snake tank heating problems

I have a 20 gallon long with a 30-40 gallon uth connected to a thermastat set to 95°. The problem is the warm end will not get above 80°. I have about 75% of the tope covered with foil cause its a screen top. Any ideas what im doing wrong?

You can try an ambient heat black light of a Lower wattage or the infra red light over the hot side.

What wattage would you suggest?

What are you using to check your hot side temp? Where are you checking the temp? If your using an analog thermometer your not getting the correct reading and will want to get a ir temp gun or a probed thermometer like the acurite 00891. You will want to put the probe on the thermometer on the glass under your substrate over top where the uth is and make sure it is not over 94, you would check the temp in the same place with an ir temp gun. After you know under the substrate is not over 94 you can put probe directly on top of such substrate that is over the uth and if it is not around 88-90 then you can thin out the substrate on the hot side. Once you have the top of the substrate at good temp then move probe back under substrate and keep it there so you can make sure the temp stays at 94 or lower. Like I said before all this can be done with an ir temp gun as well but I like using an acurite in my enclosures so I can always glance and see the temp without clearing away substrate, I do also check with temp guns every couple days to make sure the thermometer is working correctly.

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I am using a zoo med thermometer with a probe attacked to the wall of the terrarium near the floor. I have no substrate in yet, i wanted to get the temps right first

Your probe is in the wrong place. Uth doesn't heat the air, only whatever is over it. Place the probe directly on the glass over the uth and you will see your temps rise, make sure it does not go above 94.

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http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h1...psp2koldrd.jpg

SO what is the temperature of the glass UNDER the substrate?

I put the probe on the glass directly on top of the uth and it is staying at 92.5

Like pit and myself have told a million people the last week. (By the way you still gotta trademark that drawing, get a good laugh every time I see it)

Ok - SO the sticky part of your uth on the glass? That's where the thermostat probe goes. The temp you want to read is the glass (hottest point your snake can POSSIBLY touch) NOT the substrate. They do burrow and if they're anything like mine they will push EVERY bit of substrate out of the way to lay directly on the heat source.


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I have no substrate in the tank and i placed the probe on the glass above the uth.

For your ball pythons do yoh just have a uth or a utb and light fixure.

Most people only use under the tank heaters.
Some people use ceramic heat emitters. Especially if your using a large tank in a cold room.
Some people don't even bother with heating devices and just heat the whole room.
Bp's don't really like or need overhead light. And they do not need uva or uvb light.

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I wonder how they are able to keep a proper ambient temps with only a uth considering a uth doesnt raise the ambient temps much.. I know the warm side for ball pythons is supposed to be about 90 and the cool side around 80. I am assuming thats refering to the ambient temps.

So right now the ambient temps are ranging from 78-81°f. The glass above the uth is at 93.8. And inside the warm hide is 87°f with about a 1/3" of substrate. Would the snake burrow and rest directly on the glass if it got too cold? Would this be ok? Any other advice besides getting a ambient heat light? I might get a che with a lamp dimmer to help raise ambient temps.

Your temps are good where they are at, no need for a che.

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