Ceramic Heathers?

[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