New Owner - Heating Bottom of Plastic Bin

[Maize]

I kept the Exo Terra heat pad on all night. This morning i checked the temperature with my Infrared Temperature Gun from Pro Exotic and this is where I’m confused on what I should do. I took two temps from the basking area. I moved the mulch (about 2 inches deep) and took the temp of the plastic on the Hot Spot and it measured 103F. I then took temp of the Hot Spot with the mulch and that measured 80F.

Now I'm just guessing here because I'm new to the whole BP thing. The hot spot should be 90-94F and cool side 82-84F. I personally think 103F is too hot, I'm sure the snake will move the mulch and get real close to the bottom. But I also think the mulch at 80F on the hot spot is too cool.

How could it be 103F and then drop to 80F with just mulch lol. This really sucks

If I get the tape, won’t that do the same thing?

[Glockman]

I kept the Exo Terra heat pad on all night. This morning i checked the temperature with my Infrared Temperature Gun from Pro Exotic and this is where I’m confused on what I should do. I took two temps from the basking area. I moved the mulch (about 2 inches deep) and took the temp of the plastic on the Hot Spot and it measured 103F. I then took temp of the Hot Spot with the mulch and that measured 80F.

Now I'm just guessing here because I'm new to the whole BP thing. The hot spot should be 90-94F and cool side 82-84F. I personally think 103F is too hot, I'm sure the snake will move the mulch and get real close to the bottom. But I also think the mulch at 80F on the hot spot is too cool.

How could it be 103F and then drop to 80F with just mulch lol. This really sucks

If I get the tape, won’t that do the same thing?

Mulch eats up alot of heat. Ball pythons like to burrow too so I would use a thermostat or a dimmer with the heat pad to prevent burning of the snake. I use towels on my tubs I have, also I use news print hope this helps

[Vypyrz]

Mulch eats up alot of heat. Ball pythons like to burrow too so I would use a thermostat or a dimmer with the heat pad to prevent burning of the snake. I use towels on my tubs I have, also I use news print hope this helps

Like he said, first you need a way to control the UTH. Then adjust it so that the tub surface temp is around 93-95. Then add about 1/2 - 1 inch or so of substrate to get the desired temp on top. That way even if your snake moves the substrate out of the way they won't get burned...


Rob