Quote Originally Posted by LGray23 View Post
UTH doesn't affect ambient temps at all actually. I suggest keeping the UTH with a thermostat (hoping you use one...) at the correct temp of a 90 degree hot spot. You should cover 2/3 of the screen top with anything from a towel, aluminum foil, plexi glass, whatever works for you. This will help contain any lost heat/humidity. I think you should get a lamp dimmer from Home Depot or something, they are only $10 and will make the lamp less intense. Night drop is unnecessary, so I'd stick with just the heat bulb, or buy a ceramic heat emitter. Lights tend to irritate ball pythons anyways as they are nocturnal. With the dimmer, you can adjust as needed. You may not even need the lamp, I only use one for the winter. How are you reading temps?
I use a basic digital temp/humidity reader. If I'm just going to have nothing but problems with an aquarium should I think about getting a vision or a boaphile cage instead? If I need to get an oil heater then I could save money because electricity isn't cheap either.