Trouble having enough heat

I am really new to this hobby. I have experience fishkeeping so for the heat, it was pretty simple, drop enough heaters to heat the tank and the job is done. I have trouble keeping the ambiant temperatures at 80 degrees. The BP is in a 20 gallon. I have a heat mat on the botton that covers a bit less than a third of the bottom pannel. I also have one bigger(made for 30-40 gallons) on the side. I added a 100 watts ceramic heater on the top. Everything is on its own thermostat. I have my probes right underneath the heat mats so its between the heat mat and the glass and they are both set to 92. The probe for the ceramic heater is on the opposite side of the aquarium and is set to 81 degrees but i never reach it. I mesure with the heat gun the top of his hide wich is underneath the ceramic heater and it gets maybe 81 degrees but inside its maybe 76, 77. What would you guys recommend me to do, I suppose the best would be to have the ambient temperature at 80 and inside his hide on the hot side at least 80 ?


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What are the temperatures in the room? I'm assuming he's in an aquarium, they aren't very good at holding in heat. You could put insulation boards around the tank (making sure they aren't a fire hazard), that might help keep it warmer if you're okay with it not looking very good. No part of the tank should be higher than 90*F, an ideal temperature is about 87*. You could start by increasing the thermostat temperatures by a couple degrees, I wouldn't raise it much higher just to avoid an accident.

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Originally Posted by Erie_herps

What are the temperatures in the room? I'm assuming he's in an aquarium, they aren't very good at holding in heat. You could put insulation boards around the tank (making sure they aren't a fire hazard), that might help keep it warmer if you're okay with it not looking very good. No part of the tank should be higher than 90*F, an ideal temperature is about 87*. You could start by increasing the thermostat temperatures by a couple degrees, I wouldn't raise it much higher just to avoid an accident.

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Yes it is in an aquarium and the room is 64-65 at night, I have an insulation pannel on the top and back. I tought to put some on the other sides too but would be a pain to just try to look at the snake. But with my heat mats, they are set at 92 but with a heat gun I only see 82 inside the glass, is it normal ?

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I used thick art paper on the sides and back of glass tanks to keep some heat in. On top I made a cardboard cutout that I covered in foil. I left a window for the heat lamp and CHE I was running. Mine was a 40 gallon and I used a bulb on one side and the che on the other so you shouldn't need that now.

How thick is the substrate over the uth? Should be no more than a 1/4 inch.

As long as the ambient on the cool side stays around 75 I'm happy. My snake room often times is between 75 and 77, with a few degree fluctuation each way at times. My hotspots are set to 85-88.

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Originally Posted by KMG

I used thick art paper on the sides and back of glass tanks to keep some heat in. On top I made a cardboard cutout that I covered in foil. I left a window for the heat lamp and CHE I was running. Mine was a 40 gallon and I used a bulb on one side and the che on the other so you shouldn't need that now.

How thick is the substrate over the uth? Should be no more than a 1/4 inch.

As long as the ambient on the cool side stays around 75 I'm happy. My snake room often times is between 75 and 77, with a few degree fluctuation each way at times. My hotspots are set to 85-88.

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The foil I guess is so that the cardboard isnt a fire hazard or to reflect some heat ? And I have thicker substrate than that. I was recomended that if I use coco mulch as a substrate the BP like to dig a bit, would you recomend me to take some of that off ? I have maybe 2 or 3 inches of substrate.

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I would try to get the ambient temp of the room up to the mid-70's. Can you run a small space heater and close off the room from the rest of the house, assuming that your home's HVAC thermostat isn't in this room?

A glass tank simply doesn't hold heat very well since glass is a poor insulator. Long-term you're better off using a PVC or melamine reptile enclosure.

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Originally Posted by D4NKYD4NK

The foil I guess is so that the cardboard isnt a fire hazard or to reflect some heat ? And I have thicker substrate than that. I was recomended that if I use coco mulch as a substrate the BP like to dig a bit, would you recomend me to take some of that off ? I have maybe 2 or 3 inches of substrate.

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Yes, over the uth it needs to be removed. If it's thick it can insulate the uth and get very hot. Then if the snake gets down there you can have issues. This is also why the surface temps are low. The heat is being trapped inside.

I keep my substrate thick everywhere except over any uth. Over my uth you can see mostly glass.

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Originally Posted by KMG

Yes, over the uth it needs to be removed. If it's thick it can insulate the uth and get very hot. Then if the snake gets down there you can have issues. This is also why the surface temps are low. The heat is being trapped inside.

I keep my substrate thick everywhere except over any uth. Over my uth you can see mostly glass.

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Ahh perfect I understand, I'll take some of the substrate over the uth off and leave i in the rest of the tank, it makes sense he'll be able to be close of the uth !
Thanks !

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Originally Posted by D4NKYD4NK

Ahh perfect I understand, I'll take some of the substrate over the uth off and leave i in the rest of the tank, it makes sense he'll be able to be close of the uth !
Thanks !

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That's exactly right- that too much substrate over the UTH prevents the warmth from rising (plus it can make the UTH fail if it overheats as a result).

Also, UTH are not meant to be used vertically- first, it's not efficient- heat rises up & out- but also may cause it to fail?

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

That's exactly right- that too much substrate over the UTH prevents the warmth from rising (plus it can make the UTH fail if it overheats as a result).

Also, UTH are not meant to be used vertically- first, it's not efficient- heat rises up & out- but also may cause it to fail?

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Literally on the package its written that it can be put vertically. And I know its not really efficient but i'm trying to heat it the most I can so I think its better for it to be there than not !

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Originally Posted by D4NKYD4NK

Literally on the package its written that it can be put vertically. And I know its not really efficient but i'm trying to heat it the most I can so I think its better for it to be there than not !

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Okay, glad you have one that's meant to be used that way- I guess for geckos & such. :rockon:

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

Okay, glad you have one that's meant to be used that way- I guess for geckos & such. :rockon:

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I tought every uth was like this but i have 2 and both said could be placed on bottom or side

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Originally Posted by D4NKYD4NK

I tought every uth was like this but i have 2 and both said could be placed on bottom or side

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I don't think it will give you issues but they are not meant for....so they are not good at....heating the air.

Your temps are not terrible though so with a little tweaking you should be fine.