where to measure temps

[ATLBalls]

I was shooting my temps and starting to wonder about them. On the warm side the ground is about 90-95 or so but under the hide box it is like 100 degs. Is that the right way to go or should the warm hide be around 90-95 degs?

[dr del]

Hi,

Best range to go for is this;

Measure on the bottom of the tank under the substrate on the warm side to find the maximum the snake can expose itself to and try and get this to approx 95f.

Adjust the depth of the substrate so that inside the warm end hide the temps sit around 92-94f.

Try and get the cool end hide to be around 80-82f.

That way the snake has a nice range of temps neither too hot nor too cold and can move from place to place without you having to worry.

Does that make sense?


dr del

[starmom]

The way I dealt with this was to burn a few holes into the top of my warm hides. This allowed for the heat to escape instead of building up

Guess I'm a lazy keeper!!!

[ATLBalls]

I like that idea of drilling a little hole in the hides to let warm air out.

Also about the idea of making the bottom of the cage at 95 and adjusting the substrate depth, that is a pretty good idea. I use aspen bedding and have it about an inch or so deep. How deep is ok so it doesn't trap too much heat but still absorbs liquid wastes? As it is I notice when she goes it is wet to the bottom.

[simplechamp]

I like that idea of drilling a little hole in the hides to let warm air out.

Also about the idea of making the bottom of the cage at 95 and adjusting the substrate depth, that is a pretty good idea. I use aspen bedding and have it about an inch or so deep. How deep is ok so it doesn't trap too much heat but still absorbs liquid wastes? As it is I notice when she goes it is wet to the bottom.

An inch seems like a little much to me, but that's just my preference. I use about 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch I would guess. Use whatever you have to so the belly temp will be 90-94 with the bottom underneath that 95 like del said. Having the urine soak to the bottom is no problem. You'd have to use a few inches of aspen to prevent that, which really isn't necessary.

[ride_gnu]

I've noticed similiar problems, I use aspen snow bedding as well, stuff absorbe heat liek crazy once its over 1/2" thick.