Hello everyone! I recently purchased a juvenile male ball python from the Tinley Park, IL reptile convention last month and I have a question regarding temperatures. First of all I have owned many types of reptiles throughout my life and understand the husbandry needed for different types of reptiles but I have never owned a snake. I have been lurking on this forum for months and used a couple of the glass tank setup guides to help setup my current tank. Our snake has been doing great but has recently started burrowing once I changed the substrate to the finely shredded coco husk. He burrows under the substrate and moss but he is still partially exposed. I am worried now that he is burrowing that the UTH may be set to high. My question is should I lower the temperature of the UTHs now that he is burrowing? He does not burrow all of the time. He spends more time switching from cool hide to warm hide than burrowing. I'm afraid if I lower the temperatures on the UTHs that the actual temperature under the hides and on top of the substrate will be too low. Also, do my overall temperatures and setting seem correct? Below is a list of my set up and temperature/thermostat listings.
Enclosure = 36x12x12 glass tank with screen top. 1/3 of each end of screen is covered with plexiglass
Heat lamp= (located in center of screen top)= Zoo Med mini combo deep dome fixture with 60 watt daylight blue & 60 watt night time red (lights are on alternating 12 hr. timers)
(2) under tank heaters = One located at each end. Each connected to a Hydrofarm digital thermostat. Thermostat probe is located under tank, directly on heat pads (between glass and UTH).
(2) digital thermometers/humidity gauge with probes = One located on each end. Probe is inside tank, located on center of UTHs
Water bowl = (1) located under heat lamp
Substrate = Kritter's Crumble all natural coconut husk fiber, fine (1/2" deep above UTHs, sloping to about 1" deep at bank of tank/2" deep at center of tank)
Sphagnum moss = Located around side and back edges of tank
Hides = (2 identical reptile basics small hides. One at warm side, one at cool side)
Multiple plastic plants for hiding underneath and a large repti-vine for climbing.
Back and sides of tanks are covered with rain forest design tropical backgrounds for privacy.
Spray bottle for misting of moss
Reptifogger as needed for shedding (Has not shed yet!)
Temperature gun
Temperatures:
ambient temperature = 82 degrees
Warm side thermostat setting = 104 degrees
Actual temperature of glass above UTH on warm side = 98 to 99 degrees
Actual temperature on top of substrate on warm side = 93 degrees
Cool side thermostat setting = 98 degrees
Actual temperature of glass above UTH on warm side = 88 to 90 degrees
Actual temperature on top of substrate on warm side = 84 degrees
Humidity = 60-70%
Thanks for any upcoming replies!
Mark