LGray gave you excellent advice! I suggest that you read and re-read her post - she was spot-on. Make sure you read the care-sheet too - it'll help a LOT.Originally Posted by Gpoop
I just wanted to further clarify this one point for you. The UTH goes on the hot side. It can't go anywhere else. This is what will make the hot side this temperature - it's going to be what creates your 'hot-spot'. You shouldn't have to use any heat source for your cold side unless you keep your house especially cool. Ideally, your hot-spot should be 88-92, your cold spot (the coolest area in your snake's enclosure) at about 78, and your ambient temp about 80-82.
If you do keep your house cool, you MAY need to suppliment your snake's ambient temps with a low-wattage heat lamp. 2 things about this though and they are VERY IMPORTANT! Never never and I do mean NEVER allow the bulb to be inside your snake's enclosure or in any way allow him to come in contact with it. BPs can not feel if they are burning til its too late. And do make sure it's a low-wattage bulb. Too high and it'll cause your temps to go too high. And you'll be surprised how much heat a 30-40 watt bulb can put out. 40 watts would be MAX for a 20gal long tank. And I also suggest that if you do have to go this route, that you put the lamp on a dimmer so you can control the output better. If the wattage is too high for the size of your enclosure, it can also cause the hot-spot to get too hot. Sometimes it's better to just adjust your room temps and not bother with the lamp at all.
That may have been TMI, lol! So if you keep your home at a normal 70-72 and/or your snake will be in room that's more temperature-controlled, you can ignore that last paragraph.
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