Ambient Temperature? Ambient Lighting? and other questions

[momma_mia]

Yet another noob question. I'll have tons until I get it right. I might even ask the same questions a million times until it clicks in this brain of mine, so please forgive me. Thanks!

What exactly IS ambient temperature?
What exactly IS ambient lighting?

I have an UTH. Should I get the hydrofarm and attach it to the UTH or should I get a CHE? Both are about the same price.

Is it okay to leave an infrared light on all the time? I have a 15 gallon tank. I am trying to get all our temps up to par and stabilized.

I don't have the sensors in the right spot, will be fixing those today, but temp. at top of tank is 70o on cool side and 90o-100o on hot side. So I know temps at bottom of tank are way off. How can I fix this?

[The Serpent Merchant]

Ambiant temperature is the air temperature in the cage and/or the temperature of the room that the snake is on. (this term is used very widely and I understand your confusion)

Ambiant lighting is light from the room that the enclosure is in, or any non-heating light (for example I have a florescent light in my cages for viewing purposes, they put out very little heat)
Ambiant lighting is not necessary for a ball python

I would get the Hydrofarm and use the UTH, I don't like CHE's all that much... they work great for some people, and especially well for people who keep lizards and other desert species.

I use to use my infra-red lamps on 24/7 red light does not bother night vision, and is badly even visible to snakes. what they don't like is bright white light. If you are worried about safety as long as the light fixture has a ceramic socket you won't have any issues. some of the cheap lamp domes have plastic sockets and they can melt.

[The Serpent Merchant]

Now for your temperature problems, I would hold off on changing anything until you get the thermometer probe in the right place. Once you do we can actually see what we are dealing with.

[momma_mia]

probes are in place now.

hot side is under his hide. temp. reading: 84o

cool side is at bottom of tank: temp. reading 70o

ordered hydrofarm thermostat for UTH

[The Serpent Merchant]

probes are in place now.

hot side is under his hide. temp. reading: 84o

cool side is at bottom of tank: temp. reading 70o

ordered hydrofarm thermostat for UTH

Ok so right now what are your heat sources (bulbs and wattages)

[UpNorth]

Looks like once your hot side is up to snuff with the thermostat, you should have a decent temperature gradient.

[momma_mia]

I have a 75w infrared light on my hot side. I will be going out today to get a 100w infrared bulb and lamp assembly (both of the ones I have are only rated for 75w bulbs only). Then I plan on switching the 75w infrared to my cool side and put it on low and the 100w on hot side. Unless you advise otherwise?

[The Serpent Merchant]

Sounds good

[UpNorth]

Try to rely more on the UTH to provide a base line of 93-95 below the substrate and see how the gradient turns out. If you need to get the ambients up after that, use the infrared as needed.

I have a 55watt infrared on a dimmer that I kick up or down as need be to adjust the ambient temperature. (20gal)

[momma_mia]

Try to rely more on the UTH to provide a base line of 93-95 below the substrate and see how the gradient turns out. If you need to get the ambients up after that, use the infrared as needed.

I have a 55watt infrared on a dimmer that I kick up or down as need be to adjust the ambient temperature. (20gal)

Thanks. I will be plugging my UTH back in once I get my hydrofarm thermo. Which will hopefully not take too long.