I'm setting up a 10 gallon tank for a ball python that will be coming home for Christmas.

Currently I have a UTH installed, but the temps are not getting warm enough to be called "warm side". I don't have it insulated, but it's only getting up to around 80 degrees. I have one of those green reptile mats down, and the Acu Rite probe is currently taped on top of that for setup testing. Even if the probe is directly on the glass above the UTH, it was only getting to around 85 degree.

My long-range plan is to move the snake when he gets bigger to a 30 gallon tank that I have currently sitting empty.

I have a Reptimed 500R thermostat ready to go, so I'm thinking that I may go with a 100 watt CIH, so that I can use it on the 30 gallon when he gets bigger, and the 500R can keep it from getting too hot on the 10 gallon tank.

Anyone see any reason not to get the bigger emitter to plan for the future?

Thanks.