Reptile & Amphibian Forums

As I stated in my previous post, I have heat tape on the bottom of my BP's sterilite. I have heat tape on the one side and a heat lamp on the other side so that side doesnt get too cold. Anyway, as far as the heat tape goes, I was wondering what you guys do that have aspen bedding, or any kind of bedding like that? How do you get the temps right on the top of the bedding without it getting way too hot underneath right on the floor. I seem to have trouble getting both in the right range at the same time. If on the top of the bedding it's 90 to 95, Underneath on top of the floor it can go well over 100. If I get underneath to be cooler then on top of the bedding it ends up being too cool. I'm trying to figure out a way to get both the right temps since there's a chance he could burrow and touch the floor underneath and end up experiencing both. It also gets hard with the hides too. Temps could be fine outside the hides, but get too hot inside them. Anyway, any advice would be appreciated. Thank You!

I put my thermostat probe on the heat tape between the tub and tape (heat tape is attached to the rack not the tub) set it for 92* - this keeps the warm end of the tub running in the upper 80s and cool end in the upper 70s to lower 80s depending on the room temps. I have a one degree cut off so the heat tape will not get over 93*. Occasionally I have to adjust the temperature - but for the most part this works well.
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Tosha

"Nihil facimus sed id bene facimus"

11.42.0 Ball Python (Harry and Fluffy and gang)
1.0.0 Angolan Python (Anakin Skywalker)
0.0.1 Green Tree Python (Verdi - yeah I know but my kids love the book)
0.1.0 Bredls Python (Smurfette)
0.2.0 Feline (Pippen and Pandora)
0.0.1 Desert Tortoise (Pope John Paul aka JP )
2.2.1 Fish (1,2,3,4)
0.0.0 frogs rescued from pool skimmer

just a qustion but dont you want it to be at around 90 deg. on top of the aspe? I geuss it also depends how much aspen you use right? Like I don't know the exact temp loss over distance but if you use 1" of aspen and you have it set at 95 deg. Then between the heat tape and the snake (on top of the aspen) it drops 10 or so deg? (notice all the qustion marks) I am not giving a statment but asking for the answer
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2.2.0 ball python (aragorn, frodo, arwen,`eowyn)
1.0.0 columbian boa (squiggles)
1.0.0 rat snake (alabastered)
0.1.0 corn snake (baby)
0.0.2 whites tree frog (trevor, kirmet)
0.0.5 pacific green tree frogs
3.2.0 cats (rockie, bs, brownie, lerrado, kole)
1.3.0 kids (dilyen, dakota, chyanne, sierra)
Brian n Chrissy
"snakes are kind of like potato chips, you cant have just one"

Most of my animals spend most of their time in their hides which are right over the heat tape (or partially - depending on where they drag them to) usually the temperatures inside the hides are a few degrees hotter than the aspen or bottom of the tub. On average the inside of the hide is hovering between 90* they do move thier hides around when they seek cooler temps too - bonus for having those lightweight hides I guess. I personally don't think 90* of belly heat is necessary or safe, but hey I'm wrong alot!!! LOL
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Tosha

"Nihil facimus sed id bene facimus"

11.42.0 Ball Python (Harry and Fluffy and gang)
1.0.0 Angolan Python (Anakin Skywalker)
0.0.1 Green Tree Python (Verdi - yeah I know but my kids love the book)
0.1.0 Bredls Python (Smurfette)
0.2.0 Feline (Pippen and Pandora)
0.0.1 Desert Tortoise (Pope John Paul aka JP )
2.2.1 Fish (1,2,3,4)
0.0.0 frogs rescued from pool skimmer

Thats ok lol we all can't be right all of the time lol. but thanks for the insite to better herp keeping, I read these fourms all the time to get info and learn. And for a good laugh some times. Hope my qustions helped the original poster.
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2.2.0 ball python (aragorn, frodo, arwen,`eowyn)
1.0.0 columbian boa (squiggles)
1.0.0 rat snake (alabastered)
0.1.0 corn snake (baby)
0.0.2 whites tree frog (trevor, kirmet)
0.0.5 pacific green tree frogs
3.2.0 cats (rockie, bs, brownie, lerrado, kole)
1.3.0 kids (dilyen, dakota, chyanne, sierra)
Brian n Chrissy
"snakes are kind of like potato chips, you cant have just one"

Just from my experience, I keep the actual bottom of the tub at the temp that I want, not the top of the aspen. This is b/c all of my snakes push out the aspen to get to the bottom, no matter what the temp. on top of the aspen is. Like tosha said, they shift around their hides to the spot that they want. Then again, I dont use an inch of aspen, b/c I noticed that the marjority of this was just getting pushed aside to get to the very bottom of the tub. IMHO, I would rather have less aspen, and an accurate temp, than more aspen, and the risk of an accident. But I am still learning about this hobby (always will be), so someone tell me if this doesn't make sense... best of luck,

~Johnny

I learn somthing new every day and the moor I learn on about my babies the better. and I think what you said is good advice.
thank you
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2.2.0 ball python (aragorn, frodo, arwen,`eowyn)
1.0.0 columbian boa (squiggles)
1.0.0 rat snake (alabastered)
0.1.0 corn snake (baby)
0.0.2 whites tree frog (trevor, kirmet)
0.0.5 pacific green tree frogs
3.2.0 cats (rockie, bs, brownie, lerrado, kole)
1.3.0 kids (dilyen, dakota, chyanne, sierra)
Brian n Chrissy
"snakes are kind of like potato chips, you cant have just one"