40 gallon Exo Terra heating

Hello! My new lesser mystic ball python (first bal python ever!) will be here in a couple of hours. I am super excited, but the temps in my tank are not 100% ideal. Inside my warm hide is 88.5 so I think that is good, but ambient temp on the hot side is only 76 and the cold side is only 74. With a humidity of 67%. I have a CHE 150w coming in the mail with a dimmable light fixture. So my main questions are does any one else have a 40 gallon Exo Terra and how do you heat it? I have the 30-40 gallon zoo med heat mat in there with a thermostat. The probe rests on the thermostat and I’m having to have the thermostat turned all the way up to 105 to get the 88.6 “basking temp.” Which the heater doesn’t always get to 105. It stays about 103. Also is the screen on top of Exo terras ok to put heating sources on? I would assume so but it looks kind of fragile. Any help will be greatly appreciated!

Also can the CHE be left on 24/7?

Wait is the heat pad in the enclosure or under it? The way you worded it makes it sound like it's inside. It should be under it and 105 or 103 is wayyyyy too hot, even if it brings the "basking spot" up to temp. The heat mats are not made to raise air temp, they're pretty much strictly for belly heat. Your snake will dig down a little and touch the spot that is 100+ and could get burnt. Above 90 is dangerous for a bp.

It's good that you're getting a che. I have a large exo terra and between a uth and a che my temps are pretty good. I think people do put heat sources directly on the screen top, but I use a lamp stand for mine since the mesh seems kind of weak, plus there's plastic on the lid. And yes the uth can be on all the time. It isn't like a light, that will disturb your snake during the night.

Until you can get the che set up I recommend: moving the uth to under the tank if it's inside and turning the uth down to a temp where the glass directly above it where the snake will sit will be 90. To raise ambient temps you can turn up the heat in your house and cover the top of the tank to trap in heat. If you're misting it to keep up humidity, you can also lessen that until you get the che because misting makes the temps cooler, too.

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Originally Posted by royalreilly

Wait is the heat pad in the enclosure or under it? The way you worded it makes it sound like it's inside. It should be under it and 105 or 103 is wayyyyy too hot, even if it brings the "basking spot" up to temp. The heat mats are not made to raise air temp, they're pretty much strictly for belly heat. Your snake will dig down a little and touch the spot that is 100+ and could get burnt. Above 90 is dangerous for a bp.

It's good that you're getting a che. I have a large exo terra and between a uth and a che my temps are pretty good. I think people do put heat sources directly on the screen top, but I use a lamp stand for mine since the mesh seems kind of weak, plus there's plastic on the lid. And yes the uth can be on all the time. It isn't like a light, that will disturb your snake during the night.

Until you can get the che set up I recommend: moving the uth to under the tank if it's inside and turning the uth down to a temp where the glass directly above it where the snake will sit will be 90. To raise ambient temps you can turn up the heat in your house and cover the top of the tank to trap in heat. If you're misting it to keep up humidity, you can also lessen that until you get the che because misting makes the temps cooler, too.

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Oh no! Sorry, the UTH is under the tank with the thermostat probe in between the heater and the glass. The thermostat probe (temp of the UTH) is at 104, but the temp on the glass is at 89.

I keep my two ball python in exo terras . I insulate with foam boards on the back, two sides and the piece of glass right under the doors. I cover 90 percent of the top with the same insulation board. On each enclosure I run two thermostats one for each uth and I run second thermostats on light fixtures for each tank that keeps ambient at 80. On my females tank I have two light fixtures on the same thermostat because her tank is longer because I was finding the temperature gradient to great. I also only use 25 - 50 watt bulbs so the temperature of the screen top doesn't get hotter than 90ish.

I have the exoterra that's I think 36"x18" and 18"tall. I use an UTH for the hot spot and a RHP for the ambient temp. Ambient stays about 84 on the hot side and 79-80 on the cool side. Hot spot is 88-90.


I tried a CHE but because it heats a smaller area you get a really high hot spot if you want to heat the whole enclosure. Plus because of the really hot spot it dries everything so humidity is harder to keep where you want it.

The RHP spreads the heat out so much more than the CHE I only have to spray the enclosure with water a couple times a week.

Okay I'm glad to hear that it's under the tank and the temps aren't too hot. You scared me for a second :rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by SquirmyPug

I have the exoterra that's I think 36"x18" and 18"tall. I use an UTH for the hot spot and a RHP for the ambient temp. Ambient stays about 84 on the hot side and 79-80 on the cool side. Hot spot is 88-90.


I tried a CHE but because it heats a smaller area you get a really high hot spot if you want to heat the whole enclosure. Plus because of the really hot spot it dries everything so humidity is harder to keep where you want it.

The RHP spreads the heat out so much more than the CHE I only have to spray the enclosure with water a couple times a week.

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What is an RHP?

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Originally Posted by royalreilly

Okay I'm glad to hear that it's under the tank and the temps aren't too hot. You scared me for a second :rolleyes:

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Yea I watched ALOT of videos on the UTH bc the placement of the thermostat probe seems to be pretty controversial.

RHP is a radiant heat panel.

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Originally Posted by SquirmyPug

RHP is a radiant heat panel.

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What size did you end up needing and do you use a thermostat?

I believe mine are both 60 watt. Yes you need a thermostat with any heating device. Even with the herpstat that dims it still turns off sometimes so a lower wattage would probably work. I like that the RHP covers about half of the enclosure though.

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Originally Posted by SquirmyPug

I believe mine are both 60 watt. Yes you need a thermostat with any heating device. Even with the herpstat that dims it still turns off sometimes so a lower wattage would probably work. I like that the RHP covers about half of the enclosure though.

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Where do you put the probe for the thermostat?

Because the cage has a screen top I put the RHP on top of the screen. Then I hang the thermostat probe from the screen or the plastic bar that goes across the lid. I hang it a few inches below the RHP and adjust the thermostat until I get the temps I want.

He’s here! The temps have gotten better with a blanket over the top.
Basking is at 91, ambient in hot site is 80 and cool side is 78. I’m going to try a low watt CHE on a dimmer and see if that will work since I already have it ordered and if not I’ll get a RHP. He hasn’t figured out how to get into his hot hide yet but he’s chilling on the cool side.

So temps with a 100 watt CHE are perfect! 93 basking, 84 warm side ambient, 80 cool side ambient. Humidity is proving to be a little difficult which I expected. I have added spaghum moss and moved he water bowl. I have glass coming to cover up most of the screen top so once that comes in I’m sure it will be a lot easier. He passed his first BM so I guess that’s a good sign.


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If he is comfortable enough to pass a bm and let predators smell him do you think I should go ahead and try to feed or just wait the recommended 5-7 days?


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Originally Posted by SquirmyPug

I believe mine are both 60 watt. Yes you need a thermostat with any heating device. Even with the herpstat that dims it still turns off sometimes so a lower wattage would probably work. I like that the RHP covers about half of the enclosure though.

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So did you need 2 60 watt RHP for just one tank? Also are they safe to use with the plastic top? The CHE is keeping my temps good but I’m having to spray at least twice a day.


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No just one per tank, and I just checked they are 65 watt. Because it spreads the heat out more the heater itself actually doesn't get as hot as a che. I haven't had any problems with the top of my exoterra.

I have the RHP on top of the screen lid and then cover pretty much all the rest of the screen with plastic wrap to hold humidity and a cloth on top of that to hold a little more heat. It's working great for both my BPs but of course everyone is different.

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Originally Posted by SquirmyPug

No just one per tank, and I just checked they are 65 watt. Because it spreads the heat out more the heater itself actually doesn't get as hot as a che. I haven't had any problems with the top of my exoterra.

I have the RHP on top of the screen lid and then cover pretty much all the rest of the screen with plastic wrap to hold humidity and a cloth on top of that to hold a little more heat. It's working great for both my BPs but of course everyone is different.

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Ok cool. It’s a little bit more of an investment but I’ve heard they last way longer. I have glass inserts coming for the top so that should help with the humidity too.


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Quote:

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Originally Posted by SquirmyPug

No just one per tank, and I just checked they are 65 watt. Because it spreads the heat out more the heater itself actually doesn't get as hot as a che. I haven't had any problems with the top of my exoterra.

I have the RHP on top of the screen lid and then cover pretty much all the rest of the screen with plastic wrap to hold humidity and a cloth on top of that to hold a little more heat. It's working great for both my BPs but of course everyone is different.

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Its on top of the enclosure? I just watched a video on youtube and it looked like they installed inside the tank.

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Originally Posted by Jcd5v

Its on top of the enclosure? I just watched a video on youtube and it looked like they installed inside the tank.

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Yep. You can install it inside also if you want. It was easier and made more sense with my enclosure to leave it on top.

I have a 40 gal with a uth and che, my che keeps the (air) temperature the right temp as long as my room temperature is not under 69 degrees, i have the uth on the hot side as well which gets it to the right temperature as well i keep a towel on top of part of the screen lid which slightly helps with containing te heat hope this helped :)