Question that keeps running through my mind

[Ray]

Hi.

I have a question that keeps running through my mind.I use 2 heatpads in every cage and they are both under the hides.
One heatpad under the hide(hotspot) is around 91 F and the other (cool site)is around
81F.
But why should the ambient temp also be 81F if they are spending all day in their hides wher it's 81.

These are the temps in my cages.

1 hide (hotspot) is around 91F
1 hide is around 81F
and the ambient is around 76F

What do you guys think about the tempetures in my cages?I would love to hear what you think? Ore what i should change??



Thanks Ray.;)

[smeagel]

well, I don't use a heat pad under my cool side hide. It is just the same temp as my ambiant rubbermaid temp. But I also heat my snake room.

[Artemis]

What do you use to measure your temps?

[Ray]

Thanks !!

See thats the problem.I dont have a snake room that i can heat up to this tempeture. The only option i have is to heat it up with heatpads ore light bulbs.

Mabey it's better to use 1 heatpad to the background?? Instead 2 heatpads on the floor??Is it so hard to do it right ore is it just me??Pffffff I whant the best for my snakes thats why i ask it so many times.

By the way i ordered the book THE BALL PYTHON MANUAL.bY
philippe de vosjoli -Roger klingenberg and David & Tracy Barker.

I think this book gives me some very useful tips ;) Are ther more books i'll should have??

Thanks again guys.

Ray;)Ps i use digital thermometer to measure the
Tempeture.

[smeagel]

I use a digital thermometer as well as a helix controling the heat source and I take temps with a temp gun periodically

[Linds]

What kind of cage are you using? Glass tanks are dreadful for heating unless the room is in the ideal temperature range to begin with. Front-opening wooden cages are probably your best bet for insulation. The closed top helps to keep the heat contained, and wood is great at holding heat within its barriers. The heat given off from the basking spot will automatically boost the ambient temp in the cage as a result.

But the bottom line is... Guidelines for temps are just that, guidelines. I don't see anything wrong with your current temperatures at all - so long as by 'around' you aren't dropping deviating too much, or dropping below. Definitely don't allow your basking spot to drop any lower than it is. Also, pay attention to your snake. Is he thermoregulating properly or is he hogging one temperature zone? Little things like that can help you tweak teh temperatures to properly suit your snake as an individual :)

[Ray]

Thanks Linds & smeagel.

Linds i use wooden cages.I will post a pic of my cages so you can see what they look like.

Is it possible to use a heatpad to the backgrouns to increase the ambient temp??




http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/500/7418new_bp_cages-med.JPG


Thanks Ray .ps have a great weekend.;)

[Edmond Y]

Hi Ray, from your picture, I know what you mean now. The temp from the heat pad was captured by the hide box and that is why the Ambiant air not being heat up. In the wild, most of the time, snake hide in cool place inorder get away the strong sun light. I have my hide box at the cool end at about 80F, and use a reptile light as a hot spot and can also heat up the air inside the tank. A heat pad at the back will lost a lot of heat. did you made your own set up? it look realy nice. Edmond

[Ray]

Thanks Edmond.

So if i understand correctly i only need 1 hide on the cool (81F)spot??And the hotspot should be free from hides and other things?Edmond may i ask you if you breed b.p youself??

Thanks Ray. Ps yes i made the setup myself.Thanks for the
complements ;)

[Linds]

If you choose to provide your snake with hides, then you must provide a hide in both the warm and cool zones, so your snake isn't forced to choose security over temperature, which they will do. However, you do want your warm spot to be able to offer more heat to the rest of the enclosure, so you don't want it to the basking spot to be full encompassed by a hide. However, I still stand by my original statement that I don't really see anything wrong with the your temperatures. An ambient temp of 76 isn't really problematic, your snake should still be able to acheive the proper body temperature regardless of the air difference of 4 degrees. As I said, they are just guidelines, in cases like yours where it isn't possible to heat the room, you may need to improvise or get in to lights which may also bring about their own set of problems.

[Ray]

Thanks Linds.

It's so hard to create the right setup pffff.What would you do in my position?? I also noticed that they only use the hotspot after they have eaten.The day after feeding they use the cooler site until the next feed.

I changed the setup this morning.Now i have only 1 hide at the cool site
These are the temps now.
Hotspot 92F
ambient 82F
Hide temp 81F.

One's again thanks for the help guys :thumbsup: ;)

[Edmond Y]

I use one hide is becasue of my tank is small. It is always good to have two hide for them to choose from. I haven't start to breed my snake, because new morph keeping coming, of all the morph out there, I like pastel and butterscotch or orange ghost the most. I will get one or two of those this summer. You ball will tell you if he feel comfort. If he eat, then the set up is good. Can you post your ball sometimes?

[Ray]

They eat every week on schedule no problemo lol.
Sure i can post some pictures.Here they are.Thanks for the great help Edmond.

Enjoy the pics.

http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/507/7418Copy_of_S3500002.JPG
http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/507/7418ball_python.JPG
http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/507/7418S3500022-med.JPG
http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/500/7418python_male_1_-med.JPG

[Edmond Y]

Ray, Thanks for share their picture.they both look very healthy and I have hard time to find a few female here in BC Canada. But there are a big reptile show in July here, hopefully I will find something out there. Can you buy Ball Python in Holland easily or you have to order them from North America?
Regards
Edmond

[smeagel]

I agree with Linds. I have a hide on both my hot and cool sides. But my advice is to use just one heat pad for your hot spot, and try to stay away from a heat lamp. It will up your ambiant temp, but it will also up your hot spot temp (maybe too high), and it will also dry out the air and then you will have humidity problems.

[Ray]

Thanks!!

No problemo Edmond.;) Your right they are very healty and eat like grazy.My male just starded to eat rats.Before that he was only eating mice.My female eats everyting rats mice gerbils you name it.:D

Yes ball pythons are easy to get out here.But only the normal color.
Morphs are hard to find in holland.There are a hand full of breeders out here.If you want to have color morphs you must import them from the usa Canada ore Germany.

Edmond i think you mean North Africa??

I have ordered a pair of hets for Albino this year from belgium.
So i can't wait te get themo>

The pair that i have now i bought for them for 100 euro.The male whas 3 year at the time and the female was 4 years old.

When i bought them they where in very bad condition.The person told me i give them 1 mice every 2 ore 3 weeks ore otherwise they get to fat he said.Pfff Now i know better than that.


Smeagel>>

I want to try a 5 watt Refrigiator lightbulb to up the ambient temp a little ,Mabey than i can place the other hide back again.

If i had my own snake room like i had with my bearded dragons i had no problems at all right now.But now i have to do it with the space i have right now.And that is my bedroom:o But i'll keep trying and trying until everyting is working fine:D ;)


Cheers Ray;)