Help with Temps.

[dlamphere]

I'm still working on getting a good gradiant in my new cage (entertainment center). It is all wood with a plexi-glass door I have 3 vents in back. I can get good humidity without misting by just moving how close the water bowl is to the heat lamp. No matter what I do, I can't get more than 6 degrees different from the warm side (88 degrees) and the cool side (84). I have been thinking about running a air hose from a aquarium pump to the cool side that will help with air transfer and pump in cool air also or should I just leave it like it is? I know it should be about 80 on the cool side but that would make the warm side about 86 max.

OH yea, it's a Burmese Python

	Cloaca is the posterior opening that serves as the only such opening for the intestinal, urinary, and (usually) genital tracts of certain animal species.All birds, reptiles, and amphibians possess this orifice, from which they excrete both urine and feces

[StaticKaos]

hmm.. i think that air thing sounds like a good idea but it may cause the entire cage's temp's to drop ya kno.. hmm.. if your having trouble keeping 1 side lower i'd try using a lower wattage of heating lamp IF thats what you using.. If you are using two, 1 on each side, on the coolside just lower your wattage.. If you are using heating pads under the tank you can add more substrate to the cool side and it will cause the floor temps to drop because the temp must go through all tha substrate nah mean.. this 1 is a lil tricky, hopefully ull get better advice soon..

PS: I like the idea of your cage, you have any pics??
[addsig]

[dlamphere]

I'm just using one heat lamp. It is all the way over on the warm side so I cant do anything more than that. I have a dimmer on it with a 100 watt bulb. Found a cool way to keep him out of it I will share. I did'nt like the idea of a metal cage around the bulb because I've seen some of them get very hot unless I took up a lot of room making it. I went to Lowes and in the drainage section they have a very thick PVC "cage" that goes over the drain so that leaves and stuff can't go down them. Anyway, this fits just perfect over a 75 watt bulb (I had to modify for 100 watt) with about 1 inch all the way around it. It will get warm to the touch but will not burn. I have very sensitive hands and it will not burn them. I will try to get pics soon. The vents are on the cool side so I though if I put air in there maybe they will just circulate the air on that side. I think I have one around the house I will try since it will not cost anything.
[addsig]

	Cloaca is the posterior opening that serves as the only such opening for the intestinal, urinary, and (usually) genital tracts of certain animal species.All birds, reptiles, and amphibians possess this orifice, from which they excrete both urine and feces

[BrianB]

You might try a regular flood lamp or spotlight from home depot or whichever home store you have nearby. They have built in reflectors that direct the light downward. You might also try putting a vent in the top of the cool side to let some of the heat out that side.
[addsig]

[shaolinzero]

yeah i use those spotlights they have at home depot. they work great. i use a 75 watt white during the day and a 50 watt red at night. with human heat pads my temps stay perfect, and the lower watt red light at night provides the few degree drop in night temps. those bulbs were real cheap too, like 3$ a piece.
[addsig]

I'd be cautious of the spot/flood lights..they tend to cause a much warmer spot (thus the name) directly where the bulb is aimed. So although the ambient temp may read 88, it could be near 95 in the "hot zone" where the bulb is aimed...just somehting to think about...
[addsig]

[dlamphere]

YEAH ! I have it right now! I checked my night temps and noticed that they were just about perfect so,,,, I moved the florecent light to the hot side also so during the day (while it is on "have timer&quot it in addition to the heat will bring the hot side to about 88 to 89 and the cool side stays at about 81 to 82. At night without the florecent (its only about 12 inches long) it drops down to about 85 on the hot ant 75 to 77 on the cool. Does this sound good? also the humidity is easy to regulate so what would you guys reccommend. I can get it anywhere from 55% to 80% depending on where I put the water bowl.
[addsig]