Ambient Heat Help

[cbgarner2002]

Hey folks!

So I recently got a baby ball python and I have him/her in a 4 gallon Sterilite tub with 4 inch heat tape for belly heat. The there is a 5 by 7ish area on the floor of the tub that is very slightly raised which was perfect for the heat tape to fit with some breathing room underneath. My issue is that the basking spot on the heat tape is reading anywhere from 89 to 95 depending on where I aim the gun and whether or not the thermometer as it heating or not, which is in range, but the ambient temperature is staying around 73 to 75. I'm reading that it needs to be 80 at a minimum during the day but I don't know how to achieve that as the tub doesn't lend itself to being able to use lighting as a heat source and I don't want to crank up the heat tape any more because I don't want the basking spot to be too intense. Any suggestions? Is 73 much too cold or do you think the snake will adjust?

Thanks