surface temperature for ball python

[TLRO]

Hey all!
I just got myself a new yearling ball python on Tuesday. Yay me! I'm kinda new to snakes and have a noobish question. I have an Zoo Med UTH for her hooked up to a thermostat. The substrate is eco earth fibre. Im find to get the eco earth to an acceptable temperature for belly warmth (around 30 to 35 Celsius) I'm having to heat the UTH and the bottom of the enclosure to around 50 Celsius. This is making me nervous shes gonna push the eco earth aside in her hid and sit on the glass bottom and cook herself. Is 50 Celsius too hot for surface temperature or am I just being paranoid and over protective? I should mention that the UTH covers just over a third of her enclosure and she has a cool hid as well (which she never uses). Thanks in advance!

[I-KandyReptiles]

The tank should never go over 95F.

I'm thinking you might have too much substrate in the tank.

[TLRO]

I have less then a half inch in there. The ambient air is about 86. Does eco earth not hold heat that well or something?

[I-KandyReptiles]

I'm not sure. You should try to aim your ambient temps for 80-82.

Just make sure your heat pad is set properly and not too hot. Shell burrow most likely to reach the heat.

[Marrissa]

When I had my tank and eco earth I kept it very thin (about 1/4 inch), and even thinner under the hides so the snake could get the right temp without me having to crank the temperature up to go through a bunch of substrate. It meant I had to spray it more but it kept the temps right for the hot spot.

[satomi325]

Just make sure the hottest part of the enclosure (the glass) does not exceed 95 degrees. So that way, if she burrows, she won't burn herself.
And lets assume that 95 is the glass portion, that would make the surface temp on the substrate around 88. So I would set your Tstat like that. Or have the glass cooler, and use less substrate.

[TLRO]

Thanks for all the advice. Ill definitely take a bunch of substrate out. Tonight is suppose to be her first feeding since I got her so I'll wait and see if she takes a rat pup for me. If she does then I'll give her Friday to digest and maybe take out some substrate Saturday. If she doesn't eat then I'll take some out right away. Much appreciated guys.