Here we go again.. temperature question.

Below I'm including a a picture of my costum built cage. I think I'm having an issue with ambient temperature. My house's temperature is mostly between 70-75. I live in central FL so no winter here, temperature is central AC controlled.
The lighting in the cage is always on (I got a daylight and a red light for night time) making the hot spot ambient temperature ~90°F but bringing the cool side up to 80°F.
This caused my snake to spend 99% of the time in the cool side even after it ate which when I had him on the tub he would go straight to the hot spot after a meal.
Noticing this I dimmed the light to cool down the hot spot but this lowered the cool side ambient to ~70-75°F and apparently made it so cool that it climbed up to the light (making me think he escaped).

Base on my setup I would appreciate some comments on what I'm doing wrong and any suggestions on how I could fix it.
Thanks!

Here is my cage
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/2016...48a35eb8d9.jpg

And this is when I thought he escaped 😂

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/2016...9f501292bf.jpg

If the temps are in the correct range it does not matter which side the snake stays on. Many of my snakes hardly ever use their hotspot and they digest fine.

Get an IR temp gun so you can know a more accurate surface temp of all the areas in the cage.

Is the light your only heat source?


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I'd make a close out to take away the gap your snake was able to climb into. cutting a square for it should be a snap. Cut it, sand it, paint it, install it.

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Originally Posted by KMG

If the temps are in the correct range it does not matter which side the snake stays on. Many of my snakes hardly ever use their hotspot and they digest fine.

Get an IR temp gun so you can know a more accurate surface temp of all the areas in the cage.

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I do have an IR. Hot Spot top of the pyramid gets the hottest at 95 F. Everything else is in the 80- 90 range.

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Originally Posted by BPGator

Is the light your only heat source?


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It is, though I didn't think it too necessary because the top of the substrate was getting warm enough. However, I have thought of ways to sneak a UTH in there and will probably do with the current set of fixes I'm doing to it now.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by KMG

I'd make a close out to take away the gap your snake was able to climb into. cutting a square for it should be a snap. Cut it, sand it, paint it, install it.

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Yes I definitely know I have to take away to ability for him to get in there, but I wanted to address the cause first.

How about remove the log, put another pyramid in the middle and allow your bulb(s) to create the original higher temp. If your hot side was 90 and cool side 70, the middle of the enclosure should be around 80. It could be he wanted to be there, but didn't feel secure in the log.

I use T8 enclosures heated with RHP and have similar temperature gradient. I have 3 hides. My snakes typically occupy the middle and cool side.


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Only certain meet heaters should be used inside a cage. They are not cheap.

It shouldn't be needed as your numbers sound fine.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by BPGator

How about remove the log, put another pyramid in the middle and allow your bulb(s) to create the original higher temp. If your hot side was 90 and cool side 70, the middle of the enclosure should be around 80. It could be he wanted to be there, but didn't feel secure in the log.

I use T8 enclosures heated with RHP and have similar temperature gradient. I have 3 hides. My snakes typically occupy the middle and cool side.


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I'll try that thanks.
A couple of questions though.
1- Do you have your RHP in the floor or in the wall of the cage.
2- does it increase ambient temperature?

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by KMG

It shouldn't be needed as your numbers sound fine.

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I'm really glad to hear that. This is my first snake. I've had him for a few months now. I was kind of second guessing myself.

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Originally Posted by iLikeSneks

I'll try that thanks.
A couple of questions though.
1- Do you have your RHP in the floor or in the wall of the cage.
2- does it increase ambient temperature?

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1- RHPs as far as I know should always be attached to the top of the enclosure and not have any objects within at least 6" from them to prevent overheating. RHP is a radiative heat panel, not a UTH (under tank heat).

2- the RHP indirectly heats the air. It's radiative heat which means objects in the enclosure absorb the heat. So my hides and substrate will heat up and they in turn will heat the air in the enclosure.

If you want to look into RHPs, the two most popular choices are Pro Heat and Reptile Basics. I use pro heat.


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Quote:

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Originally Posted by BPGator

1- RHPs as far as I know should always be attached to the top of the enclosure and not have any objects within at least 6" from them to prevent overheating. RHP is a radiative heat panel, not a UTH (under tank heat).

2- the RHP indirectly heats the air. It's radiative heat which means objects in the enclosure absorb the heat. So my hides and substrate will heat up and they in turn will heat the air in the enclosure.

If you want to look into RHPs, the two most popular choices are Pro Heat and Reptile Basics. I use pro heat.


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Thanks, I will most definitely take a look at it, while it looks like the Temps where ok I'm not too happy with the lighting as the heat source.

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by iLikeSneks

Thanks, I will most definitely take a look at it, while it looks like the Temps where ok I'm not too happy with the lighting as the heat source.

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I should mention, an RHP definitely has to be regulated by a thermostat. A dimmer will not suffice. I use Herpstat for my thermostats.


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Quote:

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Originally Posted by BPGator

I should mention, an RHP definitely has to be regulated by a thermostat. A dimmer will not suffice. I use Herpstat for my thermostats.


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I figured as much. The only reason I didn't have a thermostat with the light is that I carefully regulated it and had it running a week with the tank empty. I'll do some research on it but I'm liking what I've found so far.

Any chance I could see a picture of your heater? I went to pro heat's website but it wasn't much help since it looks like they are custom built. And the ones from reptile basic are black but my cage is white :(

Quote:

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Originally Posted by iLikeSneks

I figured as much. The only reason I didn't have a thermostat with the light is that I carefully regulated it and had it running a week with the tank empty. I'll do some research on it but I'm liking what I've found so far.

Any chance I could see a picture of your heater? I went to pro heat's website but it wasn't much help since it looks like they are custom built. And the ones from reptile basic are black but my cage is white :(

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Send bob at pro products an email with your cage specs, cage material, room temperature, cage placement, species you're keeping, etc, and he'll tell you what size panel you want based on your personal setup. They make like 200 different wattage heat panels so they can get you one that will beat suit your needs


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RHP= Radiant Heat Panel

I don't have a good picture of mine. I have three from Pro Products and they are very nice. I have another that had worked well but I'm not sure if the brand. It came in my cage from PVC Cages. You can kinda see some RHP is their pics on their site.

I'm sure Googling some pics would give you plenty of examples as well.

Google did it. I ordered a 80 Watts one from reptile basics. The size is perfect for my cage and the wattage is similar to what I had with the bulbs (75W) so should be enough.

I have been reading some older posts and the general consensus is to put the probe low, close to the substrate. Any problem with that?

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Originally Posted by iLikeSneks

Google did it. I ordered a 80 Watts one from reptile basics. The size is perfect for my cage and the wattage is similar to what I had with the bulbs (75W) so should be enough.

I have been reading some older posts and the general consensus is to put the probe low, close to the substrate. Any problem with that?

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That is a common method. Mine is not. It can be seen in post #2 here. https://ball-pythons.net/forums/show...ht=probe+mount

I'd post a new pic but every time I go to Photobucket my tablet tries to tell me it gave me a virus and the end of the world is coming.

I have my probes on the cool side, about mid-level. I used to have it on the hot side, but I've found this results in less temperature fluctuations in my enclosures.


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Installed it. Currently testing it before putting the little guy in.

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/2016...c5fd2baf37.jpg

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by BPGator

How about remove the log, put another pyramid in the middle and allow your bulb(s) to create the original higher temp. If your hot side was 90 and cool side 70, the middle of the enclosure should be around 80. It could be he wanted to be there, but didn't feel secure in the log.

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You were 1000% correct. I put a 3rd pyramid in the middle and now that's his preferred spot. Good suggestion, thanks.


http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/2017...6abd64816c.jpg