Snake doesnt seem to like hot end of tank.

[snakeynewbie]

I have a murray darling python in a good sized tank, hes a few years old and heading for about 130cm long. He has a lovely basking tile in his tank which is kept at about 32 and he spend a lot of s day relaxing on that looking very chilled or cruising around and keeping an eye on whats goping on in the outside world. However if i turn the heat light on at that ned of the tank so that air temp is about 30 at the hot end and ambient at the other end he spends all his time in the hide at the cool ed looking quite upset, with the heater off the air temp sits at about 25 degrees throughout the tank and his heat tile stays on obviously.

Is it absolutely necessary to have the air temp up at the hot end or is it adequate for him to have a nice basking tile and leave it at that? When hes a bit bigger hell go into an outdoor aviary so hes climatically suited to the temps we have here ifyou know what i mean. He eats wel and is active, humidity is about 70% and he always feels nice and warm when we get him out for a cruise around the lounge.

Without a heat light he spends about 30% of his time in the cool end, with a heat light he spends all his time in the coole end

 

[Khagan]

The reason he would be in the hot end more without the light is because the temp is lower so it would take him longer to reach optimum body temp. They don't need to spend all their time basking, i wouldn't worry so much if you have the temps right he will pick what he needs. My snakes only spend a short while in the hot end then retreat back to their cool end hide, repeating a few times a day.

 

[snakeynewbie]

He probably only spends about 40% of his time actually basking if that, the other 30% of the time he is cruising all over as hes a very busy fella. He seems to get quite stressed and wont come out at all if the hot end is any higher thn about 28

 

[Echiopsis]

I'd lose the extra lamp and up the tile temp a couple of degrees. The snake will sort itself out, thats what theyre built to do.
The only time id bother messing with ambient temps is while raising hatchlings, purely to keep them feeding over their first winter.

 

[dangles]

It will regulate its own temp, when it feels warm enough it will move away from heat. I have a jungle that basks all day at 33*, it's clutch mate only basks for a cpl of hours before cruising and settling at bottom of enclosure. Each snake is different. I only run heat cords under tiles now and LED lighting. All heat is produced from underneath and my collection seems fine

 

[pythrulz]

If you provide good temps the snake will move accordingly If to hot or to cold dont worry about Its normal behavior

 

[snakeynewbie]

Thanks dangles, thats pretty much the set up he has, there is a flouro on top of the tank which provides light but dwoesnt really add much heat. Sounds like it seems to suit him as it is so i wont stress too much over it.

 

[mysnakesau]

Don't forget the warmer weather is going to make their tanks hotter so he is not going to want to be there for long while it is too hot. Your temperatures might be set correctly but the summer heat is going to increase the temps even more. So be careful that you don't kill him with kindness. A scorching day outdoors can be felt on the inside, too.

 

[Digitaliss]

My BHP Has been bulldozing the cool end of her tank and hardly spending any time basking due to our QLD heat wave. I dont think I have seen her so active (though we only got her in June). I think I may have to put a fan in her room as she isnt getting much temp gradient due to the general temp of the house.