How to get correct temperatures?

[Eric Alan]

It's not the substrate temperature you want. It's the temperature of the PVC directly above the heat source. Your BP will move that substrate around no problem and situate itself on the floor of the enclosure. You want to make sure that it's safe when (not if) it does that.

For comparison's sake, the Herpstat 2 on my T8s is set to 90 for one and 92 for the other (stacked on top of each other). With the ambient temperature of the room never dropping below 78 degrees, this keeps a hot spot of 90 degrees.

Edit: The heat tape will do nothing for your cool side temperature. It's not supposed to. You'll want to find a solution for bumping those temperatures up a bit, as most will say that they aren't comfortable with temperatures below the 78 degree mark.

[Penultimate]

It's not the substrate temperature you want. It's the temperature of the PVC directly above the heat source. Your BP will move that substrate around no problem and situate itself on the floor of the enclosure. You want to make sure that it's safe when (not if) it does that.

For comparison's sake, the Herpstat 2 on my T8s is set to 90 for one and 92 for the other (stacked on top of each other). With the ambient temperature of the room never dropping below 78 degrees, this keeps a hot spot of 90 degrees.

Edit: The heat tape will do nothing for your cool side temperature. It's not supposed to. You'll want to find a solution for bumping those temperatures up a bit, as most will say that they aren't comfortable with temperatures below the 78 degree mark.

The temperature on the PVC is ranging from 81-95 on the warm side.

What are some ways you would suggest to raise the temperature on the cool side?

[Eric Alan]

I'd turn the thermostat down until the hottest measurement you get is around 90.

For the cool side/ambient temperatures: radiant heat panel, oil filled radiator, another UTH, etc... There are a few options out there.

This is similar to the setup I have going on:
1) Thermostat: http://www.reptilebasics.com/thermos...stat-prewired/
2) Oil Filled Radiator: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000TGDGLU/...6V4L8DGF&psc=1

[Penultimate]

I'd turn the thermostat down until the hottest measurement you get is around 90.

For the cool side/ambient temperatures: radiant heat panel, oil filled radiator, another UTH, etc... There are a few options out there.

This is similar to the setup I have going on:
1) Thermostat: http://www.reptilebasics.com/thermos...stat-prewired/
2) Oil Filled Radiator: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000TGDGLU/...6V4L8DGF&psc=1

Hmm, ok. Is there any temporary solution I could think about before I could do that? I'm thinking a radiant heat panel might be a good idea, but there's no way I can get one by this weekend. Could I maybe just raise the room temperature for now?

(If you're wondering why this weekend, it's because there's a reptile expo then and we only have one or two a year in this state. If there's no temporary solution, I'll wait.)

[Eric Alan]

He'll be fine in the short term. It's safer to err on the cool side than on the warm side. Don't forget, you'll need to have a way to regulate the heat panel too (thermostat or similar). Have fun at the expo!

Edit (why can't I have a complete thought the first time tonight?): Yes - you can just raise the room temp too.

[Penultimate]

He'll be fine in the short term. It's safer to err on the cool side than on the warm side. Don't forget, you'll need to have a way to regulate the heat panel too (thermostat or similar). Have fun at the expo!

Edit (why can't I have a complete thought the first time tonight?): Yes - you can just raise the room temp too.

So it would be alright to keep the snake at a lower cool side temperature for a week or two (until I could get better heating)? I could potentially raise the room temperature, but that would be an absolute last resort because my mother prefers that I don't do that. I might find something to heat the cage with at the expo tomorrow (crossing my fingers!!), but not totally sure. Whatever the outcome, even if I don't get a snake this weekend, I'm looking forward to the expo! Really want to see what the breeders around here are producing!

(Don't worry, I can almost never complete a post without editing at least once, haha.)

[Eric Alan]

I would say it'd be fine, yes. Lower than usual temperatures don't tend to create health problems (unless you're not providing a warm spot at all for proper digestion) - they would usually just magnify any existing health concerns.

[Penultimate]

I would say it'd be fine, yes. Lower than usual temperatures don't tend to create health problems (unless you're not providing a warm spot at all for proper digestion) - they would usually just magnify any existing health concerns.

So would the warm side of the cage (80-90 range) work for digestion? Just checking to be sure.

[Eric Alan]

You aim for the cool side to be close to 80 with the warm side to be close to 90. This 10 degree range gives them the best way to thermoregulate as they see fit.

[Penultimate]

You aim for the cool side to be close to 80 with the warm side to be close to 90. This 10 degree range gives them the best way to thermoregulate as they see fit.

Alright, but temporarily would my range of 80-90 on the warm side and 70-73 on the cool side be ok until I can raise it? I might be lucky enough to find heating stuff at the show, but I'm not sure. I've never been to a reptile expo before. Excuse all of the stupid repetitive questions please, haha. I tend to be a very worried parent to my animals...