Reptile & Amphibian Forums

i was just reading an article on boas saying the cool side should be about 83 degrees. I have owned my boas for over 2 years and have provided them all with a light over a basking area about 90 degrees. The cool side is just room temp which ranges from abot 74 in winter to 80 in summer.

Have i been doing this all wrong the whole time. Should i giove the cool side a light with a lesser wattage.

please help
-----
2.2 Columbian common boas (Zeus, Athena, Aphodite, Hades)
1.1 Corn snakes (Appolo, Boreas)
0.1 King snake tri striped cal morph (Helios)

Our animals rarely see a temp in the 90* range and generally dont if I cant help it. Texas Summers do get toasty at times and extra ventalation is used to keep temps down below that range.
We have a dedicated snake room that is kept 80-85* year round,humidity is kept around 55-60%.Rescues with RI get undercage belly heat.
As a general rule overhead heat sources deplete surface area humidity and require more attention to maintain.Undercage heat helps create humidity with heavy substrate misting acouple times per week dureing "blue cycles"

Most caresheets these days advise novice keepers to do as well as believe things that arent needed for thriveing Boa.
There is a very real belief that boa expire well before their time due to such practices.

We agree strongly and will continue to follow the advise of the
old school breeders that were at this game 30 years before anyone on KS for the most part was born.

M/

I live in texas as well... Central Texas.... Jon
-----
1.1.1 breeding pair blue tongue skinks w/ juv. offspring
1.0.0 Juv. Albino Bullfrog
0.0.2 Giant Pixie Frog (one juv. and one adult)
1.1.0 Clawed frogs
1.1.0 Albino Clawed frogs
0.0.1 Superlight juv Sulcatta
0.0.2 Fly river turtles
0.0.2 Savannah Monitors (one pastel)
0.2.0 juv pastel Columbian boas
1.1.0 monster pink pastel columbian boas
1.2.0 Hypo Hog boas
1.0.0 Hypo boa
1.1.0 Hypo boa babies, Poss. DH sunglow
0.2.0 Hypo poss. DH sunglow
1.0.0 Coral albino boa (my baby)
and
1.2.0 Pomeranians (the wifes babies)

okay so now i have already spent some serious money on all my light fixtures and bulbs. So i could just raise or lower the lights to accomodate the correct temps. What is the optimal air temp in the tank including the cool side and what is the warmest you can go on hot side?
-----
2.2 Columbian common boas (Zeus, Athena, Aphodite, Hades)
1.1 Corn snakes (Appolo, Boreas)
0.1 King snake tri striped cal morph (Helios)

Thats what under cage heat sources and thermostats are for.
Automatic heat control setups adjust themselves and or maintain constant/consistant preset temp gradients.If what you have now is working for you then stick with it.It may be more work to get the desired results? but again if its working dont mess with it.
Upgradeding later as your animals mature will eventually get you a hassle free set up.
80-90* with 55-60% is Primo BCI,BCC captive living conditions.

M/

Abilene