I need to cool down my hot side!!

[catpippo]

I've had my ball python for less than a week now and I've noticed that it gets EXTREMELY hot under one of his warm hides, sometimes reaching 100+ºF. I have a 30 gallon tank and my snake is fairly small, and he seems to enjoy being under his hot hide. I have a ZooMed 30-40 gallon UTH and a ZooMed thermometer, which I now keep under his hot hide. Do you think my snake is damaged by now?? He stays in those temperatures all day and I can't seem to lower them to consistently keep it at 92ºF or so. I am very scared and want whatever's best for him, I need to know whether this is harming him and how to fix it.
PLEASE HELP ME

Sidenote: the ambient temp/cool side temp is usually around 76º

He doesn't seem to be going back and forth to regulate his temperature.
P.S. He is alive.


ANY ADVICE IS APPRECIATED

[cory9oh4]

Basically your under tank heater is just running wide open. You need to purchase a thermostat to regulate the heat being given off by the under tank heater. There are several websites that have them for sale. I personally recommend spyder robotics http://www.spyderrobotics.com/store/index.phpmain_page=product_info&cPath=1&products_id=30&zenid=f5157b06d5a4106a827 58ce47916b466

Check the belly of your snake to see if its irritated in any way.

[Daybreaker]

Get a thermostat asap, or in the meantime if you need to order one either unplug the UTH or get a lamp dimmer from a hardware store and plug the UTH into that. A thermostat will regulate the heat pad so it doesn't overheat.

As to if it's already caused damage: if he doesn't have any burns/pinking on the belly not associated with shedding you probably caught it in time. So either unplug the UTH or get a dimmer and look for a good thermostat: I like the VE200s but they're $115, but there's one on Amazon for about $30 that many people use and like.

[catpippo]

Thank you so much, you guys are really awesome. I was told not to handle him until Thursday, since he's new, but do you think I should check? I don't want to stress him out too much.

[cory9oh4]

He should be fine to be checked for signs of irritation/burning. Just don't over do it.

[catpippo]

I checked on him - no pink and he seemed to be in a decent mood. The substrate in side his hot hide doesn't feel very hot at all and now I'm wondering if my thermometer probe is acting up.. It really doesn't feel like it could have been that hot in there but I know I can't just rely on how it feels to my touch.

[Shera]

Yeah, I'd just check him quickly, and unplug the UTH until you can get something to regulate it. A lamp dimmer from the hardware store will work in a pinch, but they aren't ideal because the UTH temp will still fluctuate with room temps. If you can afford a Herpstat, then by all means, go with that! If not a Hydrofarm (check amazon) will work, but they aren't as good since they are on/off instead of pulse proportional, and have a much greater temp swing. You will want to sandwich the probe between the UTH and outside glass.

[cory9oh4]

Where is your thermometer probe placed? Most recommend to put it between the under side of the enclosure and the under tank heater. Keep in mind even though the substrate doesn't seem hot, the snake is more than capable of scooting his way down under it to get closer to the heat source.

[catpippo]

I'm so glad he seems to be okay... I rest the probe on top of the substrate in the warm hide he likes the best, with the chord anchored by the lip of the hide. He has cypress mulch substrate that seems to be pretty matted down

[tlich]

You want to measure the temp of the glass, snakes can and will burrow even in cypress mulch both of mine do. You can even use hot glue to keep it in place.