UTH and heat lamp combo

[Wrath]

I think I am doing this totally wrong! Can someone please let me know how I am supposed to do this:

I currently have an UTH on one end of my BP's tank where her hide is. On the other end I have the overhead light over her bowl of water. She spends a lot of time all over the tank, sometimes in her hide, on top of it, around it, or on top of or around her water bowl.

Am I supposed to have the UTH and the light on the same side? and should I just put the bowl of water in the middle?

The tank is not that big. So it's tough to accomodate everything. It is 3 feet long by 15 inches wide.

Here are some pics. The space issue is upsetting to me because she has the plainest and most unattractive enclosure of my three herps. She deserves better but I dont have the space! Do you guys have any suggestions?

http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/504/91Enclosures_014II-med.jpg

http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/504/91Enclosures_009II-med.jpg

[HetForHuman]

well what is the temp on top of the UTH?
and what is the ambient temp of the enclosure?

also what are you using for thermometers?

if you are using the stick on aquarium types they are junk. go out and buy a digital indoor outdoor thermometer with a probe.
then stick the probe right on top of the UTH to see how hot that is.
i dont even use heat lights anymore because the ambient temp in my whole house is like 80-82.
i keep my hotspot in the tank at about 90-93.

the water bowl is fine in the middle but i really dont think you need the light unless it is too cold in your house.

[Wrath]

My room is really hot. Even when the A/c is on in the house, my room barely changes. It does not have a concrete foundation like the rest of the house, it has a crawlspace underneath and hardwood floors (creepy).

I have one of those dinky stick on aquarium thermometers for the UTH. I just kept it in the packaging it came in when i bought it (thin cardboard and a sheet of plastic). I just put it against the UTH under the tank and gage it by that. it's between 90-95.

The ambient is read with a $5 or $10 coil stick-on thermometer that i got at the local petstore. I dont know how accurate it is. It says 85 right now and it's 6 in the evening. It can probably get up to 90 on a hot day. As I said, my room is pretty much an oven....

I should invest in the digi with the probe. Arent they like $20 at a harware store?

As for the lamp. I thought that where i have it would increase the humidity in there. Its usually about 50, and 60 when i mist which i usually only do when she's in shed.

[Jo060]

I think u should be fine. I have my UTH under one hide (hot spot) then a overhead ceramic heater on the other side partway over the water and his other hide. And when he gets too hot he'll move to the cooler side or too cold go to the hotter side :)

[Linds]

Why are you heating both sides of the tank? Unless your house is too cold (which by the sounds of it it isn't), there is no need to heat both sides. The snake needs a cool retreat. The UTH should be placed on one side of the enclosure to create a gradient.

[Wrath]

Thanks Linds. Do you suggest that I remove the light, and just use the UTH until winter when she may need it more?

[Big Mike]

Accurate temperature measurement....this is important.

I'd say, remove the light. If the UTH does not get warm enough, then put the light in the middle/warm side. As Linds says, the snake needs a cool retreat.

Get rid of the fish tank thermometer. The stick-on coil ones are usually pretty good though. I just let them sit on the floor of the enclosure. Indoor/outdoor thermometers with a probe are your best bet though.

Nice looking snake you have there...have fun with her

[Andy_G]

Ball pythons in my opinion don't need as high of an ambient temp that some people provide for them. Mine is kept at an ambient of 75-80 degrees depending on the room temp and has a U.T.H. that creates a hot spot of 92.

Lights dry out snakes, ditch the light.

[lilyskip]

I have my light and UTH on the same side, and the water on the cool side. Why *would* you need to heat both sides? Look at your temps...they should be 90-95 on the hot side, 82ish-87ish on the cool side. Unless your room temperature is 70 degrees, you shouldn't need to heat both sides. My light is a supplement for the UTH, since it doesn't heat up the hot side enough on its own. Do your own measurements on your own tank, though, to see what you need.

Also, putting the water on the hot side might cause too much condensation/evaporation.

[Linds]

Wrath,
I would definitely get rid of the light and stick to the UTH ;)

Originally posted by lilyskip
at your temps...they should be 90-95 on the hot side, 82ish-87ish

Way too warm for the cool side. Upper 70's low 80's... for the cool side. When my room gets to 87 degrees I turn off their hot spots :firestart

[Wrath]

Thanks to everyone for all the advice! I will ditch the light then.