Heating issues

[DClark747]

Hey, guys. A few weeks ago, I rescued my first ball python from coworker.

After keeping her in a glass aquarium (mesh-top), I realized that I was playing hell with my temps and humidity. I went to my local Home Depot a few days ago and bought a 25 gallon sterilite tub. I drilled a few ventilation holes in it, and misted. My humidity shot up to 70% and has only slightly dropped since then.

My temps even went up, but only a little. I'm using a basking light (60W, 120V) (secondary/supplemental heating) during the day, and although she doesn't bask it does well for keeping the temps up during the day. At night I used a Zilla Night Heat bulb. I was also using a ZooMed UTH (primary heating), which in conjunction with the basking light kept my temps around 80F. Out of curiosity, I tried using my own heating pad (which, I know, is frowned upon). Surprisingly, it bumped my temps up to 84F. The problem is that everything I've read about balls suggests that they need to be kept a little warmer than this. Any suggestions?

I could get a higher wattage/voltage day bulb, or even a larger ZooMed mat, although I have the proper size mat for the tub I have.

[Concept9]

Do you have pics of your setup ?

What are you using to control the UTH ?

[DClark747]

Originally Posted by MBK Boy

Do you have pics of your setup ?

What are you using to control the UTH ?

At the moment, I don't. I'm at my office right now and don't have my camera with me. However, I'm using a rheostat.

I may or may not get pics up a little later today.

[Lankyrob]

You need to get the temp on the hot end up to 91-95f in whatever way is easiest for you, and if you dont already have a theermostat you need one as soon as possible.

I would also expect some flak for calling this a rescue when you arent providing ideal conditions "for a few weeks"

[Amadeus]

Originally Posted by DClark747

Hey, guys. A few weeks ago, I rescued my first ball python from coworker.

After keeping her in a glass aquarium (mesh-top), I realized that I was playing hell with my temps and humidity. I went to my local Home Depot a few days ago and bought a 25 gallon sterilite tub. I drilled a few ventilation holes in it, and misted. My humidity shot up to 70% and has only slightly dropped since then.

My temps even went up, but only a little. I'm using a basking light (60W, 120V) (secondary/supplemental heating) during the day, and although she doesn't bask it does well for keeping the temps up during the day. At night I used a Zilla Night Heat bulb. I was also using a ZooMed UTH (primary heating), which in conjunction with the basking light kept my temps around 80F. Out of curiosity, I tried using my own heating pad (which, I know, is frowned upon). Surprisingly, it bumped my temps up to 84F. The problem is that everything I've read about balls suggests that they need to be kept a little warmer than this. Any suggestions?

I could get a higher wattage/voltage day bulb, or even a larger ZooMed mat, although I have the proper size mat for the tub I have.

You need a cool side and a warm side, for my ball its warm side is usually 992f and the cool side fluctuates slightly between 77-80

[DClark747]

Originally Posted by Lankyrob

You need to get the temp on the hot end up to 91-95f in whatever way is easiest for you, and if you dont already have a theermostat you need one as soon as possible.

I would also expect some flak for calling this a rescue when you arent providing ideal conditions "for a few weeks"

Well, the lady I got her from was letting it free roam her house. She had a lot of stuck on shed when I got her.

"flak for calling it a rescue". What is this, 4chan?

[Amadeus]

Originally Posted by DClark747

Well, the lady I got her from was letting it free roam her house. She had a lot of stuck on shed when I got her.

"flak for calling it a rescue". What is this, 4chan?

Hey 4chan is the sh*t don't dis 4chan dawg

[Lankyrob]

A rescue is taking an animal from non-ideal conditions and getting it into ideal comditions so that it can recover (hopefully) back to full health.

Keeping it for a few weeks in non-ideal conditions isnt a rescue

[DClark747]

Originally Posted by Lankyrob

A rescue is taking an animal from non-ideal conditions and getting it into ideal comditions so that it can recover (hopefully) back to full health.

Keeping it for a few weeks in non-ideal conditions isnt a rescue

It was kept At 80F for about a week and a half, and now it's kept at 84-85. Is 80 or 85 optimum? No. But is it better than what is was in? Yes.

I'm not here to argue with you, or anyone. I'm here to figure out how to bump up my temps.

[Concept9]

I run a 28L Serilite and all I use is a UTH for it. I run my warm side at 88-92~.

Can you not just turn your rheostat up ?

I would personally invest in a thermostat to better control things.

[DClark747]

Originally Posted by MBK Boy

I run a 28L Serilite and all I use is a UTH for it. I run my warm side at 88-92~.

Can you not just turn your rheostat up ?

I would personally invest in a thermostat to better control things.

I've got my rheostat all the way up. I may run over to petco and get the next size up in UTH's, but I don't know that it will make things too much hotter.

[Concept9]

I would really have to see the setup. Even if I turn on my air-conditioning, I could crank up the thermostat on my UTH and get it over 100~ if I wanted too. (I DONT ).

I run a Zoo Med 20-30gal UTH.

[DClark747]

As I said, my office is right down the road from Petco, so I'll probably run on down there after 5 and see how that does for me.

[DClark747]

Although, now thinking about it objectively, I could use a dual light output/splitter and just grab another bulb. which should definitely be enough.

[Concept9]

I wouldn't buy anything right yet (other then a thermostat).

Wait till you get home tonight, take a couple pic of the outside and inside and post them here.

Maybe we can see something that is a easy fix.