Stupid question but I'm having a stupid moment...

[medusa0373]

I know all vivs require a thermal gradient from a hotter end to a cooler end. But I'm confused (doesn't take much at the best of times) when you start to throw "ambient temperatures" into the mix.

How do I know what the ambient temperauture in the viv is? My hot end reading is 86F and the cool end is about 75F. The thermostat and thermometer probe are currently on top of the substrate under the ceramic.

Found this on a care sheet:

"The ambient air temperature in a boa's vivarium should be between 80 and 85 degrees fahrenheit, with the night time temperature dropping to 78 degrees. The hot spot of the vivarium, which will allow the boa to properly thermoregulate should be 95 to 100 degrees fahrenheit."

Does this mean I need another thermometer in the middle of the viv to measure the ambient temperature, as opposed to the temperature under the ceramic?? Should the hot end of my viv be reading as the quote says or does it mean something else??

Thoughts anyone?

[Marinam2]

Your doing it right. Ambient is the just the temp reading both ends.

Marina

[medusa0373]

Originally Posted by Marinam2

Your doing it right. Ambient is the just the temp reading both ends.

Marina

Fab, thanks. I'm such an idiot about these things, I'm hopeless!!! I hoped it was all OK as current BRB shedding and eating well, but want to make sure I'm doing it right for when I get my new addition in a couple of weeks

[Crownan]

You can read Ambient as Average and its pretty much the same thing.

[bladeblaster]

the "ambient" temp would prob be refering to what you are calling the cool end.

[Crownan]

Originally Posted by bladeblaster

the "ambient" temp would prob be refering to what you are calling the cool end.

I dont agree - see post above

[Deano]

I read ambient as the air temperature in the middle of the viv, and 'hot spot' as the substrate temperature directly below the heat source.

When using bulbs, regulate the temp at the hot spot and the rest of the viv sorts itself out.

Using tubs / mats can be a little trickier in a cool room, as they create a hot spot without heating the air - so ambient temp is too low. My Hognose won't eat when the abmbient drops so I have to keep if in a warm room.

[bladeblaster]

Originally Posted by Crownan

I dont agree - see post above

The part that is being called the hot spot, the ambient is basically the rest of the enclosue. Obviously the temp is going to ramp up slightly the nearer you get to the hot spot. However ambient temp would not be an average including the hot spot. It would be the average of the remaining area, including the "cool" end.

[royalpython]

well,

My interpretation of ambient temperature should not be the average of the enclosure, it's the air temperature with what is being measured, and controlled. i.e. The hot end also has an ambient air temperature, as well as the cool end. You could say the bit inbetween has an ambient air temperature as well. The main thing is the hot end pretty much regulates the cold end as well, but the hot end is the main one which provides the thermal gradient, so measuring the hottest and coldest parts of the vivarium is essential

[bladeblaster]

ambient is a term that denotes the prevailing temperature within a given environment. The Hot Spot for basking is not part on the ambient temperature, as it is higher than the prevailing temperature of the overall environment. In a smallish viv say upto 4 x 2 x 2 the temp of the hot end is probably going to determine the temp of the rest of the viv.

Ambient is not an average it is the largest area at a single temp, so say you have 1 cubic ft at 90degrees, 1 cubic ft at 75 degrees, and 3 cubic ft at 80 degrees, the ambient temp would be 80 degrees, it would not include the hot or cold end.

As the hot end of a smallish viv is going to be heated by a spot to give a basking area, apart from a small area directly around that the temp is fairly conistent throughout the rest of the viv, including the 'cool' end, and this would be the ambient temp.