Temps/Basking Lights

[EL Ziggy]

Good morning all,
I hope everyone is well. I was looking for opinions about the use of basking lights. Both my kingsnakes are in 40 gal vivs with uth's. Their temps are generally between 74-78 on the cool side and 82-86 on the warm side, which is within the recommended ranges on the care sheets I've read. However, if I turn on a 75watt red florescent bulb it creates a basking spot of 94+. My snakes will perch and bask occasionally but not all the time, and I do like the red light when viewing them at night, but I was wondering if this light should be on all the time or just intermittently at my choosing. Thanks for reading and for your thoughts.

[franks]

You could put it on a timer for a few hrs a day, or you can grab a lower wattage bulb, or you can put the lamp on a dimmer. Personally, for display enclosures, I am a big fan of utilizing both heating sources. I feel it simulates a more natural environment and encourages the snake to be more active if set up right.

[Concept9]

I use a UTH on a thermostat set at 85degs to provide belly heat and keep the bottom of the enclosure warm. At 85 degs., I have no worries of my burrowing buggers getting burned.

My cool end is 75-78degs., I use a CHE on a thermostat set at 90degs., for his hot end/basking area.

[Mikoh4792]

Good morning all,
I hope everyone is well. I was looking for opinions about the use of basking lights. Both my kingsnakes are in 40 gal vivs with uth's. Their temps are generally between 74-78 on the cool side and 82-86 on the warm side, which is within the recommended ranges on the care sheets I've read. However, if I turn on a 75watt red florescent bulb it creates a basking spot of 94+. My snakes will perch and bask occasionally but not all the time, and I do like the red light when viewing them at night, but I was wondering if this light should be on all the time or just intermittently at my choosing. Thanks for reading and for your thoughts.

I thought the recommended temperatures for a king on the hot side were 86-90 instead of 82-86.

A few weeks back I made a similar thread about my carpet python.

http://www.ssnakess.com/forums/general-discussion/100284-snakes-choose-bask-above-below-recommended-temperatures.html

Carpet pythons are supposed to have similar temperature gradients and I was worried because there was a basking spot of up to 99F(sometimes went over) and he still used it. Another poster here gives his retics a basking temp of up to 120F and they use it from time to time.

Although not necessary, giving your snakes an area of "higher" temps is not dangerous. They will use it from time to time for whatever reason. In the wild on a sunny day if you see a snake basking on a rock or anything that absorbs heat well, you can bet it's going to be hot(over 90F). You just need to provide an area where they can cool off.