Ball python Temps?

[Nathan7004]

Alright perfect, he spends pretty much the whole time just sitting on the heat so i guess im doing everything thing right

[chrid16371]

Alright perfect, he spends pretty much the whole time just sitting on the heat so i guess im doing everything thing right

Yeah mine did at first also but for the last 5 days he has been in his cold hide. I swear he hears my alarm go off in the morning bc the only time I see him is when I wake up for work and shine a dim light in to check on him and he always has his head poking out of his snake cave looking at me in the morning lol every day.

Just keep monitoring those temps. If you have a ir temp gun even better! I always like having a couple devices to compare. I use 2 temp guns plus a probe thermometer under substrate and another on top of substrate.

[Nathan7004]

Yup im really checking his temps like every 10 min lol, this morning i realized that my heat pad isnt working well i think im going to switch it out with another bigger heat pad, can i use a zoomed heat pad without peeling off the adhesive? The heat pad is meant for 10 gallon and im using a small tub and i wouldnt like to peel it all off just yet, sorry if this is a dumb newbie question lol

[chrid16371]

I have used one with the backing still on it for a leopard gecko incubator and after awhile it started peeling off anyways so when that happened I took it off. Was it the smartest thing to do? Probably not. I wouldn't recommend it. Just bc it only started peeling off for me doesn't mean you would have the same happen. Could start melting and I don't think its worth the risk.

If you don't want to take it off yet bc you might want to use it on another enclosure at some point they can be moved even though people say they can't. I've moved several and what I did is while the were still hot I peeled them off bc the heat makes the adhesive gooy and then I moved them to another enclosure quickly then took electrical tape and taped around the edges bc the corners wouldn't stay. I have 2 in use I have moved with no problems. Just as long as everything remains flat against the enclosure surface. I check them everyday to make sure. They might not last me as long since I moved them but they seem to be holding up good. I've had them for a year and moved them about 9 months ago.

Or was there a different reason you wanted to keep the backing on it?

[chrid16371]

If you do take off the backing I recommend putting the uth on a thin piece of glass like from a picture frame then set the tub on top of glass so then you have less worry of melting the tub and if you ever want to move the uth its easier to peel of glass then plastic.

[Nathan7004]

Well ill just get a smaller uth then, dont want to risk it, thanks for the help tho

[PitOnTheProwl]

A regulated UTH wouldnt melt a tub.
You can just take the wax paper off and put foil tape on sticky side to sticky side and then it is always reusable.

[chrid16371]

A regulated UTH wouldnt melt a tub.
You can just take the wax paper off and put foil tape on sticky side to sticky side and then it is always reusable.

I was just going by what zoo med says that only the mini uth can be used with plastic tubs so I never took the chance of putting one directly on plastic without thin glass between. But good to know.
Do you just keep the foil tape on then tape the mat to the bottom?

[PitOnTheProwl]

Do you just keep the foil tape on then tape the mat to the bottom?

Yes, then use oil tape along the edge to secure to whatever you want to heat.

Think about it..... A regulated heat source is between 95 and 100ish degrees depending on the heat loss through the plastic of the tub you are using.
If this was the case you would be able to sit on a tub and melt is with your body.

[chrid16371]

Yes, then use oil tape along the edge to secure to whatever you want to heat.

Think about it..... A regulated heat source is between 95 and 100ish degrees depending on the heat loss through the plastic of the tub you are using.
If this was the case you would be able to sit on a tub and melt is with your body.

Lol good point. Most of the time I'm better safe then sorry. Always just thought heat + plastic = melt but the melting point of even a plastic water bottle is is a couple hundred degrees. Lol we all have are moments I guess. But thanks for the foil tape trick. I have rolls of it just laying around and I never thought to use it. Definitely make my life easier. The adhesive is a pain sometimes. Plus it will make the mat more solid. Now I'm going to go home after work and put it on all my heat mats.