Newbie help needed with a BHP

[Aj111]

Hi, I picked my first snake on Sunday, a 5-6 month old BHP, I bought a 4ft melamine enclosure with has twin 75w heating lamps, analog thermostat, UVA tube and it has one vent at the rear of the enclosure and 2 vents at the front. I’m using a digital thermometer with a probe, which is placed below the heat lamps.

My issue is that I’ve had the thermostat turned up all the way up to 30 and have only managed to get the heat as high 29 degrees and over night it comes back to 24 degrees, I’m using coconut husk reptile bedding and can’t seem to get the any temp higher but he snake is cruising around the enclosure and seems pretty happy

i’m in melbourne so the temperature has really started drop, I bought two 100w watt globes, my issue is, I was told by the guys at the shop obviously not the handle or annoy the snake in its first week so it adjusts to it new surroundings, do I wait to until I’ve fed him to screw in the new lamps or risk disturbing him while he’s getting settled to get the temperature up a bit more?

I’ve added of photo of the sort type of enclosure and one of him cruising around

 

[Allan]

If it is a healthy and established feeder you can feed and change your bulbs the next day, possibly the same day.
I have never understood where this "No disturbing the first week" crap comes from.
Maybe to make sellers sound more knowledgeable?

 

[-Adam-]

Hi, I picked my first snake on Sunday, a 5-6 month old BHP, I bought a 4ft melamine enclosure with has twin 75w heating lamps, analog thermostat, UVA tube and it has one vent at the rear of the enclosure and 2 vents at the front. I’m using a digital thermometer with a probe, which is placed below the heat lamps.

My issue is that I’ve had the thermostat turned up all the way up to 30 and have only managed to get the heat as high 29 degrees and over night it comes back to 24 degrees, I’m using coconut husk reptile bedding and can’t seem to get the any temp higher but he snake is cruising around the enclosure and seems pretty happy

i’m in melbourne so the temperature has really started drop, I bought two 100w watt globes, my issue is, I was told by the guys at the shop obviously not the handle or annoy the snake in its first week so it adjusts to it new surroundings, do I wait to until I’ve fed him to screw in the new lamps or risk disturbing him while he’s getting settled to get the temperature up a bit more?

I’ve added of photo of the sort type of enclosure and one of him cruising around

Are heat lamps the best option for a BHP?

I know when I started out i was also concerned about the heat in the enclosure. Couldn't get it hot enough, and if I did the cold side wasn't cold enough, etc.

Then I was given advise to not use heat lamps, but instead use heating pads - and warm up from the bottom. Apparently the air temperature isn't what's important (unless of course the air temp is too hot) - but it's the surface temperature and the snake can 'suck it up' from the bottom, and that these are best suited for Woma's. (And BHP's being of the same family - I would assume the same)?

So, living in Vic as well - on these very cold days - my Woma is a happy camper. No heating lamps, but she has her hot side to go curl up on heated from underneath, and of course her cold side - which gets as cold as it gets - and she seems to be very content. I can't help but wonder if it's also more economical on the heating bill too.

Take this with a grain of salt - I've only been herping for a couple of years and compared to other more knowledgeable still quite a noob.

PS - the not handling part - I think that refers more to getting him out and 'playing' with him. If there's a need to be met (changing substrate, fixing up habitat, cleaning up spilt water, whatever) - that should take priority. I don't think it's a hard and fast rule but more a recommendation to help snakes get acustomed to their new environment - especially if they're not feeding, but taking him out to deal with an issue certainly isn't going to be disastrous.

 

[JustTC]

Are heat lamps the best option for a BHP?

I know when I started out i was also concerned about the heat in the enclosure. Couldn't get it hot enough, and if I did the cold side wasn't cold enough, etc.

Then I was given advise to not use heat lamps, but instead use heating pads - and warm up from the bottom. Apparently the air temperature isn't what's important (unless of course the air temp is too hot) - but it's the surface temperature and the snake can 'suck it up' from the bottom, and that these are best suited for Woma's. (And BHP's being of the same family - I would assume the same)?

So, living in Vic as well - on these very cold days - my Woma is a happy camper. No heating lamps, but she has her hot side to go curl up on heated from underneath, and of course her cold side - which gets as cold as it gets - and she seems to be very content. I can't help but wonder if it's also more economical on the heating bill too.

Take this with a grain of salt - I've only been herping for a couple of years and compared to other more knowledgeable still quite a noob.

PS - the not handling part - I think that refers more to getting him out and 'playing' with him. If there's a need to be met (changing substrate, fixing up habitat, cleaning up spilt water, whatever) - that should take priority. I don't think it's a hard and fast rule but more a recommendation to help snakes get acustomed to their new environment - especially if they're not feeding, but taking him out to deal with an issue certainly isn't going to be disastrous.

Great advice. Agree. Although i would go for a heat cord. I personally think they give off more heat. Heat from under the hide. Add a extra heat source up top if you like. Night light? Maybe? Caged, of course. Victoria here too.