Ball Python laying on Heat Mat?

[Arcapello]

I just got my ball python today, and had everything set up in advance. I have an under the tank heater, currently set at 86F in the basking spot (I know it should be 90F, but I have a really crappy thermostat and have to continually mess with it. My new hydrofarm thermostat should be here tomorrow. In the mean time, I'm trying to keep him from getting burned)
Anyways, I'm using about an inch of aspen bedding, and he's pushed it aside to lay on the glass directly over the UTH. Is this bad? Should I move him and cover it up again? Why is he doing this? Will it burn him?
Also, he hasn't been going into his hides. Does he not know that he can, or is he still exploring? Will he do this for a few days?
I'm a first time owner, so I'm really worried! Any tips or info you could give me that will help/make me less worried would be great.

[West Coast Jungle]

If the heat mat is only 86 then there is no possibility of him getting burned. How are you checking the temps? It is normal for him to move aspen around that's why you want to measure the actual surface on the glass where the heat pad is, not the air temp.

[Arcapello]

If the heat mat is only 86 then there is no possibility of him getting burned. How are you checking the temps? It is normal for him to move aspen around that's why you want to measure the actual surface on the glass where the heat pad is, not the air temp.

I'm using an Acurite thermometer/hygrometer, with the probe stuck to the glass directly over the heat mat. Is it okay if it's at 90 or 91?

[1nstinct]

ok him moving the aspen out of the way is normal. he is trying to get to a spot where he is warmest. as for 86 degrees burning him, if you have touched him and he didnt get any blister from being burned hes fine. the human body is around 98 degrees(depends on a lot of things) so if that didnt burn him, your fine, since the human body is higher than your basking site.

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yes it is fine, long as that is the correct temp. did your check it with your temp gun? i keep my balls hot spot at 90 degrees and they are all fine.

[Arcapello]

Thanks! I feel wayyy better now! I just didn't want to hurt him with my inexperience or anything.

[KMG]

Many caresheets suggest a hot spot of 90 to 95. I keep my tstat set to 98 which gives me a 91 hot spot on top of the substrate. My bp never moves it aside because the heat is sufficient. As long a the surface temp of the substrate is getting to a correct temp he probably will not burrow. You have to remember that even though a tstat is set to 98 the heat has to work its way through the substrate during which you lose heat. Setting yours at 86 and having an inch of substrate I'm sure your hot spot was in the mid to high 70's. You should only have about a half inch of substrate over the uth.

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Just like to much heat can hurt your snake, so can to little heat.

[Arcapello]

Many caresheets suggest a hot spot of 90 to 95. I keep my tstat set to 98 which gives me a 91 hot spot on top of the substrate. My bp never moves it aside because the heat is sufficient. As long a the surface temp of the substrate is getting to a correct temp he probably will not burrow. You have to remember that even though a tstat is set to 98 the heat has to work its way through the substrate during which you lose heat. Setting yours at 86 and having an inch of substrate I'm sure your hot spot was in the mid to high 70's. You should only have about a half inch of substrate over the uth.

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Just like to much heat can hurt your snake, so can to little heat.

Okay, thanks. I knew it was low, but I thought it would be okay until tomorrow when the thermostat gets here. I actually had it set at like 98F- it's a really crappy thermostat, and you have to set it about 20 degrees high to get it to the right temperature.
I'll take some of the substrate out.

[West Coast Jungle]

I'm using an Acurite thermometer/hygrometer, with the probe stuck to the glass directly over the heat mat. Is it okay if it's at 90 or 91?

That is the best way to check surface temp.90-91 is perfect

[Arcapello]

That is the best way to check surface temp.90-91 is perfect

Great, thanks!