay around 84 and the cool sides can drop into the mid-high 60's on some winter nights. You can always boost your ambient temps with a low watt IR bulb or CHE.

As long as they can access the proper temps via the UTH, they'll be fine. I have never worried about the ambient air temperatures for my corn snakes, even when house drops into the mid 60s, because their UTH are always at 85 degrees and they burrow down to the temperature they desire.

That's helpful, thanks. What's the best way to tell if the UTH is an appropriate temp? The ones we have don't have a thermostat of their own (or any type of temp setting) and they don't effect the ambient temps enough to tell by the tank thermo.

Those analog thermometers can be somewhat inaccurate. I wouldn't trust them. I also think a thermostat is one of the most important pieces of necessary equipment when keeping snakes. I'd recommend getting one ASAP. Those heat mats can get pretty hot if left unregulated. You can also invest in a temp gun so you can monitor the temps anywhere in the enclosure. These are a couple of relatively inexpensive options.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...gw_p199_d43_i2

http://www.amazon.com/Nubee-Temperat...words=temp+gun

You absolutely need a thermostat, without one the temps can easily reach 120 degrees! I use digital probe thermometers; you put the probe on the *glass* directly over the UTH.

Gotta love local pet stores that say you just need the stick-on ones. Thanks for the info, I'll check out the links.

Definitely get a thermostat I would unplug it until it is regulated..you could use a lamp dimmer switch in the meantimehttp://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/10...1e47f02732.jpgthis is what unregulated heat pads can do.

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Thanks again, it is currently unplugged.

Any suggestions for lifting the tank a few inches to make room for the UTH? The tiny stick-on feet that came with it don't actually lift it up high enough so that the UTH doesn't still sit on the table surface (which doesn't seem very safe).

Get some 1 inch pieces of wood and stick them under the tank so that it is raised up.

There is nothing wrong with putting a low wattage bulb over the cage depending on what your setup is like. Many people use low wattage basking lights to supplement their UTH heat which will encourage the snake to come out into the open to bask.

You just want to make sure the air doesn't get so dry as to cause the snake to lose too much moisture. This means a humid hide is a must as well as occasional misting. Even for non-tropical species like this a dry tank will cause incomplete sheds and other issues. Even though when we find these snakes in the wild they are out in the open the majority of the time they are in higher humidity places such as under a rock or log etc.

Thanks, I'm working on getting the UTH set up correctly and will then look into the basking lamp. Our gophers usually just soak in their water dish before they shed but I will look into adding a humid hide as well. I really appreciate all the help!

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Originally Posted by newgophermama

Thanks, I'm working on getting the UTH set up correctly and will then look into the basking lamp. Our gophers usually just soak in their water dish before they shed but I will look into adding a humid hide as well. I really appreciate all the help!

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Some snakes will soak, others will not. Not sure what causes that.