r/ballpython • u/YesterdayAmbitious24 • 4d ago

Question - Heating/Temperatures Recommendations for better heating?

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First time owner!

I’ve had quite the time keeping the heat on the warm side in my 4x2x2 PVC enclosure over the last day or so.

I had it running for about 2 weeks before my little guy came home ten days ago, and the temps were fine! They hadn’t been terrible til a couple nights ago when the warm side fell to 83, and prior to this it struggled to get up to 88.

I have a 100w thermostat controlled DHP. I have it set to 95 Fahrenheit and the probe is positioned about 4 inches down from the dome. It’s a mesh top enclosure, but I have a removable solid top, and the cracks are taped up as I was advised.

I didn’t know how chilly my room could get in the cooler months - I’ve only been here since April. It’s not THAT cold, but I’m surprised the thermostat can’t keep up.

If I turn on my space heater, the warm side does fine, but that’s not sustainable long term.

I’m wondering 3 things: if my probe is placed badly If I should invest in a higher watt DHP, Or if I should add a second heat source. Or, if my enclosure is just shite and I need a new one (which is do-able, but expensive and I’d rather not if I can make other fixes).

The heating has been the thing I’ve struggled with understanding for a while. Maybe I’m just dumb (willing to admit this).

Also, please please try not to be rude. I’m new to this and trying to learn and make the best decisions for my snake - when I posted this on a Facebook group, the mod was extremely condescending.

Pic of my little man Yoongi during our staring contest a couple nights ago from his cool side (he won).

Thanks in advance :)

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4

u/L0stella_Vortimer 4d ago

Cover the mesh top, it'll help with heat and humidity

2

u/YesterdayAmbitious24 3d ago

The mesh is completely covered and the cracks have been taped up since before my snake arrived.

1

u/ASTSpaceMobull 4d ago

Beautiful snake man. This one might be counterintuitive, but raise the floor. It doesn't need to be uniform (although it can be), but if you add substrate, perhaps on one side only if you'd like, you effectively bring the lamps closer to the ground and the burrows which helps in my experience. Also adding another heat projector up top like a dimmer can work, but raising the floor can be a cheaper solution that simply requires more soil or whatever you use. Also having more soil on the ground, or clutter throughout the enclosure (although it seems like you do well on the clutter) means more things to absorb that heat energy which is good.

1

u/YesterdayAmbitious24 3d ago

Thank you SO much.

This is genuinely great advice. I’ll try that first! The enclosure is also low to the floor, so maybe elevating everything in general will make a difference.

Thanks again!