A tad too warm?

[flatsix02]

Pulled my baby out tonight, a few hours after I finally got her a UTH, and she seemd almost moist from the heat / humidity... She seems to be a lot more relaxed and sprawled out under her rock now that I've gotten her the pad, but I'm worried with how moist she feels. I dont have a t-stat for her bedding over the heating pad (and I know I need one badly), but the air temp gauge in the tank says ambient 75ish, it doesnt flux much.

Shes in a 40 gal long, btw. Is this something i need to be worried about? Shes warm to the touch on her belly, but not hot or near damaging temps by any means. I guess I'm more worried about it being "too humid," is that possible?

[steveboos]

Wow a 40 gallon is wayyyy to big for almost any ball python except a gigantic female breeder. I would really get a smaller enclosure like a rubber maid container or a sterilite container and use a dimmer switch to control the UTH.

NEVER EVER use a UTH without something to control it, some of them only get 120 degrees, which is still to high, but most will get to 150+ degrees without you even realizing it. You don't have to spend $80, but at least go to Lowes or Home Depot and get a lamp dimmer switch for around $10. I really wouldn't worry about it being too humid in a 40 gallon, it's going to be almost impossible for you to keep it at the recommended levels (50-70%) in that size of a tank.

I would really, really invest in a small plastic container, a Dimmer Switch, some paper towels or newspaper and a water bowl with a small hide, this is going to be the best enclosure for your baby.

If shes warm, it is going to be over 95-100 degrees, keep in mind your body temp is 98.6, so if the UTH is hot or the snake is hot to you, the temperature is way too high.

[flatsix02]

She by no means is hot to me, when I pick her up, i notice no temp difference between her belly and my hand. I found a good controller for $30 that I'm getting tomorrow to make sure the temps stay under control, the LAST thing I want to do is injure her. I have the smallest room in my house, so its always warmer and more humid, so even though shes in a 40, I know its humid enough for her.

The only reason she's in a 40 gal long, is because I got it for free from a friend when I got her, funny thing is, she seems to LOVE it. Shes very friendly, constantly roams from time to time, and has never snapped at myself or anyone else. Always eats on a weekly basis, and has none of the characteristics of a ball that is nervous or not comfy with her surroundings. She'll be a year old next month.

[AkHerps]

Constantly roaming from time to time can be a sign of stress. Ball pythons are naturally very shy and are not often seen.

[flatsix02]

I guess I should have said the only time I see her roaming is when shes getting a drink, or late late at night for a short period of time, nothing out of the ordinary compared to any other ball.

[steveboos]

Well as long as the room is dark most of the time and not in a high traffic area, it might be ok, but honestly a 40 gallon going to be very hard to control temperatures and humidity, so if you can get $50 or more out the tank, get a 20 gallon long or at least something smaller and spend the rest of the money on a Ranco Thermostat ($80 shipped to your door). That way you will never have to upgrade thermostats in the future and have a quality one. I currently have 2 and love them.

What are you using to measure temperatures and humidity? Keep in mind that not all hygrometers work properly, so sometimes a second unit is necessary.

[Swingline0.0.1]

Ball pythons should not feel anywhere as warm as your hand, as they are cold blooded. If she feels 98 degrees, then that is too warm!

[flatsix02]

I don't have a hygrometer yet, and I know I need to get one. I have a thermostat from the local pet store that specializes in reptiles (cant think of the name off hand). I know theyre not supposed to feel warm, but when I used to pull her out, she felt cold to the touch on her under side... I can't seem to find that happy medium. She eats weekly, very friendly, and has never had any sort of issue. I just feel like not getting her heat cycle right will make things complicated down the road. She was strictly on a heat lamp, until I swtiched to UTH today.

Here she is in her cage a few hours ago when she came out for a drink. Shes in my room, I work 9-6, so she really only gets natural daylight, and myself for a few hours at most, then im off to bed. Shes hardly in a high traffic area.



Shes shed twice without an issue, and is about to for her third time since i've owner her.

[flatsix02]

I dont want to seem like a bad parent, I want nothing but the best for her...

Oh, her names Calypso!



Iphone fail pic.

[Sarin]

Turn off the UTH until you get your thermostat in. Keeping it on will do more harm than good. I once tested a 10-20 gallon UTH and it got over 140 degrees unregulated.

I suggest buying some fake plants from a dollar store and stuff that tank full of them. Get another rock hide to put on the other side so if she gets too hot she can rest on the cooler side.

I wouldn't let her ambient temperature go below 75 degrees.

Make sure her humidity is 60+%. I doubt it is close to that in such a large open tank.. I suggest getting a digital hygrometer.

You also need to get a digital thermometer with a probe so you can moniter her hot spot. (That is if the thermostat you're getting isn't digital already)

Other then that she looks like a very healthy Ball Python. You are not a bad parent!

Ball pythons should not feel anywhere as warm as your hand, as they are cold blooded. If she feels 98 degrees, then that is too warm!

Please realize that 98 degrees is our core temperature. Our hands generally range from 80-90 degrees. So if your snake feels close to the temperature of your hand, you are fine.