You have been given some very good advice already. Here are just a few more ideas to throw into the mix. However, firstly let me correct some misinformation provided. Snakes do not react to heat on their bodies the same way humans do. They can and do get badly burned from coming into contact with excessively hot objects. How can you determine if something is “excessively hot”? Simple – the touch test. If you cannot keep your hand in constant contact with any hot area the snake can come into contact with, then it is too hot and you risk the likelihood of burning the snake.
Hot air rises. If you have venting in the top of the cage, heat will continue to escape through that vent. The larger the vents, the faster the air carrying the heat can escape.
The ideal heat source for pythons is one that heats from underneath. A 15W heat cord sandwiched between a thin MDF base (rebated to hold the cord in place) and a slate or ceramic tile on top is ideal. This can be placed in the back corner and requires a hole of 3 or so mm only to thread the cord into the cage. By adjusting the amount of cord under the tile, you can adjust the heat to the required temperature. I have a number of mates who use this system in Perth year round without a thermostat – but of course you can use one if you wish.
To utilize overhead heating, the light/heater fixture should be attached to the ceiling of the enclosure near one end. You then require a metal guard (cage) around the heat source. The guard needs to be of sufficient dimensions to pass the touch test. I would suggest that the not end should be the opposite end to the highest vent or furthest away from the vents if they are at the same height. This will assist heating efficiency. Please note, with a full length top-opening door you will a considerable amount of warm air each time the cage is opened, depending on how far it is opened and for how long. Just something to bear in mind.
I personally prefer having the minimum strength heating in any given situation. That way, if a thermostat fails, which occasionally they do, you are less likely to cook your animals. I also prefer placing the thermostat probe in the middle of the cage and setting it to the preferred body temperature of the snake. That way you know you have a one end cooler than and one end warmer than and the snake can thermoregulate. If you find a snake spends all its time at one end only, adjust the thermostat accordingly. For example, if always at the hot end, that individual snake obviuosly prefers it hotter so turn up the thermostat a degree or two.
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