Hotspot vs no hot spot

[OTorresUSMC]

So my snakes are in a room with an oil filled heater. Ambient temp in that room stays a pretty consistent 84 degrees. What i have noticed is that neither of my snakes are using their hotspot. Since i have gone to my new setup, only about a week, both snakes remain in their cool side one reading 85(lower tank) the other 86 (top tank) This being the case do i even need to run their hotspots? I have both on thermostats and the temp probe in the hides for each stay right at 88/89.

Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk

[piedlover79]

Have they eaten yet? They will probably only really want to curl up on the hot spot when digesting. I'd keep it there.

[OTorresUSMC]

Yea. Ive had them both for a little bit now i have just recently changed the set up. Fed them both on the day of the move, thursday, and they both moved right to the cool side and stayed there. Now my male has always stayed on the cooler side of his enclosure since ive had him with the exception of like 1 or 2 times. The female however would generally only ever be on the cool side to poop lol or when she was in shed. But now she seems to prefer the cool side. Im wondering if for her its because beimg the top enclosure its a degree or two warmer so she doesnt need the hot spot

Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk

[piedlover79]

One week of behavior really isn't enough to go on. In the winter time I know a lot of people reduce temps anyway, but I feel a hot spot is still important if and when the snake decides it wants to change it's temp.

[OTorresUSMC]

Yea i know im a bit of an over thinker sometimes hahaha. I just read posts from a few people who dont use hotspots and say their snakes are thriving. Its one less thing to monitor so its a little appealing. But i have to agree with you i think i like the idea of the hotspot being there in case they want it. Theres no chance they avoid it because its too hot is there? The probes inside the hot hide read 89 however the thermostat for one ia set at 92 the other at 95 to maintain the 89 for each. Is there a chance even tho the probe is reading 89 for the air that the surface temp is hitting in the 90s and its too hot?

Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk

[piedlover79]

The only real way to know what your hotspot really is is to use a temp gun. The probe only gives you a tiny idea of what the heat is. You can run a temp gun over it and see if your hot spot has a hot spot. I had a faulty bit of heat tape that was 90 degrees over the probe but there was a two by two inch area that was 115! The snake thankfully avoided it and I changed out the tape.

[Stewart_Reptiles]

Well when providing gradient 85 is not what I call a cool side, a cool side for me (when providing the option of temp gradient which I do from part of the year) is having temps on the cool side maxing out 82 and hot side maxing out at 90.....not are I keep mine since my cool side is 76/78 and hot side 86/88

At 85 ambient temp I do not use a hot spot. https://ball-pythons.net/forums/show...nt+temperature

[Eric Alan]

Here's my take on hotspots (which all of my racks have): I trust that my animals know what they need more than I do, so I offer them a choice of temperatures.

I started out doing this because I was new and we were all getting to know each other. Yes, I have learned to interpret their behaviors better now than when I first started, but since then I've had good, consistent results and I don't feel the need to change. As the old saying goes, "If it's not broke..."

[Zincubus]

Have they eaten yet? They will probably only really want to curl up on the hot spot when digesting. I'd keep it there.

I " thanked "you but I was really just agreeing with you


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro

[OTorresUSMC]

The only real way to know what your hotspot really is is to use a temp gun. The probe only gives you a tiny idea of what the heat is. You can run a temp gun over it and see if your hot spot has a hot spot. I had a faulty bit of heat tape that was 90 degrees over the probe but there was a two by two inch area that was 115! The snake thankfully avoided it and I changed out the tape.

Yea i have a temp gun and the bedding in the hide sits at around 88. When i move the bedding and temp the plexi, which i guess is actually the pad since plexi is clear i get 90. Deborah i was thinking that was getting a little to warm. Im going to lower the heater to get a lower cool side and then keep hot side as is.

Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk