Help Needed Increasing Heat in the Winter

[luckydoll]

Hi, guys! This is my first time posting as I am a new ball python owner, but I have been lurking on this forum since before becoming an owner.

I have had my ball python for about five months now and everything is going well. However, now that the temperature is dropping in my state, I am having difficulty keeping his enclosure warm enough.

I have a 29 gallon tank that is approximately 30"x18"x12". I have a UTH that 11"x11" and 14W under the warm side of the tank. Over the warm side of the tank I have a 100W ceramic heat emitter. The top of the tank is a screen, but I have a sweater covering the screen around the heat lamp and a damp towel covering the cool side to keep the humidity up.

During the summer and beginning of fall, this was enough to keep the temperatures high enough. This week it has gotten a lot colder outside and my house has been about 65/70 degrees. The warm side of his enclosure has dropped to 78 degrees and the cool side to 72. I know this is way too cold.

Today, I purchased a second ceramic heat emitter and lamp, this one at 60W. Will this be enough to raise the temperature accordingly? Or will it be too much heat? Everything is plugged into thermostat/tank temperature controller, but I am still worried.

Should I have gotten another heat pad to tape to the side of the tank instead of the second heat emitter? Or does anyone else have other ideas/tips to keep the temps up? I have not yet plugged in the second heat lamp yet as I have to run an errand soon and want to be able to supervise the first few hours of it, just in case, but I will probably be plugging it in tonight. Still, if this is not the best route, I will change what I am doing. I just want to do what is best for my snake.

The weather in my state is only going to get colder as winter arrives. Sorry I wrote so much but I wanted to give as much detail as possible of the situation. Thank you in advance for the help. Here's a picture of my lovely little guy for your enjoyment.

[Craiga 01453]

Welcome to the forum!!!

I used to run into the same issue in MA every winter.

I now have all my enclosures wrapped in 1/2" foam board insulation. I wrap the back and sides and lay a piece over the top. This helps immensely with heat and humidity control.

The problem you'll run into if you add another CHE is that it'll zap all your humidity and humidity will become a nightmare to keep up.

Also, UTHs (heat mats) are not designed for ambient temps. They are designed to solely provide a hot spot and not for ambient temps.

Adding the insulation has been a game changer for me as it not only helps with heat and humidity control but also helps the heating equipment to run more efficiently, which also helps my electric bill.

[Helonwheelz383]

I was fighting the same issue. I have a CHE and a UTH which weren't enough now that winter temps are here. My bedroom gets pretty chilly. (60 degrees at night) I got a little ten dollar space heater that's only 250 watts. The wattage is low enough that I can run it through a thermostat. I've got it set about a foot back from the glass. It does take a bit for the heat to build and I have to mist more often but it's been a lifesaver. I went that route because I like my bedroom on the colder side. I didn't want to raise the room temp if I could avoid it. I also used foam insulation as Craig mentioned too. It helped but my room is just too cold.

[Craiga 01453]

I was fighting the same issue. I have a CHE and a UTH which weren't enough now that winter temps are here. My bedroom gets pretty chilly. (60 degrees at night) I got a little ten dollar space heater that's only 250 watts. The wattage is low enough that I can run it through a thermostat. I've got it set about a foot back from the glass. It does take a bit for the heat to build and I have to mist more often but it's been a lifesaver. I went that route because I like my bedroom on the colder side. I didn't want to raise the room temp if I could avoid it. I also used foam insulation as Craig mentioned too. It helped but my room is just too cold.

That's a good point as well. I do use a small space heater when it gets really cold.

[luckydoll]

I didn't even think of insulating the tank to help with this problem. Thank you!

I just went out and purchased some insulation foam board from my local hardware store. If you guys don't mind me asking, what is the best way to attach it to the tank?

I will look into getting a space heater, too.

[bcr229]

I didn't even think of insulating the tank to help with this problem. Thank you!

I just went out and purchased some insulation foam board from my local hardware store. If you guys don't mind me asking, what is the best way to attach it to the tank?

I will look into getting a space heater, too.

Cut the insulating board to fit and tape it to the outside glass. It probably won't look pretty but it will get the job done.

Covering the mesh top with foil will also help keep heat and humidity in the tank.

[Craiga 01453]

Cut the insulating board to fit and tape it to the outside glass. It probably won't look pretty but it will get the job done.

Covering the mesh top with foil will also help keep heat and humidity in the tank.

That's all I do...
I cut the back piece first, adding 1" to accommodate 1/2" for each side piece.
Then when I cut the side pieces the back will fit snug and the corners will be flush.
I then attach the side pieces and tape them (OUTSIDE, NO TAPE EVER INSIDE) to the frame of the tank, top and bottom, front and back.
Then tape the back to the side pieces.

For the top, I cut it to fit and then trace my heat lamp in position where I want it to lie. I cut that hole out plus about an inch all the way around for ventilation and so the lamp isn't in direct contact with the foam board.

Voila, done. You can always paint it or whatever if you want to pretty it up. The cleaner the cuts the better it will look too.
Just be sure to let it air out for at leaat 48 hours if you paint it though.

OP, Let me know if you have amy questions.

[luckydoll]

I put the insulation on three out of the four sides of the tank and then cut out a piece to lay over the top with a circle cut out for my heat lamp. The temperature increased--only now the temp is about the same on both the warm side and the ambient side (about 80 degrees). I'm hoping overnight the warm side will increase a bit more or I'll be in the market for a little space heater.

I did end up using tape. Honestly I'm not too concerned with the aesthetic of everything as long as my bp is warm enough.

[Crowfingers]

I have a T11 AP cage and have a 100 watt che on the hot side and a 60 watt on the cool - both regulated and it keeps the ambient temps perfect. The only trouble I've had is that now that my snake is larger I had to get bigger hides and they are on the thick side. So I ended up having to get a small UTH and Herpstat that covers the area just under that hide. He's a burrower - so to help with heat I have very little cypress mulch on that side, just enough to absorb urine / waste and put sphagnum moss (dry) in the hide. He burrows under this and its so light it does not seem to block the heat from the UTH

[SquirmyPug]

I put the insulation on three out of the four sides of the tank and then cut out a piece to lay over the top with a circle cut out for my heat lamp. The temperature increased--only now the temp is about the same on both the warm side and the ambient side (about 80 degrees). I'm hoping overnight the warm side will increase a bit more or I'll be in the market for a little space heater.

I did end up using tape. Honestly I'm not too concerned with the aesthetic of everything as long as my bp is warm enough.

80f ambient all over should be fine as long as you have the UTH for a hot spot. If you want the cool side a little cooler than the warm side you could try removing some of the insulation from the cool side. After you do that you will probably need to turn the thermostat on the CHE up a bit to maintain 80-ish on the cool side and a little warmer on the hot side.