Overanxious new owner with heating questions

[MissDizzyBee]

I just got my first BP last Friday and am positively besotted with him. He's friendly and, as of yesterday, eating well. I do have some specific concerns about his tank temperatures that I haven't been able to find answers to, though.

I have him in a Zilla 20L with two small, identical hides on either end and a larger hide plus some branches and leaves in the middle. He has a water bowl on the cooler side big enough to soak in. I'm currently using an overhead red heat lamp for warmth, which keeps the warm side in the mid-80s and the cooler side unfortunately in the 70s, usuall lower 70s. Despite this, he tends toward the cold-end hide.

I would like to switch him to an under tank heater so I can cover the screen top with foil to retain humidity and try to cut out the heat lamp as much as possible. I've read everywhere about temperature gradients and under tank heaters, but it all seems to be very general info. So, without further ado, my questions:

Does the high-80s temp apply to the glass directly over the UTH?
If so, what range should my ambient air temp range be? What about the temp of the substrate above the UTH?
Should I be concerned that he prefers the cold hide even though its cooler than advised? He only stays in the warm side for a short while before going back, but he is eating and shows no signs of lethargy or difficulty breathing.

I'm receiving an Accu-rite temp/humidity guage and a ReptiTemp 500R thermostat tomorrow for this and already own a 20gal under tank heating pad.

Sorry if I gave way too much info...like I said, I think I might be a bit overanxious.

[BFS]

You can cover most of the top with foil and foil tape before you get your UTH, but it'll be more effective at keeping humidity in once you're just using a UTH.

Glad to see you're getting a thermostat tomorrow.

The hot spot should be in the middle of the UTH at the bottom of the cage (think of it this way: it's the hottest place your BP can get to).


Don't stress about him liking the cold hide. As long as your temps are good he'll thermoregulate and be happy.



If you have trouble keeping the tank warm once you take off the heatlamp, insulating it with styrofoam/something else will raise the tank 5-10 degrees.

[Sarin]

First off welsome to BP.net.

You want the temp above the UTH on the glass to be about 93-94. That way, it heats the substrate enough but it won't burn your snake if he decides to burrow and be exposed to the glass.

Your ambient should be around 80-83 degrees preferrably. I wouldn't let it drop below 75 if possible.

88-92 degrees ontop of the substrate is plenty for him. As long as the glass under the substrate isn't over 94 degrees.

He may feel more secure in the cold end, or your temperature readings are off and the warm side is too hot for him. Or, he's just being a difficult snake.


Don't worry.. Everyone started somewhere! When I first started out, I asked a billion questions too - and I'm glad I did. I learned a lot.

Keep us updated.

[MissDizzyBee]

Ah, thank you both! I was concerned my temperature reading might be off as well, so ill be getting a temp gun next friday. That and the foil top are things I never saw mentioned until I started nosing around here and are to be added asap.

Edit: upon further consideration...would it be worthwhile to have separate thermostats for air and UTH temp?

[BFS]

You'll want a thermostat or a lamp dimmer that plugs into and controls your UTH.

Something separate but just as important is a digital temperature/humidity reader with two probes - one for the cold side and one for the hot side.

For the foil cover, make sure it's a couple of layers thick and taped down with foil tape.

[MissDizzyBee]

The 500R thermostat is for the UTH and the heat lamp has a dimmer on it. Also, I've ordered the thermomoeter/hygrometer that seems popular around here to replace my sticky guages.

[Raf702]

Regardless if temps are in the proper range. BP's will stay where ever they feel safe/secure/comfortable. My BP likes to stay in his cool side hide area way more than the hot side area. Even though the temps in the hot-side area is in the appropriate range. They'll just regulate their temperature when they feel like it. Just as long as the husbandry is well kept, and he/she is eating fine, then your BP should be pretty happy.

[nor_cal1980]

Most of my bp's spend most of there time on the cool side, but from what i've read and been told your cool side should be kept from 78 to 82. Low 70's is probably a little cool.

[Johan]

The 500R thermostat is for the UTH and the heat lamp has a dimmer on it. Also, I've ordered the thermomoeter/hygrometer that seems popular around here to replace my sticky guages.

Sounds like you got everything under control. Good work. It is nice to see a new owner that will invest in the proper equipment for their snake

[MissDizzyBee]

why thank you!

I can't imagive not being willing...I can't let anything happen to my beautiful baby.