Temperatures.

[Yoganderson]

Ok so last Sunday I got a wood vision cage measuring 33"x16"x12 it has a built in heat lamp with no dome. I'm using aspen bedding. The problem that I'm having is I can't get a straight answer as to where to put my sensors for my thermomiter I'm using a 40 watt red bulb. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Sauzo]

First off, I hope that heat lamp is outside the cage so the snake cant come into contact with it. As for your answer, put one sensor on the cool side of the cage(generally the opposite end of where your heat lamp and/or UTH is). Put the other sensor close to the basking spot or hottest spot on the warm side. I put my sensors just above the snakes height and let them hang. That way if the snake bumps them, they just swing back into position. Also the snake cant sit on them, pee on them or bury them as that would give the wrong ambient temp thus causing your heating device to overheat the cage. For a ball python, its not too bad but for something like my 6ft BCI girl who pees a tsunami, it would destroy a sensor if she pee'd on it.

[Yoganderson]

Ok. So what ever the heat range is out side of the hottest part doesn't matter. (On the hot side). As long as the hottest spot doesn't get above 90. I'm also having trouble keeping my cool side up at night. It stays around 75 and I keep the hot spot betwen 82 and 84. Is this ok.

[KMG]

Post a pic and we can help you better by giving suggestions and fixes you can try.

If I understand correctly the heat bulb is inside the cage. It needs a guard around it if it is.

[Sauzo]

Well to sum it up, you want a temp gradient between 90F and 82F roughly. A few degrees wont hurt as long as the snake can get out of the heat or get into the heat depending what it wants. For my little girl I have a hot side of 85-87F depending on time of day with a cool side of 81-83F with the UTH set to 94F. She seems to love it warmer and spends 95% of the time in her warm hide. Each snake will have their own preference but like I said, as long as the snake can get out of the heat or get out of the cold, its ok. I would try and raise that cool side though as 75F is the lowest of the low for cool side.

My advice is get a higher wattage heat bulb or CHE and a lamp dimmer from Home Depot or somewhere and go from there. Pictures would be nice too. Do you have the heat lamp on one side of the cage? You can try and move it more towards the center to bring up the cool side but that will lower the warm side thus why I say get a higher wattage with a lamp dimmer. I'm using a 100 watt CHE on a 36x18x12 glass tank and have it offset to the warm side a little bit. The room temp is also 75F. I have the lamp dimmer set halfway or just under halfway to get those temps too.

Oh also try and get the same hides for both warm and cool side so your snake doesn't have to sacrifice security for correct temps as from what I have been told, they will choose security over the right temp thus putting themselves in danger of being too hot or too cold.

[Yoganderson]

I just switched the light out to a 60w I'm gonna buy a ceramic heat emitter when I get this under control so I get the temps down. I'm trying to post pics but it won't let me. I was using a dimmer switch but I ended up switching to a thermostat. What are your guys take on the night time drop.

[KMG]

Use a service like Photopucket. Uplaod the pic there and then copy the "IMG" code and paste it into your text here. When you submit the post the pic will appear in the thread.

[Yoganderson]

i loaded one on my page and on in bp General gallery

[AnnaK231]

If you haven't already, unhook that light figure or get a wire cage for around it. Major burns will happen if your snake touches it. Personally, I think NO heat source should be in your tank. Above or under is fine but NOT in.

[AnnaK231]

I just switched the light out to a 60w I'm gonna buy a ceramic heat emitter when I get this under control so I get the temps down. I'm trying to post pics but it won't let me. I was using a dimmer switch but I ended up switching to a thermostat. What are your guys take on the night time drop.

Hopefully with the higher wattage bulb you won't have lower temps. Like someone mentioned above you want one end of the tank around 80-84 and a hot spot around 88-90 or so. Ambient temps (everywhere but the hot spot) should be the 80-84.

What kind of cover is on the tank?