Increasing the heat for a ball python

[gambite]

I have a ~4ft male in a 48"x12"x20" tank. However, at the moment my only heat source is a bright red lamp at the top on one end. The thermometers I have installed are reading ~77-80 on the hot end, and ~73-75 on the cold end. I am pretty sure its too cold, though. These are at the very top of the tank, where the heat collects, about 15 inches above the snake. So whatever temperature he is feeling is undoubtedly cooler than this. Also, whenever I touch him inside his enclosure he feels very cold, and I never see him basking.

To help insulate the tank and keep the humidity from dropping too much, I have moist towels over the screen top. I was thinking of fitting some pieces of plexi glass to top, under the screen lid, to keep in the heat and humidity. Will that be enough on its own? I also planned to put a heat mat under the tank, but was warned that it might cause stress fractures in the glass from the moisture in the cyress mulch substrate. How else can I up the heat, without adding a heat mat? I was thinking adding another 3-4 inches of substrate, to raise the snake up to the hot-zone. Anything else?

 

[Mushroom Spore]

The thermometers I have installed are reading ~77-80 on the hot end, and ~73-75 on the cold end. I am pretty sure its too cold, though.

"Pretty sure" nothing, that is WAY too cold. You should have a warm end floor temp of 90F or so, and cool end should be 80F or so.

These are at the very top of the tank, where the heat collects, about 15 inches above the snake. So whatever temperature he is feeling is undoubtedly cooler than this.

You need to move the thermometers to the floor, or they're pretty much worthless.

I also planned to put a heat mat under the tank, but was warned that it might cause stress fractures in the glass from the moisture in the cyress mulch substrate.

Do you mean you're keeping him directly on wet substrate? That's a good way to give him scale rot. I'd get rid of the mulch, replace it with either dry mulch or aspen shavings, and put a heat mat under the tank.

 

[gambite]

The mulch out in the open is dry on top, and a little damp about a 1/2" down, through to the bottom. Under his hides it remains damp all the time. Its not soaking wet, but a little moist. The idea was to keep the humidity up, since the bulb dries it out quickly. In order to keep it from completely drying out, I usually pour water down the corners and along the side in the middle, thus the caution about a heat mat underneath.

 

[Mushroom Spore]

The idea was to keep the humidity up, since the bulb dries it out quickly.

This is another reason to just get rid of the bulb and replace it with a heat mat - it can't even keep the tank warm enough *and* it kills your humidity, so there's no real reason to keep using the lamp.

 

[gambite]

I tossed a meat mat under the tank around one of his hides, and it got pretty warm. Its around 90. But I am a little worried about the hide keeping all the heat in and overheating. Its a cork slab. Is there any chance of this happening? And since the cork is kinda containing the heat in one place, I dont know how well it is heating up the rest of the tank. Would another help?

 

[Mushroom Spore]

But I am a little worried about the hide keeping all the heat in and overheating. Its a cork slab. Is there any chance of this happening?

It's a piece of wood, not an insulated oven. I've never heard of this happening with any kind of hide, I think you're fine.

And since the cork is kinda containing the heat in one place, I dont know how well it is heating up the rest of the tank. Would another help?

How big is your UTH? It should be one UTH big enough to cover the underside of 1/3 to 1/2 the tank. If your cork bark thingy is big enough to cover all that much, it's too big - ball pythons like their hides small and snug.