(my first post) ball python temperature setup

Hey guys, I just have a quick question about my this for my ball python setup. On the heat mat on the warm side is measuring just at 92 degrees, which I hear is perfect, my copy side thought is not. It is measuring at about 73 degrees, (it just bumped down to 72.5 then back up to72.7). Is that too cold? I am scared if I get a CHE it is only going to get too hot, and then humidity will be a pain. It is also winter so it will just get warmer, do I ask my parents to bump up the temp just one degree? Or will my ball python be perfectly fine at 73 degrees on the cold side?

73 is definitely too cold. You don't want to go below 75 but 80 is ideal for cool ambient. Definitely get a Che, which won't be too hot if you have it regulated by a thermostat.

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Originally Posted by MissterDog

73 is definitely too cold. You don't want to go below 75 but 80 is ideal for cool ambient. Definitely get a Che, which won't be too hot if you have it regulated by a thermostat.

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OK! Thank you. Could I just use a dimmer? I bought at Lowe's, and I have heard other people saying that they are good because you don't need to spend that much on ine of those fancy thermostats.

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Originally Posted by Mind_boy

OK! Thank you. Could I just use a dimmer? I bought at Lowe's, and I have heard other people saying that they are good because you don't need to spend that much on ine of those fancy thermostats.

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You could as a dimmer as a temporary solution but honestly if you are worried about it getting too hot, you are better off with the precision and reliability of a thermostat. You just get more control and less potential temp fluctuations.

There are affordable thermostat options if budget is tight atm, Jumpstart is a decent budget friendly one to start off with

https://www.amazon.com/MTPRTC-Contro...art+thermostat

In a long run if you can, I would say it's definitely worth considering saving for a high quality thermostat such as Herpstats, which recently made a more affordable model
https://www.spyderrobotics.com/index...dfhnkhfod259n5

But Herpstat 1/Herpstat2 are definitely worth every penny if you ever choose to save for them :) Best purchase I've ever made

I’ll tell you I bought the jumpstart thermostat. Was at least 15-20 degrees off. I ordered the herpstat 2 within a few days and returned the jumpstart. Herpstat arrived in 2 days. Yes a lot of money but worth the peace of mind esp. with the safety features.


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Originally Posted by Mind_boy

OK! Thank you. Could I just use a dimmer? I bought at Lowe's, and I have heard other people saying that they are good because you don't need to spend that much on ine of those fancy thermostats.

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What size enclosure LxDxH? Depending on your home temps you can go by the Wattage CHE you need for now.
As others have said you cant beat a Herpstat2. Then you can control both heating units, set it & forget it. A Dimmer will change depending on temps in your house. If the house is 70 and your Heat Mat or CHE is running at 90 it can change in a flash if its a nice day and your house gets up to 76... Suddenly that 90 can become 98.

OK, thanks for all the info I will definitely look into a thermostat, but the temp in our house almost never changes.

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Originally Posted by CALM Pythons

What size enclosure LxDxH? Depending on your home temps you can go by the Wattage CHE you need for now.
As others have said you cant beat a Herpstat2. Then you can control both heating units, set it & forget it. A Dimmer will change depending on temps in your house. If the house is 70 and your Heat Mat or CHE is running at 90 it can change in a flash if its a nice day and your house gets up to 76... Suddenly that 90 can become 98.

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Oh and my enclose is a 20L, I am looking at a male, so they won't get an large.

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Originally Posted by Bergerking

I’ll tell you I bought the jumpstart thermostat. Was at least 15-20 degrees off. I ordered the herpstat 2 within a few days and returned the jumpstart. Herpstat arrived in 2 days. Yes a lot of money but worth the peace of mind esp. with the safety features.


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I had a similar experience, just a little different problem. I had a $50 digital "on/off" thermostat, and though these are the most common type of thermostats, I don't recommend them. It was very accurate, that was not the problem, the problem was it would turn 'on' at the low temp, and then heat up a degree or 2, and then turn "off" and the heat would continue to come off the heat tape after it turned off, so the temps were vascillating between 88-93! Not very tight range at all! I finally sold the thermostat off and got a Herpstat. The Herpstat uses "dimming" electricity, which controls the amount of wattage sent to the heating source to provide a CONSTANT temperature. Now with the Herpstat, the hotspot heat tape stays EXACTLY where I set it, instead of vascillating in a wide range.

I had the exact same problem with my snap lid tub. I got a CHE a foot above the middle of the tub, with a thermostat of course, and temps on all sides are perfect now. Hot side is 90-93, middle is around 80-86, and the coolest spot sits around 76-79. Now if you got a glass tank the CHE might drop the humidity so I highly suggest getting a tub or pvc plastic cage they trap the humidity inside. Also GET A THERMOSTAT not a dimmer. A dimmer on the lower settings can still build heat and overheat. The "Jump Start" digital thermostat is a great choice an only 30 bucks. Best of luck.

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Originally Posted by Mind_boy

Oh and my enclose is a 20L, I am looking at a male, so they won't get an large.

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For a 20L considering your house is no colder than 65 I would go with a 100 Watt CHE and use Tin Foil & a hand towel over the top for heat and humidity. That is what I used in 20L & 33L quarantine tanks. Kept my cool side 78-82.

You guys are so helpful! Thank you. This might sound bad, but I think I am just going to stick with my gosh terrarium, I have eco Earth so I know that the humidity will be able to be kept up, and my house isn't very dry. I will probably get a super low wattage CHE die to the fact that the tells just need to be bumped up a tad, but my heat mat is just around 91-94, that shouldn't be too hot.

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Originally Posted by Mind_boy

You guys are so helpful! Thank you. This might sound bad, but I think I am just going to stick with my gosh terrarium, I have eco Earth so I know that the humidity will be able to be kept up, and my house isn't very dry. I will probably get a super low wattage CHE die to the fact that the tells just need to be bumped up a tad, but my heat mat is just around 91-94, that shouldn't be too hot.

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94 is to hot.. If the hot spot is to hot and your snake goes to the Cool hide to get away but your cool hide is to cool your going to end up with problems. Respiratory Infections can come on & they're no joke. If you don't have $$ for a quality thermostat you wont have $$ for a Herp Vet. Get a 100 watt CHE & save for a thermostat that controls 2 heat sources. Good luck with your noodle.

You sure 94 is to hot? Most other sources say 88-96 for hotside, but even if 94 is too hot, my hot spot is not 94 despite what I said earlier. It's chillin' around 91. Making a peek at 92.:gj: so there is %50 of the problem taken care of lol. Thank you again, and please don't get too concerned, I am going to a popular reptile show Feb 18, so my noodle isn't here yet.

Yes, 94 is too hot. You said you have 91 now, that is perfect. Are you controlling the temperature with a digital thermostat probe?

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Originally Posted by Mind_boy

You sure 94 is to hot? Most other sources say 88-96 for hotside, but even if 94 is too hot, my hot spot is not 94 despite what I said earlier. It's chillin' around 91. Making a peek at 92.:gj: so there is %50 of the problem taken care of lol. Thank you again, and please don't get too concerned, I am going to a popular reptile show Feb 18, so my noodle isn't here yet.

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I dont know where your reading but im 29 years into snake owning and hot side is 88-91 max for Balls.

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Originally Posted by Godzilla78

Yes, 94 is too hot. You said you have 91 now, that is perfect. Are you controlling the temperature with a digital thermostat probe?

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I personally think a bp would be fine at 95 but thermometers and thermostats arent 100% accurate. so to be on the safe side keep it a 90 or a bit below.

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Originally Posted by Mind_boy

Hey guys, I just have a quick question about my this for my ball python setup. On the heat mat on the warm side is measuring just at 92 degrees, which I hear is perfect, my copy side thought is not. It is measuring at about 73 degrees, (it just bumped down to 72.5 then back up to72.7). Is that too cold? I am scared if I get a CHE it is only going to get too hot, and then humidity will be a pain. It is also winter so it will just get warmer, do I ask my parents to bump up the temp just one degree? Or will my ball python be perfectly fine at 73 degrees on the cold side?

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First question ...

What kind of thermometer are you using to take the temperatures ?


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I'm using an electronic probe that was rated very well on Amazon.

Don't know what an electric probe is to be honest .
As long as it's accurate and is suitable for taking SURFACE temps that's fine .

Presumably it's got a wired probe attached or it's a digital temp gun ?


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Well the probe is reading exactly the same as my house thermostat and another well trusted thermometer that I was using earlier so I assume that the temps it is reading are accurate.

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Originally Posted by Zincubus

Don't know what an electric probe is to be honest .
As long as it's accurate and is suitable for taking SURFACE temps that's fine .

Presumably it's got a wired probe attached or it's a digital temp gun ?


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Yes, it has a wired price attached LOL! I wrote that other post "it's an electronic probe" right when I woke up, so I was a bit loopy. Yeah, you just use the suction cup to stick it to the glass, then you move the probe were you want it.

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Zincubus

Don't know what an electric probe is to be honest .
As long as it's accurate and is suitable for taking SURFACE temps that's fine .

Presumably it's got a wired probe attached or it's a digital temp gun ?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

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Yes, it has a wired probe attached LOL! I wrote that other post "it's an electronic probe" right when I woke up, so I was a bit loopy. Yeah, you just use the suction cup to stick it to the glass, then you move the probe were you want it.