My tank wont stay hot??

Hi, I just got my first ball python. I decided to go with using a snake tank 20 gallon with a screen top. I do have a couple of problems I was hoping you guys can help me solve. My hot side is not staying hot. The substrate I am using is coconut husk (expandable dirt) because I heard it helps a lot with humidity and considering I live in az I need all the help I can get. However, only the spot under the hide I have is staying warm. I have a probe on top of the glass where the uth is and it reads 101 but the substrate is not anywhere near that temp. It actually barely even feels warm. I was wondering if maybe I am using too much substrate? I have about an inch and a half or maybe even two of substrate in my tank.
Back to just the hot side. I have a deep dome lamp should I replace the blue bulb (100 watt) with a CHE bulb to help maintain the heat or maybe a bigger uth? Have any of you used this in your tank? Also I put duck tape over the screen top to help hold in humidity and it seems to be working okay according to the hygrometer but when I stick my hand in there it doesn't feel to different than the humidity outside the tank. I just want honey (bp) to be in the right conditions. What should I do? I'm still new to this.

101 under the substrate is already too hot and you only need about a 1/4 inch of substrate.

Also, remember that your own body temperature is about 98.6*...which is not very far from 101*. For that reason, it's hard for us to judge temperatures by "feel".
Buy & use a reliable temp. gun to check, and yes, too much substrate acts as an insulator, preventing the heat from rising into the cage where you need it, AND it
may also over-heat (& damage, short out) the UTH if it's not properly vented for safety (and regulated for the right temperatures).


Good heavens, a 100 Watt heating light (or CHE) on a 20 gal. tank along in conjunction with UTH heat? Your snake must be cooking in there? What please
is the temperature of the cool side of the cage reading? (please tell me there IS a "cool" side?) Where is the snake spending time? (on the hot or cool side?)
How is the snake behaving? Restless? (as in "get me outa here!"?)

Humidity: you aren't going to be able to "feel" that by hand either. Buy & use a good gauge.

First welcome.

Ok...the probe for the uth (heat mat) goes on the outside sandwiched in between the glass and the uth. Do you have a thermostat for your uth? If you don't unplug your uth until you do. You will need to cover the screen to hold the humidity in. I use a piece of cardboard that is the same dimensions as the screen. I then cut a hole for my heat lamp then cover the entire cardboard in foil. Put your Che on a dimmer as well. All heat sources need to be regulated. You need two IDENTICAL hides on each side of the tank so they don't choose security over temp. get a digital humidity gauge like accurite.

Any my other questions please ask.

and your hot side should be no hotter than 90. Cool side 80 and overall ambient temps in the tank 80. Humidity should be about 60 and then bump to 70 during shed.

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Originally Posted by PitOnTheProwl

101 under the substrate is already too hot and you only need about a 1/4 inch of substrate.

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^^This.

Also, you're using coco fiber, not dirt. Coco husk is chunks, coco fiber is the eco earth type stuff. This way you're giving accurate information.

Welcome to the forum and the wonderful world of snake keeping.

Seems like you've got a bit to learn still.
Start here: pythons.net/forums/showthread.php?127203-Ball-Python-(Python-regius)-Caresheet

...and here...
pythons.net/forums/showthread.php?201740-How-to-Setup-a-Glass-Tank-(20-long)-With-Pictures!

Also, VERY IMPORTANT: ARE YOUR HEAT SOURCES REGULATED BY A THERMOSTAT???
If not, PLEASE unplug them ASAP. Unregulated heat sources can cause dangerous heat spikes which can cause serious burns or worse to your snake.

I do not use the 100 watt bulb only to read the temps so its only on for less than a minute each time. The cool side reads 79. She likes to spend time it the middle where there is a fake plant. She climbs on it and also hides by the base where the drift wood is. Every now and then she will hide under the hide on the warm side and the cool side.

Still VERY IMPORTANT: ARE YOUR HEAT SOURCES REGULATED BY A THERMOSTAT?

Put a towel over a part of your screen lid and that should help a bit with your humidity levels.

Here is how I have it set up. The light is only on so you can see better. The hot side probe is over the uth so I can see how hot the glass is. It reads 95. The actual substrate under the hide is 86 and the substrate around is between 78 and 80. The cold side reads 77 and the substrate reads 75. I have removed some substrate to make it a fourth inch. I used a infrared thermometer gun to read the temps of the substrate. The humidity stays between 55 and 61%. I started off a little rough but I feel that everything is going better now. I am still thinking about getting a low wattage CHE bulb if possible to help with air temp and the substrate around the hot hide since they like belly heat. My house temp stays around 72 degrees Fahrenheit. Would that be a good idea? Of course it would not go directly over the uth. Honey is behind the wood in the middle. The substrate towards the middle back I left thicker because she likes to hide back there so I didnt want to bother her. I am thinking of getting fake plants to put behind the hides so she feels more safe.
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...S=w839-h629-no

Trash those hides and get two box style ones.

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Originally Posted by craigafrechette

Still VERY IMPORTANT: ARE YOUR HEAT SOURCES REGULATED BY A THERMOSTAT?

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I'm thinking that's a no......

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Originally Posted by Alter-Echo

I'm thinking that's a no......

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Me too...unfortunately. I'm afraid OP doesn't understand the importance of a t-stat.

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Originally Posted by craigafrechette

Me too...unfortunately. I'm afraid OP doesn't understand the importance of a t-stat.

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Don't worry, he will..... hey, is that snake bacon I smell? Snacon! :snake:

Op I hope you realize buying a thermostat is way cheaper than vet bills. Cutting corners will only cost you in the end.

I do have a thermostat. It keeps the heat pad at 95 because the heat that transfers through the glass reads at 85.

Those 2 tree bark tunnels are lovely cage furniture, but they do NOT count as "hides". (-sorry!) Snakes need hide boxes that let them feel safe, snug, secure...those are
too "open". You want the height to be fairly low (many snakes like to feel "back pressure", as if jammed into a cave) so "high ceilings" are out; also, there should be
only one doorway, just big enough to allow the snake (after feeding with meal "on board") to fit thru, and deep enough so they can get way back in away from the door.
You want roughly the shape of a cereal box laid on it's side...& in fact, clean boxes can be used & tossed when dirty, until you get the right kind of sturdy re-usable hides.

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Originally Posted by Nephilim

I do have a thermostat. It keeps the heat pad at 95 because the heat that transfers through the glass reads at 85.

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You NEED a thermostat. Google snake burns if you need to. I won't link any pics, but I'm telling you one look at snake burns and you'll be unplugging that UTH faster than you can say "I cooked my snake"....at least I hope!!!

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Originally Posted by craigafrechette

Welcome to the forum and the wonderful world of snake keeping.

Seems like you've got a bit to learn still.
Start here: pythons.net/forums/showthread.php?127203-Ball-Python-(Python-regius)-Caresheet

...and here...
pythons.net/forums/showthread.php?201740-How-to-Setup-a-Glass-Tank-(20-long)-With-Pictures!

Also, VERY IMPORTANT: ARE YOUR HEAT SOURCES REGULATED BY A THERMOSTAT???
If not, PLEASE unplug them ASAP. Unregulated heat sources can cause dangerous heat spikes which can cause serious burns or worse to your snake.

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If you already read the links, maybe re-read them.

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Originally Posted by AnnieHeart

Put a towel over a part of your screen lid and that should help a bit with your humidity levels.

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I've never heard of this, I know plexiglass works. I'll have to try it with my nerodia.

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Originally Posted by Furyo

I've never heard of this, I know plexiglass works. I'll have to try it with my nerodia.

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Dry towels actually will absorb humidity and draw it out of the enclsoure. Anything absorbant wont work.