Enclosure too cold?

[turning_left]

I just got my BP this week and am working on getting temps regulated. I have an UTH with thermostat set to 93 degrees and a heat bulb on the warm side with ambient temperature around 80-83. The cool side seems to be a bit too cool, usually between 70-75. The last couple of days our house has been chilly and the cool side has been around 60-65! Those temperatures shouldn't persist since it was so cold from roommates moving out and leaving doors open. I've been contemplating getting an UTH for the cool side (set to 82?), but the strange thing is that my BP has spent a lot of time on the cool side, pressed against the glass, even when the temp was in the low 60's. I'm trying to come up with possible reasons such as needing to turn down the UTH a couple degrees? Or the hide on the warm side is a bit big and I can see inside quite a bit, so maybe the hide isn't private/enclosed enough? This morning, I put some greenery between that opening and the front glass in hopes that it feels safer (she often just hides under the greenery on her cool side and ignores the log hide). Or are some snakes really okay with cooler temperatures like that? She's in a 36x18x12 exoterra. I've covered almost all of the mesh top with aluminum foil except for where the heat bulb is.

Thoughts on getting an UTH for the cool side? Should I worry that something is wrong with my warm side that's keeping her from spending time there even when the cool side is too cold? Suggestions? Thanks so much for your help!

[Cheesenugget]

93 is too hot imo. I have mine at around 88F and no higher. Highest it should go is 90F but 88F seems to be the average most people recommend especially for the babies.

I would confirm your hot spot with a temp gun. Use a digital probe if you don't have a temp gun. I don't rely on the thermostat even if I dial it that temp does not mean you will get that exact temp. My thermostat is always about 3 degrees higher than I dialed it for. So you may have a hot spot of 98F which is way, way too hot.

That could explain why your bp won't go to his hot spot. They would rather stay cold than get cooked like that. My bp did that too when I first started and made a mistake on the hot spot temp.

Once you fix the hot spot, you can use a 2nd UTH or a infrared light for ambient temp during night time. CHE is an option but may dry out your tank.

36" tank may be too big for babies. Doable if there is plenty of hiding places and clutter.

[turning_left]

I forgot to mention that she's 2.5 years old.

Thanks for the info on temps. I'll try turning down the temp on the UTH. I need to get a temp gun to measure the actual surface temp!

It's interesting because I got the enclosure and heating pad from her previous owner, and she didn't even have a thermostat. I measured the surface temp with the UTH probe and it was 110!!

[Sunnieskys]

My thermostats are always higher. One is set at 94.8 and 91.0 both measured at the glass without substrate with a heat gun reads 90. You really need a heat gun to get the correct temps.

[Ronniex2]

Post some pics so ppl can see if there is something you are overlooking.. You’d be surprised what details a pic could provide... i found a whole new snake in my rack lol

Far as keeping steady temps, lil late to say it should’ve been established beforehand and try to prevent the soon to be awaited hunger strike - word of advised, just look up other threads on that issue- but far as what you want to do for the cool side, they need temp gradient to choose from,

IMO I think you hot side is too hot, which would be why your snake prefers the cool side. Id regulate the Hot side with a thermostat if you haven’t already, and just try to keep an eye on her, until you get some meals in er.. she may be going into shed, or maybe like you said she may just prefer that hide, try switching it with the hide from the hot spot and see if she likes it

I am banking you already waiting the 1-2 weeks b4 offering food, and allowing her to get 2-3 meals consecutive, before handling and all that.. Besides spot cleaning and such... but good luck and post pics of your noodle when you get a chance .. I’m sure we all want to see her

Good luck

[Sunnieskys]

I would also move your heat bulb more to the middle so some hits the warm side and then your cool side temp will come up too.

[Crowfingers]

Insulate the tank - I've had to put pillows behind the tank and on the sides when my old house got super cold. Also, UTH will do little for ambient temps. You need to use a CHE or other heat bulb or RHP for ambient temps (also regulated)

I do not use UTH - they just aren't something I need to fool with. I have 2 CHEs on the cage, one on the thermostat set to 93 (keeps his hide 88 inside and 90 on top) and one on a dimmer on the other side that I really only need in the winter to keep temps up. Mine has been perfect for 3 years now. Just my opinion

[turning_left]

Just a quick update that I lowered the temp of my UTH to 90 and now she's spending quite a bit of her time in her warm hide! Thanks for the suggestions!

[Mittens]

I find the heat gun off about 4-5 degrees give or take (I tested it using medical grade thermometer at the hospital). I use it to relatively measure things but I wouldn't use it as your source of truth.

[Scooda954]

My ball python is kept at 80 degrees ambient and it drops to 75 at night. UTH is keeping temp in hide 85-94.