Zoo Med UTH

[Eric Alan]

To ride on KMG's coat tails, I would not be comfortable with a temperature reading over 95 at any level of substrate my BP could reach. Like KMG said, substrate gets moved around an inevitably you'll end up with a BP lying directly on the bottom of the enclosure without any substrate below them. You still want this place to be at a safe temperature for them. 100+ (even 97) is definitely not a safe temperature for your BP.

[PitOnTheProwl]

The temp on the top of whatever substrate you are using doesn't matter, your snake can and will burrow.
We all learn at different speeds, the problem here is the animal can suffer because you think something is okay.


Wish I would have taken pictures when I first got her. This is a couple years later and yes the scar is still healing.

[Spartacus]

Just curious... So many snake burns on the belly happen with underbelly heating, and the dangerous heat rocks that some people use for some reason... I wonder why the snake sits there and burns- does it not hurt them? Why don't they move?

[albinos_rule]

Just curious... So many snake burns on the belly happen with underbelly heating, and the dangerous heat rocks that some people use for some reason... I wonder why the snake sits there and burns- does it not hurt them? Why don't they move?

I have often wondered that too, no one has ever really explained. Maybe they don't have nerve endings on their belly..

[PitOnTheProwl]

Cold blooded, by the time they feel it it is too late

[blubudgie]

Yeah I read it's because they can't feel it.

Anyway, I've kept the UTH on for 10-12 hours for two days now, turning it off at night and monitoring the temp frequently, and it's really not getting that hot at all. At most it's 90 at the surface, 97 at under the substrate. And it's only 100 at the way bottom of the tank, it's not possible for the python to get down there. I have a carpet blocking the way. I'm gonna keep watching it while I wait for tstat.

I use a 50 watt bulb and it heats the hot side to 86ish at most 88. Do I even need the UTH? Could I just turn it on for the two days after feeding?

[PitOnTheProwl]

wish you better luck than thousands that knew better before you.....................

[Mike41793]

The highest I've clocked one at was 142°F. If you don't believe me I'll go plug one in right now and take pics. It's not ok to run one without a T-stat.

[blubudgie]

so
do I need a UTH if my bulb can get the ambient to 88?

what size mats are you guys using? mine is only 4 watts. The physical mat get hot but by the time it reaches the substrate a lot of heat is lost in the glass tank, carpet, and air (my tank is raised like half an inch).

[Mike41793]

The bulb will kill the humidity in the tank, an uth is definitely better to use.

The smaller zoo med one and the larger one. If your ball burrows down to the glass it can get burned.