Ahh, now we're getting somewhere. You need a way to measure the temperature of the surface of the cage floor. An infrared thermometer works good, or an indoor/outdoor thermometer that has a probe that can be secured to the cage floor or top of the substrate will work good.



You have to be able to measure the highest temperature that the snake can feel, which in this case would be what it lays on (substrate, cage floor). However, you also have to keep in mind that the ambient temperature (temperature of the air at the snake's level, which for a 5 month old molurus should be about 1 inch, or 2.5 centimeters) should be fairly close to the surface temperature for the snake's body temperature to be consistent.



You may need to cover the cage with a blanket or some kind of insulating material in order to get the ambient temps close to the cage floor temps. Open-air tops like screen tops should be covered with plastic or something else that will help hold in heat & humidity - leaving a small gap on both the hot end & cool end for ventilation.



I think you'll also find that you'll get better overall heating from your thermocable if you prop the cage up about 1.5 - 2 centimeters above the thermocable so that it's not directly touching the cage. It will heat the air under the cage, heating the desired area as well as the rest of the cage floor. You should use something to block the free flow of air from under the cage, too, so the room air doesn't affect it.



Another way of distributing cage floor heat is by using a piece of slate, ceramic tile or something similar inside the cage, over the heated area. I use this style in one cage to enlarge the heated area because the heat pad isn't big enough for the snake. I use newspaper for substrate in it. In another cage I use floor heating in the heat pad supplies a large enough heated area for the snake but to decrease the temperature a few degrees I use a few centimeters of Aspen wood shavings for substrate.



I hope this helps!



Take care & be safe over there!

HH
-----
Due to political correctness run amuck,

this ol' hillbilly is now referred to as an:

Appalachian American





www.natures-signature.com

[ Hide Replies ]

• Optimum temp. for python - Amphicyon, Fri Jan 9 15:28:34 2009
• RE: Optimum temp. for python - markg, Sat Jan 10 03:06:38 2009
• RE: Optimum temp. for python - Amphicyon, Sat Jan 10 08:24:54 2009
• RE: Optimum temp. for python - HappyHillbilly, Sun Jan 11 08:39:14 2009
• RE: Optimum temp. for python - Amphicyon, Sun Jan 11 15:51:54 2009
• RE: Optimum temp. for python - HappyHillbilly, Sun Jan 11 16:59:16 2009
• RE: Optimum temp. for python - markg, Mon Jan 12 14:36:41 2009