Let me preface this with “there is more than one way to skin a cat” that being said what will work for an experienced owner is not always what should be recommended to a new owner with limited experience. The key is to find what works for the animal then yourself.
When I give advice to new owner I do it based on what I know is foolproof and will work for them as they learn more about their animal and before they start experiencing around.
For example 8/9 months of the year I do not provide a hot spot at all, that’s right no belly heat, I also do not provide hides however those two things among many other I do are not things I would recommend to someone just starting.
To that you also need to add common sense and efficiency, for example why belly heat instead of side or back heat, because in the majority of cases especially when you have a cool room it is more efficient, less heat loss (keep in mind that heat also goes up)
So it’s really about providing proper heat which means never falling behind 75 on the cool side and in the mid 80’s on the hot side to facilitate digestion.
If you can do that and your animal is eating you are doing it right, now if you do not manage to provide those temps is when you will start having issues.
Do you need to relocate your UTH? Depends on your temps a little secret is getting a reading of the body core temp of the snake itself when being on either side.
So will the UTH being under be better maybe, maybe not, but it will be more efficient and less heat loss at the bottom especially in a cooler room, of course that means a T-stat which you should already have because even on the side it can get hot enough to crack the glass.
Reply With Quote