New house. Ambient temp to low?

I recently moved into my new house and the snake is in the basement. The ambient temp is quite low compared to my previous house. Half of the viv has a UTH and floats around 80-85 degrees on the bottom of the viv (at the glass). However, the ambient temp is around 55-70 degrees.

Do I need to buy a heat lamp? I hopefully don't need one because they seem to consume 100 to 150 watts of energy. Ouch for the energy bill!

I was thinking of adding a heat rock like this:
From Zoo med

I heard they are bad though because they can get to hot and burn?

My snake has been in place for about a month or so now and he has been eating fine.

Do I need to add a ambient heat source? Any alternatives?

Hi Triggerhappy. Your warm end is perfect at 80-85 degrees. The ambient temperature isn`t that important however if it is really low and you are worried you could get an incandescent light bulb like the Exo Terra sun glo or night glo, this will raise the ambient temperature without the need for a heat lamp. As for the heat rock that is a definite no, snakeys can burn themselfs on these.

I second "hot rocks = bad."

Those ambient temps are pretty low--try a small lamp as Remmy suggested. I use a red bulb so it doesn't mess up their day/night schedules.

I wouldn't worry too much about your ambient temps. As long as the snake has a way to increase it's body temp, ie warm side, then you should be fine. Just make sure you have some good hides on both sides. Remember, you ambient temps are about normal for a wild corn.

I agree with the other two posters, heat rocks= VERY BAD!!

Good Luck,

Wayne

Like I said, Id like to not use a 100 or 150 watt light bulb. I did some math and, if I leave it on 24/7 for a whole year the light bulb will cost $132 extra in electricity bill.


The heat rocks have a rheostat attached to it. Wouldn't that prevent it from getting to hot?

Also, its 85 degrees on the GLASS. On the top of the surface of the substrate its 60-70 degrees.

If your main concern is ambient temperature, I'm not sure that a heat rock would solve that concern, whereas a bulb definitely would and is definitely a lot safer. I was using a 100w Sun Glo in a 40gal and the warm side was pushing 90C at times. Not sure what size viv you have, but there are 15, 25, 40 & 60w bulbs available, though you may have to shop around as I find not all stores carry them. Using a lower wattage bulb and turning it off at night would more economical.

I do have a 40gal tank.

Are ceramic heaters better? They don't emit any light so I guess they are more effective and effeciant than light bulbs right?

Ceramic heaters will be more expensive to run that a light bulb plus you dont need it. If it is 85 degrees on the glass try thinning the substrate out. I have got just enough substrate to cover the glass over the uth but it is thicker everywhere else. This way the surface temperature will be right.

I always thought I should keep the substrate deep. That way he can burrow. Also, I believe ceramic heaters are more efficient at producing heat. That is why they use them in space heaters.

Can anyone confirm or deny this?

I also thought about putting two large UTH heaters on the back of the viv, covering it. They only take 15watts each.

Has anyone tried this?

If you thin the substrate out over the uth you can still keep it deep everywhere else that way he can still burrow. Dont forget aspen is wood so acts as an insulator. The more you have on top of the uth the cooler it is going to be on top.

TriggerHappy101 said:

I recently moved into my new house and the snake is in the basement. The ambient temp is quite low compared to my previous house. Half of the viv has a UTH and floats around 80-85 degrees on the bottom of the viv (at the glass). However, the ambient temp is around 55-70 degrees.

Do I need to buy a heat lamp? I hopefully don't need one because they seem to consume 100 to 150 watts of energy. Ouch for the energy bill!

I was thinking of adding a heat rock like this:
From Zoo med

I heard they are bad though because they can get to hot and burn?

My snake has been in place for about a month or so now and he has been eating fine.

Do I need to add a ambient heat source? Any alternatives?

Click to expand...

Relax, TriggerHappy. It sounds like all is already well for your snake. If the UTH puts the temps at 80-85 on the glass, that's fine and dandy. Corns need belly heat for digestion, and that's just perfect. You have absolutley no need to do anything different.

Hot rocks are a big no-no for corns, as others said. They're designed primarily for desert lizards, who have very different needs. Pay no attention to manufacturer packaging that may show or list snakes (or other animals) on the items. Sometimes the item in question is actually harmful to animals listed. Do your own research in reputable places - like here.

As for your ambient air temps, 55 F is a bit cool, but 70 F is fine for a cool side. If the snake has a warmer section in its viv - and yours does - it will choose its own best temps.

You don't need to add any type of lamp for your snake's benefit. Feel free to add something for you to view the snake, like an aquarium light, but that's for YOU. You needn't alter anything for the sake of temperatures.

Now, about the bedding. Yes, some corns love to burrow. Others never do. Others fall between the two extremes. No one knows your snake better than you, but it's a fair bet that a depth of 1.5-3X the diameter of the snake will allow him/her to choose when and where to go tunnelling. Again, don't worry about tinkering with the depth of the substrate over the UTH. I'd personally leave the same depth everywhere rather than thinning it out above the heater. Air within the bedding helps trap the warmth, and also prevents the glass from cracking. Many UTHs carry warnings about not being used without substrate.

It sounds like you're doing your level best to care properly for your snake. Good for you! You say your snake is eating and digesting normally. This is confirmation that all is well.