heating question for my cali king snake

[spartan_chaz]

Hey guys I'm new to the forum and I just got my first snake. She a california king snake about a year old. I have her in a 20 gallon tank and am trying to figure out heating for her. Iv been using a heat lamp but I know they use heat from their belly to help them digest. I have a heat mat on the bottom of the hot side connected to a thermostats so it doesn't get too hot. Iv been using just the mat for a day but realized two things 1. The ambient air stays room temp around 73 or 74 and 2. She spends most her time today under the substrate on the heat mat. Is this a problem? On that should I use both? My only concern with doing that is that the heat lamp will keep the thermostat from kicking the heat mat on. What do you guys think?

[aaron_cg]

What are you using for substrate, and what is the heat pad set to?

[spartan_chaz]

I'm using aspen shavings and the thermostat for the mat is set to 88 degrees

[sharthun]

I'm using aspen shavings and the thermostat for the mat is set to 88 degrees

I would ditch the heat lamp and raise the temp on thermostat until you see about 85 measured on top of substrate on hot side of enclosure.

[spartan_chaz]

Well other question I have is I put the probe with a suction cup on the glass right on the heat pad. Is that where it should go or do I put it o the side of the tank just above the substrate? And will this cause the mat to get too hot and possibly burn her?

[EL Ziggy]

Welcome to the forum Spartan. I would place the probe on the glass above the heat mat and adjust the temps until the surface of the substrate is where you want it. My warm side for my kings is 86-88 but my t-stat is set to 92- 94. Snakes can sometimes move the probe but you can secure it to the glass with a glue gun. A trick my buddy Steve/Sharthun taught me. I do use a low watt infrared bulb on a dimmer for night time viewing or to raise my temps during the winter. Best wishes with your new king. Let us see pics when you can.

[aaron_cg]

As they said above. The other piece of equipment I highly recommend is a temperature gun. About $20 at a hardware shop. Granted, I have quite a few more, but, it will give you an accurate reading of what the Temps are on the substrate.

[spartan_chaz]

OK. I was looking at getting a duel probe digital thermometer. Once I can get the money lol. My main concern is that my room is on the bottom of the house so it gets the coldest with the ac on...I have my thermostat and light set on a timer. I'm going to run just the heat mat tomorrow during the day while I'm at work. But I set my thermostat at 93 so we will see what that does tomorrow. I may need to get a low watt light light later. And attached are some picks!

[EL Ziggy]

Very nice looking king Spartan!

[spartan_chaz]

Thanks man! I really want a ball python but I got a great deal for this pretty girl and couldn't resist her coloration :)

[sharthun]

Very nice looking king Spartan!

I agree beautiful king! I would take the heat mat off the timer and leave it on 24/7. Bump up the temp until you get around that 85-90 degree range. Even at 95 degrees you won't burn your snake.

[spartan_chaz]

OK I'm running the mat now all the time and just leaving the florescent light on the timer. Air temps jumped up to around 80 and she seems to be staying out in the open more than just burying herself in the aspen lol

[sharthun]

OK I'm running the mat now all the time and just leaving the florescent light on the timer. Air temps jumped up to around 80 and she seems to be staying out in the open more than just burying herself in the aspen lol

That sounds great! It's great to see them moving and exploring.

[spartan_chaz]

That it is. Right now she is all curled up under her hide on the hot side and she's been there most of the day...should I be worried? Lol

[sharthun]

That it is. Right now she is all curled up under her hide on the hot side and she's been there most of the day...should I be worried? Lol


Nah, if she gets warm she will move. Just monitor the temps of the substrate on the hot side. An infrared temp gun works great for spot checking!

[spartan_chaz]

OK I know it's been a while but I have been keeping an eye on my girls tank and it seems she spends almost all of her time in the hide on the hot side. Which tells me, at least I think, that it isn't hot enough for her. So today I went and got a digital prove style thermometer and stuck it in there with the probe on top of the substrate over the heat pad. I also took the probe for the thermostat and instead of having is suction cupped to the glass on top of the pad I have it resting on top of the substrate next to the thermometer probe. The temp is currently at 80 and slowly rising. One question I have is I do have a second unused heat pad would it be beneficial to stick it on the back or the side of the tank and hook it to the thermostat as well? Or would that be overkill?

[sharthun]

OK I know it's been a while but I have been keeping an eye on my girls tank and it seems she spends almost all of her time in the hide on the hot side. Which tells me, at least I think, that it isn't hot enough for her. So today I went and got a digital prove style thermometer and stuck it in there with the probe on top of the substrate over the heat pad. I also took the probe for the thermostat and instead of having is suction cupped to the glass on top of the pad I have it resting on top of the substrate next to the thermometer probe. The temp is currently at 80 and slowly rising. One question I have is I do have a second unused heat pad would it be beneficial to stick it on the back or the side of the tank and hook it to the thermostat as well? Or would that be overkill?

You don't need the second heat pad. Just keep adjusting Temps to desired level.

[spartan_chaz]

OK just wanted to be sure thanks! It's now around 88 on the top of the substrate so looks like I finally got it right and all I had to do is move the stupid probe on top of the substrate lol

[sharthun]

OK just wanted to be sure thanks! It's now around 88 on the top of the substrate so looks like I finally got it right and all I had to do is move the stupid probe on top of the substrate lol

Lol, that will work until the snake moves the probe.

[spartan_chaz]

Yeah I though about that. I have a few ideas about how to keep the probes in place. One idea I'm going to pursue is use the suction cup the thermostat probe came with and make a small bracket that allows the two probes to attach to the top of that and still stick out above the substrate. Or will I be ok to just stick the probe to the back of the tank above the substrate and call it a day and stop over complicating things? Lol

[sharthun]

Yeah I though about that. I have a few ideas about how to keep the probes in place. One idea I'm going to pursue is use the suction cup the thermostat probe came with and make a small bracket that allows the two probes to attach to the top of that and still stick out above the substrate. Or will I be ok to just stick the probe to the back of the tank above the substrate and call it a day and stop over complicating things? Lol

Hot glue gun works great. You can also put the tstat probe under tank, between heat pad and glass. Snake can't move it there. You will have to adjust Temps either way.

[spartan_chaz]

Yeah ill come up with something I can be pretty handy at times lol. But for now I'll just keep and eye on the probes so she doesn't move them far