How hot is too hot?

[brylecc1989]

Hey guys. I got a 40gallon tank with 2 100 watt bulbs for heat. Most days my temps are 85 and 80. However, on hotter days it could get up to bout 95. Can it be too hot for my carpet? How hot is too hot? Thanks everyone.

[shaunyboy]

95f is too hot mate

i run my carpets at.....

hot end 84f to 86f

cool end 76f to 80f

i keep all my adults in 4x2x2ft tanks and use 60 or 100 watt ceramics but only 1 ceramic bulb in each tank

the only carpet i know that can take 95f is diamonds and thats usually only for a 4 hour basking period then no heat for the rest of the 24 hour period

are you using a thermostat ?

cheers shaun

[Jendee]

bulb?? as in a light bulb?? I think too much light on a snake 24/7 would stressful you should get another type of heat source

[sickvenom]

Hey guys. I got a 40gallon tank with 2 100 watt bulbs for heat. Most days my temps are 85 and 80. However, on hotter days it could get up to bout 95. Can it be too hot for my carpet? How hot is too hot? Thanks everyone.

too hot. but also.... you have a 40 gal with 2 100 watt bulbs and you're only getting 80-85 degrees? is it a glass fish tank with a screen lid? sounds like you definitely need to stabilize your temps.

[brylecc1989]

I don't have a thermostat. I figured that with my two bulbs, i can manipulate the heat how i wanted. Ideally i have the white one on in the day and the red one at night. Only when its very hot in my house does the temp raise and i always fix it quickly. How can i keep my temps at a steady 85 degrees with the variance in room temperature? Help! I want my snake to be happy. lol

[sassy_snake_lady]

I don't have a thermostat.

How can i keep my temps at a steady 85 degrees with the variance in room temperature? Help! I want my snake to be happy. lol

With a thermostat!

[Lankyrob]

I never put anything hot near any of my animals without a thermostat - what if you were out for the day and the temps went up? What happens to mr snake then?

[brylecc1989]

You're right Rob. How does a thermostat work and where can i get one? What kind should i get? Appreciate the advice. Also, what is strategically the best place to stick my thermometer probe?

[brylecc1989]

HerpSupplies.com - 1000 Watt Temperature Controller - Zilla - 1000 Watt Temperature Control - Zilla* Thermostat keeps temperature stead... (http://www.herpsupplies.com/product.cfm?groupid=18522&id=SRZ11939)

Just bought this.

[sickvenom]

answer my questions above if you want more help.

[brylecc1989]

It is a glass tank with screen lid. Zilla critter keepers i believe is the exact model. humidity stays at about 45-50%. I was told 40-60 was good for carpets.

[shaunyboy]

I don't have a thermostat. I figured that with my two bulbs, i can manipulate the heat how i wanted. Ideally i have the white one on in the day and the red one at night. Only when its very hot in my house does the temp raise and i always fix it quickly. How can i keep my temps at a steady 85 degrees with the variance in room temperature? Help! I want my snake to be happy. lol


a thermostat is all you need mate

i use a dimming stat with light emmiting heat sources

i use a pulse stat for non light emmiting heat sources

they cost around £40 ($26) over here i use microclimate brand and have found them reliable and very accurate (to within less than half a degree)

i preffer ceramic bulbs as they do not give off light and can be used 24/7 thay also give great ambient air temperatures and i won't use anything else i feel they are that good

a 100 watt would do just fine with a heat guard and a thermostat

like jendee i'm not a fan of light bulbs too much hassle changing over to a non light source at night time

cheers shaun

[sickvenom]

It is a glass tank with screen lid. Zilla critter keepers i believe is the exact model. humidity stays at about 45-50%. I was told 40-60 was good for carpets.

Screen lids don't hold heat in. I suggest covering at least half with something solid. You will get more consistent temps and your equipment will run more efficiently.

[morelia4life]

You shouldn't have two lights on top, I assume they are spread out and if they are that would mean both ends are getting pretty warm so your snake can't regulate his body temps. I have a 20 gallon tank with a 100watt infrared heat bulb, but it has a dimmer switch on it and I keep the temps at about 91 degrees or so for my Jag. 95 is too hot for a carpet unless it is like a bredli. Also Diamonds don't do well in heat. They need cooler temps like in the mid 80's. Just get the warm side up to about 88 to 92 and than have a cooler side so the snake can choose which side he wants to be on.

[morelia4life]

What is wrong with having a heat lamp 24-7? Carpet pythons are semi-arboreal snakes so most are going to want to climb rather than sit on the floor of the cage on a heat mat. They aren't ball pythons. I have had my carpet now for over 2 months and I have the 100watt light running 24-7. Not all carpets will climb, I realize that but most do. I guess it just depends on the snake. If he likes to sit on the floor of the cage than get a UTH, if he likes to climb than get a heat lamp. Just make sure the temps are the correct temps and you shouldn't have any problems .

[shaunyboy]

You shouldn't have two lights on top, I assume they are spread out and if they are that would mean both ends are getting pretty warm so your snake can't regulate his body temps. I have a 20 gallon tank with a 100watt infrared heat bulb, but it has a dimmer switch on it and I keep the temps at about 91 degrees or so for my Jag. 95 is too hot for a carpet unless it is like a bredli. Also Diamonds don't do well in heat. They need cooler temps like in the mid 80's. Just get the warm side up to about 88 to 92 and than have a cooler side so the snake can choose which side he wants to be on.

re diamonds
right out the blue diamonds drop dead at the age of 4 to 6 if kept too hot or develop diamond python syndrome which causes brittle bones that ends with the diamond being euthinised because of being unable to eat due to broken jaws

of all the diamond keepers i am in contact with we all share the same views regards diamond temperatures.in the early days of keeping diamonds a lot of them were kept as carpet pythons and this was way too hot causing most to die prematurely

we have since discovered that a 4 hour basking light daily set at 95f with ambient temps after the basking light goes of at low 80's.night time temps mid 60's f makes them thrive they also only get fed 6 months of the year.

my diamonds get a 4 hour basking spot at 94f and thats it no more heat for that 24 hour period

you also have to give them a cooling cycle from their first year every year

night time temps of 50f to 55f for 3 to4 months (with no feeding)

daytime 2 to 4 hour bask with ambient temps in the low to mid 70's

imo they need seasonal light cycles with 2.0 uvb tubes

so you are correct in saying they don't do well in heat

most people who keep diamonds have difficulty finding a way of keeping them cool enough all year round

that said the diamond has DIFFERENT husbandry requirements than ALL other carpets if you kept any carpet as a diamond they would be dead pretty quick

THE ABOVE ONLY APPLY'S TO DIAMONDS AND NO OTHER TYPE OF CARPET PYTHON

cheers shaun

[morelia4life]

But I thought Diamonds aren't Carpet pythons. They are both in the Morelia genus yes but I thought Diamonds were just closely related to carpets?

[shaunyboy]

But I thought Diamonds aren't Carpet pythons. They are both in the Morelia genus yes but I thought Diamonds were just closely related to carpets?

i would agree that diamond pythons and carpet pythons over all are very different animals most folk class them as carpets when speaking of diamonds on forums etc carpet enthsiasts like us who specialize in them know the ins and outs of the genetics know the difference

i only wrote it that way incase someone new to morelia thought that ordinary carpets could be kept this way

to date,the extent of morphological and biochemical variation both interpopulational and subspecific,has been poorly investigated.the diagnoses and descriptions of the subspecies are based on relatively few specimens,and are without analyses examining the statistical signigifance or polyogenic information of morphological charecters.with the exception of a few localitys ,carpet pythons are porrly represented in museun collections.(taken from barker and barker speaking on the treatment of carpet pythons including the diamond python)

barker and barker is quite an old book so any scientific journals papers etc you could point me in the direction of regards diamond taxonomy would be most appreciated mate

cheers shaun

[brylecc1989]

My bulbs are right next to each other. I have the dual-dome heat lamp, holds two bulbs. I usually do the white one in the day and the red one at night. I then figured in the winter id use both and only one in the summer, but that is kind of unnecessary now that i bought a thermostat. I think that should solve my problems. But again, where is the ideal spot to place my thermometer probe? I have it now on the back side of the hot end of my tank, a little over 3/4 of the way up. Is this good? It's on the same side as my heating bulbs so i theoretically only know the EXACT temperature of the hot side. Also, despite the hot temps the last few days, my snake has rarely used its hides on either the cool or warm side. I thought if he was too hot he'd seek out the shade of one of his hides? Any insight appreciated as always.

[morelia4life]

Like I said, just make sure the warm side is around 88 to 92 degrees. I live in Michigan and the room where my snake is, usually stays about 65 degrees or so and he is fine. Carpet pythons are hardy snakes. As long as they have excess to heat and a cool side he should be fine. The cool side in his tank is probably in the high 70's and he is fine. He eats every Friday, goes to the bathroom fine and everything. Just give him choices. Warm side, cool side. Hide spots, places to climb and he should do fine. Also, just look into buying a 100 watt infrared bulb. I have one and I leave it on 24/7. That is his only heat source and he does fine. I also have a Pro Exotic 2 Temp gun. It cost about $40 but it is worth it.