What is More Important?

What is more important, belly heat or ambient temperature inside the vivarium? I have read and heard thousands of opinions, and everyone seems to have their own...and each for their own reasons. Some prefer UTH for belly heat to aid in degestion, some use overhead heat lights.

So I am not looking for an opinion on what is good for what reasons. I want a general opinion. What is more important to the overall health of a corn snake? Is it blly heat or ambient vivarium temperature? In general...

I'm no expert,but I would say belly heat.As long as your house isn't 60 degrees, the ambient temp should take care of its self.

Tyflier, I know you have done your research, for which I commend you. But I think MOST will agree that belly heat is more important then ambient heat for the health of their babies. I've had Tiaga who was a sub-adult when I purchased her 3 yrs ago with just a UTH for heat source with no heat lamp at all. She's(or he's) never had a regurge or any other health problems in the time I've had her. Our baby's viv is set up the same way, We've had her I think about 3 months now and not had a problem at all. That is why I voted UTH as the way to go for heat in the viv.......GOOD LUCK with your DAUGHTERS!(HEHE) baby!

Belly heat is deffinatley more econimocal as it aids the digestion process. Plus its much easier to regulate UTH's to the correct temperatures depending on ambient temperatures.

You can always heat the room the snake is in or if you have a number of snakes/rack systems the collected heat from each tub will provide a toasty ambiant temperature as well as belly heat.

Overhead lights can dry the air out and lead to a bad shed. Belly heat is good for digestion. For me, its pretty much a slam dunk for belly heat. I use heat rope right now, but have used uth's before.

Must admit, I've never really seen the point of ambient heating unless there are higher climbing branches, tall hides or shelves.

The snakes mainly hang out in the lowest couple of inches of a tank - if you can get a proper temp gradient there, why bother heating the air above them? That'd be like having central heating in an attic you only use for storage.

Belly heat for me, too. Just my perspective!

Belly heat, here, too. I've never had anything but UTHs on any of my snakes, and they are all doing just fine.

Look at the poll....
Belly wins by a land slide.

The poll says it all..I would say belly heat is more important... These are not geckos that climb the walls and stick to the top of the tank....For the most part they are almost always on the ground(especially in racks) and that is where the heat should be.
Just my thoughts!
Ryan
~Valley Pets~

I would agree belly heat, but in the summer I turn off all heat after the ambient temperature gets into the mid 70's and they do fine, usually for a period of 2 months. But when it comes to actually regulating heat, I go with UTH.

I disagree I think both

Well I started off just using belly heat with my UTH seeing as everyone raves that its all they need here but as it gets so cold in our bedroom (below 60) my poor guy never came out of his hide. In conclusion i think the ambient temp was much to cold for him. So I turned the infrared light i already had back on (which a previous posters on here told me to ditch completely) and started montoring the air on his warm and cool side more closely. And what do you know all of a sudden strider starts coming out of his hide again. So I presonally think from experiance that its best to use a combo of both particuarly if you live in a cooler climate. Not to say this forum is bad or anything as I love it and generally ppl here give great advice. I just dnt think a lot of ppl have to deal with the cold climates of montana or the likes.

Gotta do what ever works. I'm assuming your viv is an aquarium??? Another option is to cover 3/4th of your screen lid to help keep most of the heat in.

You do have to do what works, but are the temps inside the viv? Are you measuring them. COrns do naturally hide most of th etime, and I would hate to think that your snake is coming out now because it is to warm in there....

fiery_redhead17 said:

Well I started off just using belly heat with my UTH seeing as everyone raves that its all they need here but as it gets so cold in our bedroom (below 60) my poor guy never came out of his hide. In conclusion i think the ambient temp was much to cold for him. So I turned the infrared light i already had back on (which a previous posters on here told me to ditch completely) and started montoring the air on his warm and cool side more closely. And what do you know all of a sudden strider starts coming out of his hide again. So I presonally think from experiance that its best to use a combo of both particuarly if you live in a cooler climate. Not to say this forum is bad or anything as I love it and generally ppl here give great advice. I just dnt think a lot of ppl have to deal with the cold climates of montana or the likes.

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Of course, my two have lights because I thought they were a dim... well, my daughter's room is definitely too dim... but neither come out when the lights are on, but almost the minute I turn the light off little Avalon, she's coming out to explore.

Personally, I think it's because nature created them to be out at dusk and dawn. Fewer predators that way. Interestingly enough, dusk is the only time you see the skunk that lives at the bottom of the drive to the barn. No biggier, I drive carefully, so I don't hit him and as long as he stays at that end I'm fine with him

Are we going to spin off on skunks now ?? I have walked up on a few skunks in my time.Heading to a tree stand an hour before first light,well you just never know what you will see...Despite what people think,,you really have to get a skunk going pretty good for him to spray.. :grin01:

dwyn127 said:

Gotta do what ever works. I'm assuming your viv is an aquarium??? Another option is to cover 3/4th of your screen lid to help keep most of the heat in.

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I already have 3/4 of the top covered and yes it is an aquarium. I have 3 thermometers in his tank. Ones probe is under his warm hide, under the aspen on his UTH (which usually sits between 83-86). The next probe is on top of his warm hide measuring the direct temp from the infrared bulb (infrared so its on all the time and doesn't mess up his day/nite cycle) and that usually sits between 84-87 and lastly one on his cool side which sits around 68-71. Of course when it hits the lower or upper end of these temps i adjust them to bring them into a bit better range.

I constantly monitor my guys temps. Right now i have a dimmer on the UTH and am using tinfoil to produce the amount of heat i require from the heat lamp. Not the most ideal set up but all I can afford for right now. I plan on getting a reptitemp thermostat for my UTH and using the dimmer on the lamp. I also plan on moving my guy up to a 20 gal L asap. I know he really does need it. But he gets handled a lot so he gets lots of exercise anyway.

Here is my tank set up.