New to forum & heating question :)

[KodiakFox]

So I just got my first two ball pythons today. I love them! I do have a couple heating questions though... My set up is a plastic shelf with heat tape along the back on a thermostat. My thermostat is set to 95° because it has to heat through to the plastic tubs and they have a piece of paper towel as well. I have a temp gun and a thermometer in each tub. My gun reads a range of 90-95 directly over the tape inside the tub, depending if the unit is actually heating or not, but an inch above that it's in the low 80s on the bedding etc. the thermometer reads 78° right now in the middle of the tub but I suspect it will go up a couple degrees as I just put it in there an hour or so ago (it's a slow climber). My house right now is 72°. I generally don't let it get much less than 70 but I have wood heat so sometimes it gets a bit chilly before I start a fire but not for long. To help regulate I do have towels on the shelves over the tubs and to help enclose the shelf areas themselves. Any suggestions/improvements? Like I said I'm very new to this but want to do things right. I have a ton of heat lamps and bulb choices as I incubate and raise ducks/geese/chickens so could add another heat source if needed. The snakes seem happy, they either lay relaxed on the heat or move around checking out the tub. I just got them this morning but I have handled them some while adjusting their digs and they are very chill and inquisitive I will be buying another hydrometer for inside the tubs but ambient is 55% right now in the house, higher in the tubs but I don't know exactly. It is end of september here in southern bc and we have cold winters, but aside from a few low times when I'm gone all day or first thing in the morning I keep a warm house.

[KMG]

That's a tad cool for my liking but I don't think you are too far off. Once the cold really moves in you probably will want to add a heat lamp on the front.

Heat tape will not do much if anything to the air temps in the tubs.

Another option some use is placing their snake in a closet with a small electric heater. During the real cold you may think about that as well.

[KodiakFox]

Do you think pointing a heat lamp into the shelf from the front will raise the ambient temp enough? Also, what wattage and what colour of bulb? I'm assuming not a white bulb. I have a 100w red bulb but my next one is 175w which will be way too hot. I had another peek inside and the thermometer now reads 79° in the middle. I suspect it will climb a bit more when I stop poking my nose in there lol

[KodiakFox]

Ps right outside the tubs is 72 in the room and inside the tubs in the middle is 79° and should go up I'm thinking to 82 ish so it is being warmed by the tape.

Pps once it gets really cold my wood stove will be on almost all the time, right now it gets way too hot if I use it every night and if anything the house should be warmer ��

[KMG]

I wouldn't add the light just yet. Track the numbers and see what you are getting on average. If you end up needing to raise the temp the heat lamp pointed at the front will work just fine. I have heated plenty of tubs with lamps over the years when in a pinch. I would use the 100w with a dimmer. Start out low and gradually raise it until you have it just where you need it.

The heat tape will raise the temps but it is not designed for that and is not the most effective method of raising ambient temps.

[KodiakFox]

Ok thanks for the info I should also add they are babies still and in smaller tubs. I'm sure as they grow the heat tape will do less inside ambient temps. If I need a lamp and find that the humidty drops, can I mist inside the tubs once in a while?

[KMG]

Sure, you can mist.

What I like to do is place moss in my hides. This makes them feel more secure but during a shed I can also dampen the moss and it creates a higher humidity level within the hides. Since the snake spends most of its time there it will benefit from it greatly. This will also limit how often you have to mist.

Misting is a very common practice. Some do it every few days, other daily, and then others a few times daily. The moss in the hides does wonders.

I use this to mist some in my collection and it works great. Much better than regular spray bottles which always break after awhile.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...ilpage_o01_s00

[KodiakFox]

I will check that mister out for sure, thanks. I have a couple of spray bottles that mist nicely too from the incubating I do (haaandy! lol). With the moss, what I'm finding right now is the tubs currently don't feel big enough for much else. I'm using a towel over the back half of the tubs to help keep heat in but also to create darkness. If I wanted a hide I think I would have to make a bigger tub (which I can do). They are in the size recommended by the breeder right now. Also can. I use any moss or does it have to be sterile/store bought? Lots grows at my house. I don't think I would give them a bigger tub quite yet but I can shop for them at least. Poor guys had quite the move yesterday I want to give them time to settle

[KMG]

Sorry I just figured you had hides. No biggie. The moss can be laid in there by itself too. You may find your snakes hiding under it. I use moss all over. In and out of the hides and it works well both ways.

I would not recommend using the moss around your house. It is just too cheap not to buy it in a clean and pet friendly product.

I buy it like this. Just break off what you need and save the rest. It can even be washed a couple times if your snake soils it. However, like I said it is cheap enough I just break off the soiled areas and replace it.

http://www.amazon.com/Zoo-Med-Terrar...s=zoo+med+moss

[KodiakFox]

Ok great I figured there was some clean stuff you could buy. My one female loves to get underneath everything so I'm sure she'd enjoy some moss. I think once my stove is burning all the time humidity will be an issue so strats like moss and misting are good to be prepared for.