Temperature

[arachnofreak95]

I just got a ball python yesterday and the room i have it in can drop down to 70 degrees in the summer and as low as 60 in the winter. I do have a heating pad but will this be enough? Are temperatures that low able to harm it?

[alittleFREE]

Do you have a (digital) thermometer to measure your temps? That's really the only way to know if it's heated properly.

Temps below 75 would not be good for the BP. Ideally the coolest part of the BP's enclosure should be around 80 degrees. The other sided should be around 90.

[RichsBallPythons]

Do you have a (digital) thermometer to measure your temps? That's really the only way to know if it's heated properly.

Temps below 75 would not be good for the BP. Ideally the coolest part of the BP's enclosure should be around 80 degrees. The other sided should be around 90.

Correction thats a guide we tell everyone that we know works. But balls can be kept at 75F as long as they have a hotside to warm up.

I keep my snake room in summer 77-80 Depending on the Central air. Winter itll be about steady 78-80. Sometimes will be around 83 but they dont need it that hot.


You need to establish a good ground on how to care for them before messing with any temps to experiment.

[stevepoppers]

You can use a heat lamp or CHE if it gets too low, but it'll cause humidity problems.

[arachnofreak95]

Do you have a (digital) thermometer to measure your temps? That's really the only way to know if it's heated properly.

Temps below 75 would not be good for the BP. Ideally the coolest part of the BP's enclosure should be around 80 degrees. The other sided should be around 90.

I do have a digital thermometer and it generally reads between 76-81. My UTH barely raises the temp on the other side at all...

[stevepoppers]

Oh, you're fine. If it's under 75 a lot, then worry. You can put a space heater in the room in the winter.

[arachnofreak95]

how am I supposed to make a basking spot that's around 90 degrees if my UTH isn't doing anything? Is it absolutely required?

[stevepoppers]

The UTH isn't providing heat where it is? It's job isn't to heat the whole thing. They're kinda bad at that.

Do you have a digital thermometer with a probe that is placed underneath the substrate directly against the glass or plastic above the center of the UTH? That is the hotspot reading that matters. If that's close to 90 and the ambient is above 75, you're fine.

[arachnofreak95]

UTH is at 95. ambient is in the low 80's. I do not have the UTH hooked up to a thermostat though...its been on for over 24 hours, is it going to get any hotter or am i going to need a thermostat ASAP?

[stevepoppers]

They can spike without you noticing it. They are not to be trusted.