I am getting a baby ball python soon and I have the below setup:


34 quart plastic bin


6 x 8 inch UTH


The UTH says it is for 10-20 gallons, and 34 quarts is only 8.5 gallons, so I thought it might actually be too hot. But it seems like it might be too cold. Directly over the heat pad the temperature is just a bit above 90 degrees, which I think is good. However, the temperature rapidly drops off, and is in the 80's along the edge of the heat pad. The rest of the tank seems to be about 75 degrees, and the farthest point from the heat pad is 72 degrees. Humidity seems ok, at around 50-60%. I think it might actually be closer to 70% but it goes down when I open the lid.


Is this too cold? Could I be measuring the temperature wrong? It seems like the tank ought to be hotter.

I am also concerned that this setup may be too big for a baby ball python. The recommended tank size for babies seems to be 10 gallons, and although mine is 8.5 gallons the proportions of these plastic bins are not the same as a glass tank. Also, my hides are two dog dishes with a 7-inch diameter. Is that the correct size for a baby snake or do I need smaller hides?