Ambient Temps

[Shelby]

Is there any way to keep ambient temps up without using heat lamps? Room temperature in my house is around 70 degrees, but some snakes like BPs shouldn't have the temp go below 75 degrees, and ideally should be mid 80s on the cool side (right?)

So when you use a larger tank (like a 30 gallon) and the UTH covers about 1/3 of the cage floor, how can you keep the ambient temps on the cool side from getting too cool?

[Adam_Wysocki]

Low to mid 80's on the cool side is correct. This is where a thermostat would make a really good investment. You could put a second UTH on the cool side and set the thermostat to 83 degrees. It would be perfect.

That said you could do the same thing with a rheostat and a digital thermometer, it would just have to be monitored and manually adjusted if needed. Also, the UTH on the HOT side should be on a rheostat as well, some of those things can get really hot!

In my opinion thermostats are just as important as the enclosure when keeping a ball python. Proper temperatures are critical to their health and well being.

-adam

[Brandon.O]

I dont have any thermostats, i just dont have the money to but them right now.

So until then, my space heater in my room is working just fine, its about 80-82 in there right now. It does fall a little during the night though.

[Shelby]

Is a rheostat like a dimmer?

With two UTHs per cage, I'll run out of outlets real quick! (noo!)

At some point I want to get a helix thermostat. I'm not sure exactly how they work though. If I had one set up with heat tape on a rack, would I have to get a seperate helix for each rack? (I mean if the two racks required different temps) Those things are awful expensive.

[Adam_Wysocki]

Is a rheostat like a dimmer?

Exactly ... lamp dimmers can be purchased in home depot for less than $10.

With two UTHs per cage, I'll run out of outlets real quick! (noo!)

Get a power strip/surge supressor. I think your snake deserves it.

At some point I want to get a helix thermostat. I'm not sure exactly how they work though. If I had one set up with heat tape on a rack, would I have to get a seperate helix for each rack? (I mean if the two racks required different temps)

Depends on what you consider a "rack". There are many different rack systems available in different configurations. Some of them can be set up with multiple units on one thermostat and some of them need one thermostat per unit.

Those things are awful expensive.

So is a vet visit to diagnose and treat a respiratory infection.

-adam

[Shaun J]

You can always go to beanfarm,they have a themrostat for 30

[Shelby]

I'd build the rack. I'm just asking if helix thermostats can control multiple setups with different temperatures...

[Adam_Wysocki]

No, most thermostats that I'm aware of only allow a single set temerpature (some offer a night time drop as well). So for different temps you'll need multiple thermostats. Also, most thermostats have a max wattage capacity, so there is a limit to how many devices they can control.

-adam

[Shelby]

What do the helix thermostats do that the cheaper ones don't?

[Shaun J]

http://www.ball-pythons.net/PNphpBB2...ic-t-6861.html