Quote Originally Posted by Hyper Joe View Post
I use belly heat. The ambient air temps in the tubs can have small differences with just back heat. The belly heat provides more of a temperature range. For example the room temp is 75 the tub ambient air temp is 75 cool side 80 warm side with a belly heat of 90. If you use back heat the snake will not be able to access a larger thermal gradient. Also, for cooler rooms I prefer belly heat.

I guess this depends on what you are looking for. Temperature stability or larger thermal gradient. I prefer the latter for my applications.
Why does the animal not have a higher thermal gradient? I would imagine that, laying up against the side of the tub with back heat *which ball pythons very much tend to do since they like to squish against things*, they are still very much receiving the benefits of said thermal gradient. My temps, on the very side of the tub, reach 90 degrees ( i can even take a photo if you dont believe this) The entire lenth of the tub on that half. ( i have sideways racks, in 32qt tubs with two rows of 11" flexwatt running down the back on each)