Temperature Gradient (Does it have to be linear?), Snake Size and Thermal Regulation

[HellsAekel]

Hi all,

I recently had a post about entitled: *Room Temperature and Enclosure Temperature (What are the Limits for the Room?)

(I will be updating this thread but I have a time-frame I would like to keep for getting the snake if possible to do so without stressing it and my time constraints and priorities dictate that I do this first. I thought I would start a new thread with a different title in case this thread proves helpful to others and the title helps them find it.


I received a lot of help and am happy to report that I have a glass aquarium with the correct temperature range and humidity levels as measured by my Accurite, Herpstat 2 and my colleague's temp gun. I have noticed however that while I have a 92 degree hot spot and areas as low as 80 (no lower) they do not follow a linear progression.

What I mean is that the hotspot is in the middle of the right side of the 40 gallon breeder is 92 degrees. Next to the hot spot in front of the un-insulated front of the tank is around 83 and in the dead center of and rear of the tank is in the mid to high 80's while the corner furthest from the hot spot near the glass is 80.

I'm planning on getting a 2 and a half foot male or so and cluttering up the tank more than the two hides, branch and 12 feet of vines that it currently has. (It is also worth noting that the back sides and top are insulated and provide cover.


Given this what I am wondering is:

Do you think that such as snake will be able to thermal regulate in an enclosure like this?
Will it's size be a problem in terms of not getting overwhelmed by the size and then not finding the different temp zones and does the non-linear nature of the temp zones compound this?
Do you think I even need more clutter than I have?

I would post a picture but I don't have permission too and don't know how to get it....

Thanks in advance for any thoughts or references to other threads I may have overlooked.

[chrid16371]

Post pics when you can. Make sure you get matching hides so your snake can't play favorites. I made the mistake of not having matching hides and my bp never thermal regulated. He was always in his cool hide. I think your temps are fine. As long as you put one hide on a spot 88-92 and the other hide on a spot 80-83 and there matching your snake will go to where it needs.

[chrid16371]

I should add that someone else will give you advice on tank size. Most may say a 40 breeder is to big for a 2.5 foot male. I have a male that is little over 2.5 feet in a 48x26x14 PVC enclosure and he is way happier then he was in a 24x22x14 but this wouldn't be true for most ball pythons. Also I wouldn't put the cold hide right next to the hot. I would find the furthest spot you can get and still be around 80. That way he has a hiding spot on each side of the tank.

[chrid16371]

Idk if you have bought hides yet but if you haven't I recommend the reptile basics medium hide. My snake loves them. They are very secure and dark. A lot of people on this forum use them, that's how I found out about them. The medium should work for the size bp your getting. I use the mediums also. You will have to get the large once he grows but that may be a little while. You could order 2 medium (one for hot side, one cold side) and order the 2 large also so you have them on hand and save on shipping. They are really cheap but strong.

[HellsAekel]

Ok, I was unable to get pictures of the set-up after putiting in the hides, substrat, water bowl and moss but I have these:




















I will take a pic of what the inside looks like now tomorrow and of the temp gun on different areas.

[stickyalvinroll]

Whoa you fancy huh?

[Coluber42]

So far so good!

No, the snake doesn't care if the temperature gradient isn't linear across the cage. It's possible that they actually lie around pondering upon the depths of geometric principles and just don't have a way to tell us about it, but it seems doubtful. He'll be able to find the temperature he wants. Just give him lots of hides in lots of places and he'll be able to figure out the rest even without a geometrically logical shape to the gradient available to him.

[HellsAekel]

Thanks Chrid, I did but to make sure he feels secure I just ordered some.

Lol, thanks again Coluber42. I think I may have been over analyzing just a bit but better safe than sorry. Here is the final tank minus the two medium hides from reptile basics which are in the mail.



Temps and humidity are holding constant, and yeah... I'm so Fancyyyy.

[chrid16371]

You won't be sorry about ordering the reptile basics hides and I say that bc I see you have a half log hide and those often don't make a bp feel secure do to the open front. I used one in with both my bp for a few montha and neither of them ever went in there and now with the rb hides they use both.

Your setup looks great and I want to applaud you for taking the time to research, ask questions, test, and most of all buying the right equipment!