Winter Temperature Managment

[Crowfingers]

**I don't have a snake yet, hopefully that will be remedied next weekend at the expo. This gives me 1 week to make sure my temperatures are perfect for the coming cold months**

This weekend has been our first taste of winter, and it has brought some new challenges. Our house has been between 64 and 68, which means my tank has been too cold. I have a 40gal tank, set up as described in the "how to set up a glass tank tutorial sticky". The temps were perfect, before the apartment temps dropped below 73 F. The hot side has a 100 Watt blue bulb, and the cool side has a 60 watt blue bulb. I have a thermostat, but the UTH won't be here for a few more days, (I had to send the first one back since the wires were frayed). The temps in the tank last night were:

Hot side (the probe is inside a rock cave-hide) 84.5 F
Middle of the tank (the probe is inside a small hide) 74.2 F
Cool side of the tank (the probe is also in a small hide) 71.0 F

Once the UTH is here, I think I can get the hot side under / near the hide up to 86 - 88 F, but I don't know how to get the cool side up into the acceptable range. I was debating between getting a second 100 watt bulb and putting it on a dimmer, or trying a 75 watt. Any recommendations would be appreciated. The winter time has been my biggest concern since deciding to get a python.

Also, are red or blue bulbs better for nocturnal animals?

I thought about getting a CHE, but I have read that they get to 500+ degrees on the surface and that they need an open 'wire basket' type of holder hovering above the tank versus the typical aluminum bell shaped one or they can cause a fire. I also have cat's and don't really like the thought of basically an oven-burner just being on all the time.

I would also like to note that I live in an old apartment building that is too drafty to keep the house temps up in above 72 without completely breaking the bank.
I know that I will have humidity issues, so I already have cypress bark, I'm planning on keeping a moist hide on the hot side, and misting the cage as necessary.

Thanks so much for reading

[bcr229]

A friend of mine with a cold house and one BP in a 40-breeder uses two UTH's, one set at 92*F the other set for 82*F. He has a hide over each. Ambient in the tank is maintained with an overhead heat lamp.

He also has a plexiglass cover on the tank to keep the heat and humidity inside of it, with just the opening for the heat lamp. Otherwise you will lose all of your heat and humidity out the top.

[Crowfingers]

Thanks, I'll try that. I have the plexi glass cover, it has cut outs that can be removed to allow more/less air flow.

[blue roses]

I also live in a very cold house. I have my BP in an exo terra glass tank, with a uth set at 96 degrees, which keeps the hot side at 90 to 92 degrees. I use a twin deep dome holder for a red heat bulb and a plain white light for daytime, as his corner is pretty dark. I can adjust the hight of the lamp so the ambient temp stays at around 80 to 85. To manage humidity in the winter I have moss under his hot hide, around some of the bottom of the tank, and i use a reptifogger to add humidity. I also cover the front holes and half his screen cover. hope this helps.

[200xth]

I would also like to note that I live in an old apartment building that is too drafty to keep the house temps up in above 72 without completely breaking the bank.

I keep my apartment in the low 70's all year.

Racks, UTH only. The snakes are fine. If you have a hot side in the upper 80's, you'll be fine even with a cold side in the low 70's.