What temps are reaaalllyyy prefered by our snakes....?

[BallBuster7653]

So currently I have a new suriname but I have owned all of the large snakes in the past and right now I am struggling with getting this 30 gallon tanks temps right....Yes yes I know to get a tub or vision cage soon but for now I have an overhead light on a timer for lighting and an undertank pad gets to mid 90s on the waarm side on the left then on the right best temps I can get are 75-80 and aas low as 70 at night. My ? is the cool side temps too low? he seems to prefer them. He gos back and forth so all seems well. Hes eating....Everything is going well so far so Im thinking dont fix whats not broken. I also just ordered a large exto terra rock cave for him. Hope its a good size sure it will be good for the enxt year hes only 28" and about 100 grams....Would love some suggestions and other opinions on temps..thanks ll!!!

[TRD]

Well first differentiate between ambient temps and surface temps... as it's perfectly normal that when on a sunny day the ambient temp is 86F the surface temp is 120F. There's a huge difference between them and often people confuse the 2.

It's same in my kingsnake viv for example... ambient is 81-82F, but the basking surface temp is 115F.

So in your case we are talking ambient air temps, or what exactly are we talking about? ie- how do you measure your temps... :)

Ps. Your "for now" enclosure is better than a tub. Snakes shouldn't be in tubs.

[EL Ziggy]

I don't keep boas at the moment but the care sheets I've read recommend a hot spot of about 90, an ambient temp of about 83, and a cool side of 75. I keep most of my snakes temps in those ranges as well.

@ TRD- I'm curious to know why snakes shouldn't be in tubs or is that just your personal preference? I've kept a few critters in tubs with no issues whatsoever. I've also used glass tanks and pvc enclosures successfully. As long as the temps and humidity are in the proper ranges what difference does the enclosure style make?

[BallBuster7653]

When I talk about temps I mean this.... Hot spot I measure with a digital rpobe thermometer. surface temp...which i usually get 90-110 but Its never hot to the touch and I know sometimes bedding or something else in betweeen plus combination with daaytime heat radiating from the bulb can create higher confusing temps....either way hot side is good.... amvient temp I just use a stick on thermomete thats where I usually have the low 70's temps...everywhere but hot spot...although I supose during the day tword the middle it would be high 70s or low 80s. So I am referring to the overall ambient air temp in the cage..away from the hot side. so basiclly the cool side. IM also trying to decide if I should put more bedding between the hot side hide and the heat pad underneath because I do sometimes get those high 110 temps. thinking of getting a temp gun.

[TRD]

Well Ziggy, I have no issues with tubs, but most people keeping them in tubs provide some paper, a hide, and a water bowl.

It's not about the tub, it's about what's in the tub.

In a display terrarium, people are more likely to provide enrichment for the snake... both for the animal, as well as them having something attractive to look at. It's lighter, usually heated by a lamp, that's why I generally try and persuade people to use vivs instead of tubs. Kind of try and avoid the whole "out of sight, out of mind" thing.

[BallBuster7653]

Sometimes runs can look small and unattractive and we as human beings look at it as though it’s bad for the snake. But at the end of the day they really do only need water and heat lol. But I like to add climbing branches and rocks and such things. Plants. So they really feel at home. Beyond what we know I’m sure they need things to be happy just like we all do lol.

[IDvsEGO]

Surviving and living are totally different things.

[craigafrechette]

So currently I have a new suriname but I have owned all of the large snakes in the past and right now I am struggling with getting this 30 gallon tanks temps right....Yes yes I know to get a tub or vision cage soon but for now I have an overhead light on a timer for lighting and an undertank pad gets to mid 90s on the waarm side on the left then on the right best temps I can get are 75-80 and aas low as 70 at night. My ? is the cool side temps too low? he seems to prefer them. He gos back and forth so all seems well. Hes eating....Everything is going well so far so Im thinking dont fix whats not broken. I also just ordered a large exto terra rock cave for him. Hope its a good size sure it will be good for the enxt year hes only 28" and about 100 grams....Would love some suggestions and other opinions on temps..thanks ll!!!


Are your heat sources regulated by a thermostat???

[MichaelRobinson]

ballbuster, you need a thermostat on your uth and a thermostat or dimmer on your 'light.' you also need a way to measure temps i.e. temp gun & digital thermometer, NOTa stick on. if you have a 110 f reading on a probe i'd bet the real temp is significantly higher measured on objects and dangerous. ditch your light and replace it with a ceramic heat emitter. there is no need or desire for your temps to drop to low 70's at night. please research boa care. all of your questions have been asked many times before and can be answered simply by research. arent you the guy that desires the 10' 75lb snake? had you done your research both about the snake and how to care for the snake, you and more importantly your snake wouldnt be in this situation asking basic care questions with ambient temps at 110.

[BallBuster7653]

I see I was wrong about the size of the snake but I know what I’m doing perfectly well the ambient temperatures are fine at 75° and at night can even drop into the low 70s as long as there’s always a hard spot of 90 to 95° which I have fixed and I have made sure that that’s with the hotspot is no hotter than that I also have a really good feeding regimen which I have created myself and even wrote a thesis on it thank you for everyone for your help

[BallBuster7653]

I have ordered a thermostat to regulate the UTH, The temps at night wer enot as cold as I thought...at lowest its 75...also hot side is always on the lamp is for light, not heat...I also ordered a temp gun;) so Ill be good...I just assumed a 10ft boaa would weight a lot now im finding its much kess. Trust me I have owned and bred retics and burms and ball pythons my whole life...and I have had a bci before but didnt keep him long. I know whta IM doing. May times I sk many ? over and over gaina nd get the best answer from average. I am actually writing a care guid book soon. Check out my feeding regimen post I just made

[BallBuster7653]

If i use the thermostat to measure the temp then I wanna set it maybe 95 right? since it will turn off and on.....and will having the UTH turn on and off lal the time will that break it eventually?

[Scubadiver59]

No, you shouldn't burn out your UTH...I haven't lost any of my 30+ UTHs.

If i use the thermostat to measure the temp then I wanna set it maybe 95 right? since it will turn off and on.....and will having the UTH turn on and off lal the time will that break it eventually?