Advice on heating?

[Raise]

Long time lurker, first time poster. Hello!

Anyway, I'll cut to the chase. I'm getting my first ball python in a couple of months (taking my time to research as much as I can and get my terrarium/supplies all set up, get my temps and humidity right, etc.) and I can't seem to find any answers to a couple of questions that I have been looking for the past couple of nights. I've read through several FAQs and care sheets (including those found on this site).

1) Is a UTH too much to combine with a lamp on the warm side of the enclosure? On one hand I feel like a UTH under the hide would essentially "cook" the snake as their hide is enclosed and the temps would be much warmer inside. But then if I don't have it, does the lamp provide enough heat to "warm" the hide from the exterior?

2) Are there bulbs that you can change the output on? I ask this because in my home, the temperatures change dramatically. In my bedroom (where the snake will be housed) we get the sun beating on this side of the house in the morning and it gets very warm very fast as the sun rises. However once the air is turned on to cool the house during the day, due to the placement of the vents, the bedroom is a staggering 5-10 degrees colder than the rest of the house. Basically, my bedroom fluctuates ~20º throughout the day between 60-80ºF. Is there an easy way to maintain a constant temperature in the enclosure? Or will it not matter once the lamps are going inside the tank. I also ask this because I don't want to make several trips to the store or buy 5 different bulbs of different wattages until I can pinpoint that perfect temperature and have to return the rest or something. So I'm looking for advice on that too.

3) Do I measure the ambient air temperature, or the temperature of the surfaces in the enclosure? What are your recommendations for thermometer setups? I've seen people using a thermometer/hygrometer combos on both sides of the tank, both flavors of digital and analog, and some opting to avoid thermometers in general and using infrared laser-pointer thermometers (which I think only measure temperatures on the surface at which it's pointed, and not the air).

Sorry for the questions, but I'm getting mixed answers from all sorts of websites and it's making me stress out a little bit because I'm trying to make everything as perfect as possible and don't want to screw anything up. At least I'm being cautious and not jumping into this blind though!

Thanks guys. I'm going to bed and hoping to read some replies in the morning.

[steve_r34]

Long time lurker, first time poster. Hello!

Anyway, I'll cut to the chase. I'm getting my first ball python in a couple of months (taking my time to research as much as I can and get my terrarium/supplies all set up, get my temps and humidity right, etc.) and I can't seem to find any answers to a couple of questions that I have been looking for the past couple of nights. I've read through several FAQs and care sheets (including those found on this site).

1) Is a UTH too much to combine with a lamp on the warm side of the enclosure? On one hand I feel like a UTH under the hide would essentially "cook" the snake as their hide is enclosed and the temps would be much warmer inside. But then if I don't have it, does the lamp provide enough heat to "warm" the hide from the exterior?
i wouldn't put the lamp over the hide with a uth it would be to much. the uth will be fine if u put it on a thermostat .. bp's do not need light .. u can get a ceramic blub to regulate heat in the middle of tank so u can bring up the ambient temps ..

2) Are there bulbs that you can change the output on? I ask this because in my home, the temperatures change dramatically. In my bedroom (where the snake will be housed) we get the sun beating on this side of the house in the morning and it gets very warm very fast as the sun rises. However once the air is turned on to cool the house during the day, due to the placement of the vents, the bedroom is a staggering 5-10 degrees colder than the rest of the house. Basically, my bedroom fluctuates ~20º throughout the day between 60-80ºF. Is there an easy way to maintain a constant temperature in the enclosure? Or will it not matter once the lamps are going inside the tank. I also ask this because I don't want to make several trips to the store or buy 5 different bulbs of different wattages until I can pinpoint that perfect temperature and have to return the rest or something. So I'm looking for advice on that too.
i would keep the setup away from all vents . idk about the bulbs

3) Do I measure the ambient air temperature, or the temperature of the surfaces in the enclosure? What are your recommendations for thermometer setups? I've seen people using a thermometer/hygrometer combos on both sides of the tank, both flavors of digital and analog, and some opting to avoid thermometers in general and using infrared laser-pointer thermometers (which I think only measure temperatures on the surface at which it's pointed, and not the air).
acurite thermometer on each side of enclosure will be fine u can pick them up at walmart , a temp gun is good so u can pin point temps wherever in the enclosure ..

Sorry for the questions, but I'm getting mixed answers from all sorts of websites and it's making me stress out a little bit because I'm trying to make everything as perfect as possible and don't want to screw anything up. At least I'm being cautious and not jumping into this blind though!
its gonna be a little bit of a process even after getting ur new pet .. try not to stress its a learning process and u will get it b4 u know it and its not hard to get ..

Thanks guys. I'm going to bed and hoping to read some replies in the morning.

[Casey Hulse]

You sound like you want to "do it right" Get a good thermostat, under tank heat, experiment with probe placement then fasten securely. You want the BP (not the air or side of tank)to be about 92 in the hotspot, ideally 82-85 on the cool end (for juvies). Get a point and shoot thermometer. Good luck.

[NH93]

Good advice given. Generally there should be about a 10 degree (F) difference between cool side and warm side/spot (80F-90F is the generally accepted temps, but nothing below 75F as this can cause respiratory infections)!

Just to add a little more:

1) In a glass vive you will most likely need a heat bulb of some sort, because glass and mesh tops do nothing to keep heat and humidity in (so you'll probably also need a great substrate like cyprus mulch, or use some other tricks for humidity). Depending on the size of the tank will depend on the heat bulb. This can be placed in the middle of the vive as well, or you may want to fiddle around with it - trial and error - to get your desired temps. If you want a light and heat bulb, go for a red bulb as BPs can't see that colour outside of full spectrum lighting. Otherwise as previously mentioned, a straight up heat bulb works well.
A UTH will not "cook" a snake so long as it is regulated with a THERMOSTAT!! Not a thermometer, a thermoSTAT. I'm sure you've come across those in your research

2) As you've mentioned, you don't want a temperature drop at night for your snake (asking for RIs...). You can get a higher wattage heat bulb and buy a rheostat - a.k.a. a lamp dimmer - from a hardware store for about $5 or so. For example, when I had mine in a glass vive, it was a 15gal. and I used a 50W red bulb. This kept the tank at 79F-82F, while the room temperature was always about 75 or 76F. If you have a similar sized vive, you may want to go for a 100W and get the dimmer. Then you can again trial and error to find a balance.

3) You may actually want to measure both. You should have a probe for the UTH (separate from the one it comes with) and at least one digital temp for the ambient air, or just a temp gun - I prefer these, although kind of pricey. You'll want your ambient around 80F, and hot spot around 90F. The dial ones are crap, and aren't very accurate. Digital is the way to go!


You're going to see competing opinions with animal care, especially on the internet. I think your best bet is to see what kind of reputation those giving you the info have, and also how many others agree with them. That should get you the best and most accurate info possible.

Best of luck!

[Pyrate81]

1) Agrees with NH93. Thermostat is necessary for a UTH and you can supplement heat with a low wattage red bulb or CHE.



For better temp humidity regulation overal and your house gets 20 degree swings throughout the day, I'd recommend a PVC cage. You can give the BP his/her own internallly regulated environment without the worry of your house dropping encolsure temps. Altogether it'll up the price of the enclosure, but it'll be a lot less hassle and probably less on your electric bill.

Animal plasitcs, boaphile, boamaster, pvc cages are brands which have a good reputation.

[NH93]

On a side note, how do you stand a TWENTY degree difference!? I start to shiver if it drops to 71F, and sweat at 77F! Tough as nails, some of you's guys.