Do I even need the heatpad?

Yes it is attached to a thermostat. I just used the temp gun and the glass was at 104!

I never see her on the heatpad anyways. Should I just turn it off? Or dial it down to 78 or something?

In any event, I'm glad I have the temp gun, but I'm getting neurotic with checking temperatures all the time.

Something is very amiss if the glass is over a 100F tbh.

I'd turn the stat setting well down until you've got safe temps. You can always start moving the temps up gradually


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You have two options

1# Keep the room temp at 85/86 and you won't need supplemental heat

2# Have your ambient temp at 76/78 and provide a PROPER hot spot at 86/88 how does not matter some ways are more efficient and more cost effective with less heat loss UTH for example, however is has to be regulated with a RELIABLE thermostat, if you set your thermostat properly outside the enclosure right on the heat pad your temps should not be 104 if they do your t-stat is defective.

Proper temps are ESSENTIAL for digestion.

She isn’t on the heat pad because it’s hot. I have noticed my snakes will use the hide with the heat under it right after feeding, usually a couple days, then they move around. Ideally you should figure out where it needs to be set to get the temps you need.
I had been using a thermostat I bought brand new off Amazon that would not hold a steady temp and ultimately it was a bad thermostat. I have my current thermostats set at the temp I want and that’s the reading I get with in a degree or two.
Curious what your set at and seeing that temp.

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Originally Posted by Florence_Bones

Yes it is attached to a thermostat. I just used the temp gun and the glass was at 104!

I never see her on the heatpad anyways. Should I just turn it off? Or dial it down to 78 or something?

In any event, I'm glad I have the temp gun, but I'm getting neurotic with checking temperatures all the time.

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With temps. like 104* (hot enough to burn your snake!) you'd best be dialing your thermostat down. And be thankful that your snake isn't using it, but check anyway
for a pink belly burn in case she did when you weren't looking. The surface your snake can make contact with should be about 90* at the most. Please fix it A.S.A.P.

In a "perfect world" you'd have set up your cage for about a week to make these adjustments BEFORE your snake moved into it- for safety reasons.

Thermostat was at 90. I've moved it down to 80.7 now.

I did check for a pink belly. Pissed her right off, now she's furious with me. I'm reluctant to check the glass temp again because I don't want to stress her out even more.

I have several layers of paper towel over the heat pad and the heat gun is reading 80 when I scan the towels.

This whole journey has been anxiety inducing, and I feel bad for my snake. I've become neurotic and I can tell she's stressed. Can you give me some advice on how to relax? Obviously as a first time BP owner I want to take proper care of her.

Your tempertures needs to be 86/88 not 80, you need to provide a gradient with PROPER temps.

I would think that going over the basics would be a good idea at this point.

You should rule out a defective thermostat. I chased temperatures by lowering and raising the setting on my defective unit and with mine it just wasn’t off by a certain number of degrees, it just did what it wanted. I could set it at 88 and it would never come on, set it at 89 it was way to hot. It was all over the board. For about 10 bucks you could get a light dimmer and dial in the temps and at least have something going while you figure out the thermostat.

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Originally Posted by Deborah

Your tempertures needs to be 86/88 not 80, you need to provide a gradient with PROPER temps.

I would think that going over the basics would be a good idea at this point.

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My heatpad is set to 80 on the thermostat because when I had it set to 90, the glass temperature read 104.

The ambiant in the tank is at 84.9, on BOTH of my thermometers.

Thank you for 1.) Actually reading and comprehending my posts and 2.) The unnecessary attitude.

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Originally Posted by Florence_Bones

My heatpad is set to 80 on the thermostat because when I had it set to 90, the glass temperature read 104.

The ambiant in the tank is at 84.9, on BOTH of my thermometers.

Thank you for 1.) Actually reading and comprehending my posts and 2.) The unnecessary attitude.

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Where are you placing the thermostat probe?

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Originally Posted by Jakethesnake69

You should rule out a defective thermostat. I chased temperatures by lowering and raising the setting on my defective unit and with mine it just wasn’t off by a certain number of degrees, it just did what it wanted. I could set it at 88 and it would never come on, set it at 89 it was way to hot. It was all over the board. For about 10 bucks you could get a light dimmer and dial in the temps and at least have something going while you figure out the thermostat.

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I've already spent almost $1000.00 on snake stuff. Eeeek.

I'd measure the glass again but I don't want to open the viv and stress her out.....

It's clearly an issue of the heat pad heating up the glass. I just need to find the sweet spot.

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Originally Posted by Florence_Bones

I've already spent almost $1000.00 on snake stuff. Eeeek.

I'd measure the glass again but I don't want to open the viv and stress her out.....

It's clearly an issue of the heat pad heating up the glass. I just need to find the sweet spot.

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Again, where are you placing the thermostat probe?

This is essential in the thermostat regulating the temps properly - especially in a glass enclosure where the heat can accumulate on the glass surface.

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Originally Posted by alittleFREE

Where are you placing the thermostat probe?

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Thermostat prob is in between glass and heatpad but on edge of heatpad.

I have one digital thermometer in center rear of tank and a digital thermometer/hydrometer at front center of tank. Both stay within 0.5 - 1 degree within each other.

Put it directly in the middle.


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Originally Posted by alittleFREE

Put it directly in the middle.


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Peel the heatpad off the glass?

Any suggestions on how to lift the tank without tweaking my back?

I know this is frustrating but when you say the edge I’m assuming you mean to one side and not in the center. I have noticed with the Zoo Med or similar pads (mostly the stick on type)it can vary a great deal from one spot to another. I have seen differences of 15 degrees from the edge like you say and the center of the pad. That was on the worst one I had most were off more than I felt was reasonable. It very well may be getting a good reading at the edge but not in the center. Ideally the hottest spot on the pad is where the probe should be. Then if indeed the thermostat is working correctly the hottest spot will be on target with thermo setting and no burn risk to your snake. That’s the biggest concern, the well being and health of your snake.
Try measuring temps at all four corners of pad and the center as well. Even spot check randomly over the entire surface area. It could involve a little time but knowing all of this and setting up your thermostat setting according to hottest spot may work but best practice would be to relocate the probe to that hot spot. It may mean pealing off pad and taping it back on if needed.
I have switched over to Ultratherm pads and the temp variation is more consistent overall but I have gone through and found the best spot for my probe on each pad. For me it’s pretty central on all of mine.

Not sure of why it made this one big paragraph I broke it down but to no avail, sorry.

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Originally Posted by Jakethesnake69

I know this is frustrating but when you say the edge I’m assuming you mean to one side and not in the center. I have noticed with the Zoo Med or similar pads (mostly the stick on type)it can vary a great deal from one spot to another. I have seen differences of 15 degrees from the edge like you say and the center of the pad. That was on the worst one I had most were off more than I felt was reasonable. It very well may be getting a good reading at the edge but not in the center. Ideally the hottest spot on the pad is where the probe should be. Then if indeed the thermostat is working correctly the hottest spot will be on target with thermo setting and no burn risk to your snake. That’s the biggest concern, the well being and health of your snake.
Try measuring temps at all four corners of pad and the center as well. Even spot check randomly over the entire surface area. It could involve a little time but knowing all of this and setting up your thermostat setting according to hottest spot may work but best practice would be to relocate the probe to that hot spot. It may mean pealing off pad and taping it back on if needed.
I have switched over to Ultratherm pads and the temp variation is more consistent overall but I have gone through and found the best spot for my probe on each pad. For me it’s pretty central on all of mine.

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This is good advice. I just need to convince my husband to help me lift the viv. I've gotten neurotic with constantly checking the snake temps, and my snake is super stressed.

My husband has a bad back and I injured my lower back the day we brought the 40 gal home.

I have the thermostat set at 83 and the temp of the glass is 88 when I use the heat gun so I'm okay for now with those numbers. Ambiant goes from 84 - 88 throughout the day.

Now I just need to back the frig off and leave her alone for the next 7 days. I don't even think I'm going to feed her on Sunday.

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Originally Posted by Jakethesnake69

Not sure of why it made this one big paragraph I broke it down but to no avail, sorry.

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It is all good. Thank you for being so kind to me. I really am trying here.

What brand thermostat are you using?
I have seen some of the cheaper on/off ones way off from the settings.

No one really mentions this with heat guns, but what is its distance to spot ratio?
I know some reptile brands use 1:1, and other inexpensive ones can be the same or 10:1 or 12:1.

This ratio determines how far away you need to hold to gun to he seeing accurate temp readings due to the way they work. First number says the distance of the gun to the object being measured, second number is the diameter of the surface it is measuring.

I.e. for 1:1, from 1 inch away, it measures a 1 inch circle. This is less forgiving in measurements. 12:1 is 12 inches away measures a 1 inch circle. This is proportional, so if held 1 foot away, the 1:1 gun is measuring a 1 foot circle which won't be accurate, esp on a hot spot smaller than that.

It does sound like you're getting it close to measure, but thought I'd bring it up to help rule out issues.



If your thermometers have probes, you could stick one at the glass over the heat pad so you can see the temps without constantly agitating your snake. It isn't as good as the temp gun, but should he able to show if it is going too high.

Alternatively, if you are really panicking on her stress, you could set her up in an insulated box (i.e. cooler, foam box) with warm (85-88 degree) water bottles, put her in a tied off pillowcase, and close it up for a few hours while you get the temps sorted out. The water should keep it warm enough for a while. This is one of the preferred winter time power outage configurations, I've seen on here.

The dark, enclosed space should help her stay calmer, you wouldn't bother her for the adjustments, and it will keep her warm for enough time. Just be sure she can't escape it (zip tie the bag/pillow case should work)

As for the bad backs... I'd definitely say to try to just use leverage and avoid lifting more than you need to. If the table is big enough. Empty it out and tip it onto its side instead of lifting. Get access to the heat without taking all the weight yourself. 2nd pair of hands would be good to guide it down so it doesn't slam onto the table.
I'm not sure if that would still be too much, and if so, is there a friend/family member that could swing by to help with that part?

Since the pad is stuck, you can probably just attach the probe beneath the pad in the center as long as the table/stand it is on is a solid surface. If it isnt solid, the probe temp will fluctuate too much to he accurate. It may be a risk to peel off since some of those mats will break internally if it bends wrong or too much. (Most of us don't use the sticky backing on the pads when we use that type and just tape its edges to a tank instead so it can be removed if needed)

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If you are really over $1000 in snake stuff so far (and I believe it, lol) just go all the way and get things right.

How far up is the tank? Is it on a table / stand of some sort? If so, just slide the side with the heat tape off and have your husband hold that end up. He can rest the edge of the tank on a chair top or something you put on that side, to help him hold it up. This way you don't have to remove the snake and everything inside of the tank, less stress for everyone.

You can then get underneath and peel off that heat tape. You may end up ruining that one, but again, if its not working correctly the way it is, what is the point...

If you want to get another stick on one, then put silver foil on the sticky side. This way it won't be sticky anymore and you can remove it, re-position it, etc. Once the heat pad is off, place the probe in the middle of the heated area and tape it to the bottom of the glass tank. Then tape the heat tape onto the glass tank along its edges. I would also put the tank on a piece of styrofoam, so that the styrofoam is between the tank and table. Or at least under the heat pad. Then carefully slide the tank back into place, holding the edge up slightly so that you don't scrape off the heat tape while doing so.

I know you have a lot of money into this, but eventually you will figure out that for a couple of hundred dollars you can get a actual snake enclosure, like a Neodesha platic cage or a PVC enclosure. They hold heat and humidity better, are light weight and easy to clean, and the snake feels safer in them, because they are enclosed. Glass tanks are really not a good enclosure for a heat/humidity/seclusion loving species such as a Ball Python. But for now, you can make it work. Its just more effort ..

Florence, what brand of heat pad and thermostat are you using? that's crazy!

Thermostat is Jump Start and heat pad is repti thermi.

Jumpstarts work great as long as you go by the actual temperature of the heat source. The sticker on them showing temp is useless.

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Originally Posted by PitOnTheProwl

Jumpstarts work great as long as you go by the actual temperature of the heat source. The sticker on them showing temp is useless.

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I'll keep using the heat gun to check glass temp.

I'm trying to leave her alone so she can relax. I don't even know if I should feed her tomorrow. My plan is to leave her alone for one week and only go in her viv to check temps and change water.