Lamps, heat, and stress

[JimJam]

To start, my BP is doing well in his cage, and seems to be a happy camper.

I have a 60 watt blue bulb and a 75 watt red bulb. Both are labeled "Nighttime" bulbs. The red is somewhat red-orange and I've been using it during the day and the blue at night...only problem is the blue doesn't keep the ambient temps warm enough. Cool side will be low 70s and warm side high 70s. He does have a UTH however, and it's on a thermostat at 102 degrees. The red bulb is perfect and keeps ambient temps in the 80s.

Question 1) I've read everywhere that constant overhead lighting is stressful to snakes. If that's true, how do I keep ambient temps up at night? Also, why are they labeled "nighttime" bulbs.

Question 2) Is red or blue light more likely to be bothersome? I'd prefer to keep the red on all the time for ambient temps and not have to swap out every night. If I leave the red on all the time is that bad or stressful?

[steve2md]

BPs don't really need extra lighting. Maybe you could try one of the ceramic "bulbs" on a dimmable fixture like this
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...ilpage_o00_s00

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...ilpage_o00_s00

Then you would be able to get temps up and not have to worry aabout lights causing stress.
What kind of cage is your BP in?

[JimJam]

He's in a 36x18x12 tank with a screen top. Exoterra I believe. I've painted the back, sides, and everything except the front facing doors that swing open to help him feel secure. The screen top has plexiglass and foil over 3 of the 4 roof screens. The other one is foil with a bulb cutout. Here's a pic to help. Dont ceramic bulbs get extremely hot?

http://imgur.com/a/bG7ey

[Sauzo]

Wow 102F? Is that at the floor of the cage? Should only be around 88-92F. I would check that with a temp gun as being a glass floor, that will get to snake cooking temps.

[Sauzo]

He's in a 36x18x12 tank with a screen top. Exoterra I believe. I've painted the back, sides, and everything except the front facing doors that swing open to help him feel secure. The screen top has plexiglass and foil over 3 of the 4 roof screens. The other one is foil with a bulb cutout. Here's a pic to help. Dont ceramic bulbs get extremely hot?

http://imgur.com/a/bG7ey

CHEs do get hot. That's why you have to set them up so the snake cant come into contact with it. I use them set on Herpstats and they work fine. Just hang them above the screen and set the probe under them in the cage about an inch or 2 off the floor.

[JimJam]

Wow 102F? Is that at the floor of the cage? Should only be around 88-92F. I would check that with a temp gun as being a glass floor, that will get to snake cooking temps.

Thats what the thermostat is set at. The probe is between the glass and the UTH. There's forest floor substrate in the terrarium. 102 will cook it? He seems fine and has more than one hide. He can go to a cooler side when he wants and has a separate hide that isn't on top of a UTH.

Is is this really an unreasonable temp?

[Sauzo]

The problem is if the temp is 102 on top of the substrate, depending how deep the substrate is, it could be a lot hotter directly on the glass. Also high temps can cause neurological issues with snakes. That's why you shouldn't go above 95. I mean sure the snake can move but if for some reason he doesn't feel secure in the cool hide as much as the warm hide, he will sacrifice correct temps for security. The same goes for cool side, he can get too cold sacrificing the need for security over the need for heat. That's why you should try and use the same hides on both sides. And snakes burrow too, so he can easily get to the glass which could be a lot hotter. Generally you don't want anything lower than 75 or higher than 95.

[PitOnTheProwl]

There will be some heat loss through the glass.
What is the temperature inside on the glass under the substrate?

[JimJam]

The thermostat is set at 102. Even if he sits on the glass directly, and there's no substrate and he is touching glass that's 102. I turned down the thermostat last night to 97. I'll shoot the substrate and the glass with the temp gun and report back.

[Lady mkrj58]

OP I have had and still use just what your talking about, I did my own little test and moved the substrate so I could lay my hand flat on the glass I didn't keep it their long because it burned my hand literally bad news please don't take a chance on this matter your snake will get burned.