Question: So as my ball python begins to grow i begin to look more and more into tubs, mainly a rack system. My question is, to get right to the point, my room in the winter will only be 68 degrees obviously as the seasons change spring--->fall will not be an issue. I'm concerned that the ambient air temps will not be appropriate for housing a ball python.

Background: My ball python is currently housed in a 10 gallon tank with a 100 watt infrared heat lamp that is on a rheostat to control the temp at 80 degrees. I have an UTH hooked up to a ranco i wired myself that keeps her basking spot at 90 degrees. Humidity is always between 50-60% and when those fantastic blue eyes come stays at 70% all the time with intense supervision to ensure a good shed.

Behavior: She usually is always on her cold side of her enclosure, this holds true until she has been feed she will lay on her warm side! [which is expected as she uses the heat to help aid in digestion.

Hypothesis: Knowing my snake is more prone to the cold side of her enclosure now and uses her belly heat efficiently i don't see why it would be too big of a deal to swap over to a rack. My thoughts are the temps might be lower in the winter months... but in reality I'm sure in the {winter} months in Africa the temperature changes as well. I feel that their will just be a larger difference in temperature for her to thermo-regulate. For example her basking spot always staying at the text book range 89-92 [some people prefer differently] and her cold side what i would expect to be with no heat tape or lamp providing heat on that side to be anywhere from 10-15 degrees different.

I asked an anonymous rack company who is very large and trusted in the industry what their thoughts were...

In a 68 room temp you would probably want belly heat for what I am guessing is Ball Pythons? That is still a little cool, you will get a basking spot of about 88 ok but the rest of the tub will run a bit cool. It has been done quite successfully but will not match up with textbook conditions.
Conclusion: Would like to know if anyone else is in the same position as i am in with a cold room and this works for them or what they did! I know getting a portable oil heater [the ones they say at wal-mart would be an easy-fix, and wiring it to its on ranco or thermostat] this is not an option for me. So I'm reaching out to see what people think and if they have done this successfully.

Thanks ahead of time for those who take the time to share their experience and wisdom!

Lilly - The pastel Ball
Mike - The chemist filled with questions!