Ceramic Heathers?

[Kaorte]

I am sure most people on this forum keep the heat mat on all year. I know it is different in europe, but in the states most people keep the household temperature around 70*F throughout the year.

[DarkSmoke]

here it gets up to 40C on very hot days or more.

[Kaorte]

Does it get that hot inside though?

[DarkSmoke]

yeah of course we suffer alot heat here in summers , and in winter it doesnt get as cold as USA too. somedays you can't sleep without an ac and we can't turn on AC during day cause of our high electricity costs.

[wilomn]

When I read the title I immediately pictured little ceramic Heathers wearing red caps with big green shoes, blue shorts and red vests.

But they all had white beards.

It's already been a very long day.

[DarkSmoke]

uhm , what had that to do with the post? ;/ lol

[Kaorte]

uhm , what had that to do with the post? ;/ lol

You made a typo that said "ceramic heathers" and ladyohh's real name is heather so they thought that was funny.

[DarkSmoke]

lol that typo again.
any way , more answers to my question anyone? :/

[DarkSmoke]

hmm seems like no one has got answers. just to say it again for those who didn't understand. This is not the ceramic heater petshops sell that are like bulbs, but a ceramic plate wich throws heat from underneat.

and what i asked for since someone here told me balls can't have a cool side of 69-71F like i have, is to put one of these and heat the whole vivarium to a tempreture without a tempreture gradient but of course put the tempreture on less then the usual like the guy that sold me mice do.

[angllady2]

Let me see if I can picture this for you.

This person uses a large ceramic plate which sits under the tank/tub/viv, therefore, the whole enclosure is the same temperature all the time, correct?

He says he keeps all of his various species of snakes with this kind of setup, and that is why you came here to see what we thought of the method, I am right?

I know that different species all have different needs, and there is nothing to say he can't successfully keep his ball pythons with this method for quite some time.

The real question becomes, how long has he used this method, and can he say with certainty it is not harmful in the long term. I don't mean 2 years or 4, or even 10 years. If balls can live 20 - 30 years if properly cared for, has he kept them using this method long enough to be sure it doesn't shorten the lifespan, or cause health problems after so many years?

I have been to many, many ball python breeders websites, and every single one of them recommends that a ball be provided with a warm side and cool side for health reasons. Since many of these people have had balls since they were first imported into the US, I'd believe them over the opinion of one person.


Or, if you choose to use the ceramic plate he is suggesting, could you set it at the proper temperature for the hot side, and perhaps use something heat resistant under the cool side to block some of the heat and still keep your gradient? That might be a workable option if you can find something suitably heat resistant, because the plate would be around 90-95 all the time, and you wouldn't want heat to damage what you are using, or worse. Perhaps something like what we call "pot holders" here. Pieces of special cloth material which you use to pick up a hot pan.

Just throwing some ideas out there for you.

Gale