Question about ARS racks...

[DutchHerp]

You have radiant heat panels in your cages - right?

Yeah I do.

Alright then, I don't think a rack is the way to go for me just yet.

I was thinking about ordering a nice big rack to take back to the Netherlands, go live on my own where I can keep a room at a constant, higher temperature, set up the rack, and start a bigger collection of snakes.

The big problem with this is apparantly the ambient air temperature though...

[Skiploder]

Yeah I do.

Alright then, I don't think a rack is the way to go for me just yet.

I was thinking about ordering a nice big rack to take back to the Netherlands, go live on my own where I can keep a room at a constant, higher temperature, set up the rack, and start a bigger collection of snakes.

The big problem with this is apparantly the ambient air temperature though...

What's the ambient in the room?

My snake room varies from 76 degrees to 79 degrees.

While I only have one ball python in my collection, I have several womas a blackhead and some antaresias who like it warm.

I have no problems maintaining 78 to 81 degrees on the cool end and an ambient on the back half of the tub of 84 to 85 degrees with a nice hot spot.

[DutchHerp]

What's the ambient in the room?

My snake room varies from 76 degrees to 79 degrees.

While I only have one ball python in my collection, I have several womas a blackhead and some antaresias who like it warm.

I have no problems maintaining 78 to 81 degrees on the cool end and an ambient on the back half of the tub of 84 to 85 degrees with a nice hot spot.

My room right now is 75-77 during the summer, and 67-75 during winter. I know, it's cold, but my dad won't let me put the heater up too much.

But no worries about my snakes, I keep them nice and toasty with my AP cages.

I'm gonna receive my new 36x24x15 divided AP cage for a BP and a gray-banded kingsnake, each with an RHP. I can't wait!

[DutchHerp]

I sent an e-mail to AP and they say that usually only the very front of the tub is at or just above room temperature.

[Skiploder]

I sent an e-mail to AP and they say that usually only the very front of the tub is at or just above room temperature.

I'll tell you what.

This week, I'll take some pics of the herp room and send them to you via PM showing:

(1) The thermometers showing the ambient temp of the room.
(2) Heat gun readings of two types of racks (back and belly heat) showing:
(a) Warm end temps.
(b) Cool end temps.
(c) Ambient temps.

AP is technically right - the front of the tub will be roughly room temperature - but your gradient begins there. If your room temp is 70 degrees, your gradient will start at 70 degrees and end at the back of the tub.

That gradient is stretched out over the length of the tub. The hotspot where the probe is will heat up relatively quick - regardless of what ambient is.

So an ambient of 78 nets me the following:

Cool end temp of 79 to 80 degrees, hot spot of 90-92 and a warm end temp of 84 to 85. Overall ambient varies from 79 to 85 degrees over 34" of tub length.

An ambient of 70 degrees nets me the following:

Cool end temp of 71 to 72 degrees, hot spot of 90 - 92 and a warm end temp of 77 to 78 degrees. So the overall ambient varies from 71 to 78 degrees - too cool for balls .

With some insulating you could jack those temps up a bit. On an insulated FB rack in a 73 degree room I was able to maintain an overall ambient of 83 degrees. That was with 11" heat panels on 33.5" long tubs.

[DutchHerp]

Thanks for helping me out!