lighting or uth

[volkert13b]

so my new ball python that i got from a friend. never uses uth. only a red night light 24 hours to provide heat and night time viewing. he has 15 snakes never had one die and trust him on this..BUT! i use a uth with a thermostat on my crested and it works well it controlling temp.

so here is the question at hand

i am using a 20gallon long screen top lid with a red heat light. i have a acurite(walmart) thermometer to monitor heat temp and humidity(just bought a house so cheap is good right now). Which is best! will the red light work? it is keeping the warm side at around 90-92 and my cool side is 80-84.

[Maverick67]

Some people do just use heat lamps but most prefer the uth on a thermostat. Bp need the belly heat to aid digestion. If you use a lamp rather than a uth it wont kill the bp it's just not the best way to do it. it will still work either way.

[volkert13b]

issue i guess i am having now is its starting to get hold. even if i use a uth and set it at 90 what possible ways can i keep my cool side at a constant 80ish. can i use the red light on the cool side hooked to a dimmer? cause i noticed today my cool side dropped a bit from 82 to 75(yes the bp moved to his hot side)

[Maverick67]

issue i guess i am having now is its starting to get hold. even if i use a uth and set it at 90 what possible ways can i keep my cool side at a constant 80ish. can i use the red light on the cool side hooked to a dimmer? cause i noticed today my cool side dropped a bit from 82 to 75(yes the bp moved to his hot side)

You can use the red bulb on the cool side if you would like but a temp drop at night down to mid to high 70s is fine.

[volkert13b]

i live in pa...until we start using heat in our house even during the day he cool side temp is 75

[OhhWatALoser]

Some people do just use heat lamps but most prefer the uth on a thermostat. Bp need the belly heat to aid digestion. If you use a lamp rather than a uth it wont kill the bp it's just not the best way to do it. it will still work either way.

But the whole "belly heat aids digestion" is a rumor with nothing to back it up, can't find any proof of this (If anyone can prove me wrong, please do). as along as your temps are correct it doesn't matter you can use UTH, back heat or overhead heat.

I prefer flexwatt to heat lamp because you use less energy for the same heat. also the lights tend to suck humidity. if you just bought a house, you will save yourself money overtime using flexwatt over heatbulbs

reason your getting so cold is your using a glass tank, switch to a 5 dollar sterlite tub and it will hold heat alot better

[volkert13b]

well currently i am now using two light. both on dimmers and put a damp microfiber cloth on top of the screen top. my temps are staying 90-92 my cold side says 80-83 and my humidity went up to 57% and rising

[Amp625]

i have a red light on the cool side for air temp then a heat pad for a hot spot on a thermostat that gets it a nice 93. I live in PA also i need both

[volkert13b]

right now i am using a heat light during and red light on dimmers for the right temps. and since i have a screen top i put a damp microfiber cloth in between them and my humidity now stays around 60-70 percent

[Brie]

well currently i am now using two light. both on dimmers and put a damp microfiber cloth on top of the screen top. my temps are staying 90-92 my cold side says 80-83 and my humidity went up to 57% and rising

If you switch to a UTH w/thermostat then you could do what I did. What I did for my screen tops was measure two inches from each end and mark it. Then take press n seal saran wrap and cover the space between the two marks. Then take foil and cover the saran wrap (might be overkill but I did it.)

My warm side holds at 92 cold side at 84ish with a night time drop to 79ish. Humidity with a daily mist never goes below 65 and is usually right at 70.

I'm not sure if you could do this with using lights but you could possibly adapt it. Hope this helps some...