yes, another ? about temps...arghhh

[Linda]

I have been keeping Sudan and Camille's enclosures in my bathroom as it is warmer in there.
Their enclosure temps vary a little bit from 91 to 96 in the hide on the hot side and 80 to 84 in the hide
on the cool side depending on whether it is dark or light/day or night.

I read someone's post somewhere that temps had to stay the same all the time.

How would anyone do that?

I use the temp/humidity gauges and the probes, etc.
I also use the dimmer switches so I could originally get the temps where they should be.
BUT, I am having to adjust almost every day so the hot side doesn't get over 94. One day it was up
to almost 100. I had changed nothing but it was a hotter day than normal.

Almost every night Sudan will go into the cold side corner, stand himself up to the top of the cage and
stay there for hours. I have the screen top covered with clear contact paper and have two cut out circles for
the heat lamps that help keep the heat correct on both sides. I also cut a small triangle out in each corner to
allow for air flow.
Sudan puts his head right up to one of the cut out areas on the cold side and just stays there. His temp on the cold side at night isn't more or less than 80-81.

Is he wanting it cooler than that? Or does he just want a breath of fresher air?

Humidity in both their enclosures ranges from 40 to 55 depending on the time of day.
I have seen twice a level of 37 on Sudan's hot side and also Camille's hot side. I know the hot sides
have less humidity but I don't want them to get too dried out.

Of course, if anyone remembers, I had to treat Camille for RI because I was keeping her enclosure too
humid.
Camille spends most of her time during the day on the cool side, ouside her hide. The temp is about 81.
At night she goes into her hot hide.

I have their water bowls in the middle of the cages touching the front of the enclosure.
Both are eating fine once a week. Sudan weighs 888 grams and Camille is a bit slender at 210 but she was sick and has to gain her weight back.

Does anyone have any advice, comments, answers to my questions?
Thanks,

[daniel1983]

wow....that is tiny text...

[Schlyne]

I read someone's post somewhere that temps had to stay the same all the time.
How would anyone do that?

Get a thermostat. A couple of the board member's sell them.

BUT, I am having to adjust almost every day so the hot side doesn't get over 94. One day it was up to almost 100. I had changed nothing but it was a hotter day than normal.

Ambient air temperature makes a huge difference when it comes to your cage temps. A thermostat is the best option to taking care of something like that.

Almost every night Sudan will go into the cold side corner, stand himself up to the top of the cage and stay there for hours. I have the screen top covered with clear contact paper and have two cut out circles for[ the heat lamps that help keep the heat correct on both sides. I also cut a small triangle out in each corner to allow for air flow. Sudan puts his head right up to one of the cut out areas on the cold side and just stays there. His temp on the cold side at night isn't more or less than 80-81.
Is he wanting it cooler than that? Or does he just want a breath of fresher air?

If your temps are being measured acurately, I'd say he's getting some fresh and being curious. I try to keep the cool side temp in the 82-84 degree range.

I would definately invest in some thermostats. It will save you a lot of time and effort fussing with the heat, and the chance of your snakes cooking themselves by getting way to hot will be minimized.

My ball python comes out at night (if he's hiding, he's digesting, or going into shed), and cruises around his cage. He will often pause and smell the air, but there are about 8 other herps in the room, 2 scorpions, and me. I noticed (when I could open the windows) he would often spend a lot of time scenting the fresh air coming in. Could you change the size of your text to 2 or 3? It'd be easier to read that way.

[justcage]

http://www.mgreptiles.com/thermomain.html That link will take you to thermostats of all shapes, sizes and prices. A dimmer is a really poor control as it will let the same amount of current go to the element all the time. Now if you set the temps when your bathroom is at say 70 and then the room temps rise 5 degrees then the heater in the cage will do the same. A thermostat will either turn the poer on/off to reach your desired temps or will pulse the correct amount of current to the heater at all time to make sure it is within 1/10 of a degree of what you set it at....