temperature gradient?

[tress29]

In another thread, someone asked if there should be a drop from daytime temps to nighttime. How many of you do this? Are you using heat/basking lamps? I use a heat mat, and when it's not running, the temp drops to room temp, 69 in the winter! My thermostat isn't working right, and will soon be replaced. I've got it turned all the way up and the heat mat maxes out about 85. Unregulated, it got over 100 though!

[guidofatherof5]

I offer both warm and cold hides so I don't turn my mats off at night(any season).
I find my snakes traveling between both hides thermo-regulating their temps.

[tress29]

I find my snakes traveling between both hides thermo-regulating their temps.

What are the temps at each end? I'm covering the sides of the tank with foil wrapped cardboard, to insulate/reflect the heat back into the tank. I may have to partially cover the lid to raise my ambient temps past that chilly 69!

[guidofatherof5]

Warm hide 80°-85°

Cool side hide, ambient room temp. a steady 68° during the day 62° at night.

[chris-uk]

I drop the night temps automatically for the snakes downstairs. With the heating in our house keeping it a constant 19C to 22c there's almost no need for extra heating in the vivs, but I think the higher temps are better for the snakes. So in daytime warm side is kept at 28C for our checkereds using a heatmat, cool side is room temp. The Cuitzeo viv has cool side at room temp and warm side tends to be 28-30C using a heatmat and lamp (purely because I read that they like a basking area, not that they tend to bask under the light).

The Mexicans move from one side to another, the checkereds seem to have their preferred sides (Binky prefers cold, Lightning warm, Eskerina tends to move more than the others).

[katach]

Our snakes don't have a thermometer in the tank. We go by their activity. If they seem too agitated we turn the heat lamp off. They have a heat mat under a little less than 1/3 the tank, and then the water dish in the middle, and hides on both sides if the tank and under the water dish. They tend to like the middle hide the best. If they have just eaten the like to hang out on the warm side. Our NW and Pugets seems to like it a little cooler the recommended temps. We usually have the apartment around 72F all the time though.

[EasternGirl]

Right now the warm side of the tank is showing a reading of 80 degrees on the wall and 88 degrees with the probe in the substrate over the heat pad...the cool side is showing a reading of 75 on the wall. I was dropping the temps to around 73 degrees at night...but I'm going to try Steve's suggestion of leaving the UTH on at night and letting the snakes decide if they want the warmth or cooler areas of the tank.

[ConcinusMan]

Everyone has their own opinions on the matter obviously. I just thought I would comment that 69 degrees at night is not really all that "chilly" for a garter. That's fine.

[zendragondrew]

I have a day lamp (75 watt, seems pretty hot) and a night lamp (red light, seems sort of weak). Sometimes I feel the night lamp isn't warm enough, New York City gets cold and sometimes my landlord only turns the heat on for a limited time in the morning. I hope my snake isn't too cold at night, should I get a heating pad in addition to these lamps or she'll be fine with the red heating lamp?

[chris-uk]

I have a day lamp (75 watt, seems pretty hot) and a night lamp (red light, seems sort of weak). Sometimes I feel the night lamp isn't warm enough, New York City gets cold and sometimes my landlord only turns the heat on for a limited time in the morning. I hope my snake isn't too cold at night, should I get a heating pad in addition to these lamps or she'll be fine with the red heating lamp?

What are the temps in the viv? If you aren't measuring the temperature in there I would get a thermometer before adding another heat source.
I use these dual temp thermometers, but I don't know if they're is the States:
Lucky Reptile Deluxe Electronic Dual Thermometer:Amazon:Pet Supplies
There's plenty of other digital thermometers available though.