More questions. Weird UTH + Substrate Problem.

[Seru1]

Sorry for the text wall but I really need some newbie help.


!~!
So my goal is to use 2 UTH's Atleast until I get the money to buy a new cage for my BP, one that I can actually use a light and a UTH on.


So I have my UTH plugged into a thermostat, It's set at 92 but my readings on top of the substrate are in the low 80's like below 84.

I am using a pretty thin layer of cypress, I also have a dog bowl for a water bowl. Even when I brush the small amout of cypress away and scan the surface of the bottom of the plastic cage it's only 86-87. I don't know what I am doing wrong.

I tried to plug the other UTH directly in the wall, being told "It's so low wattage there's a good chance it will just stop at the low 90's"

I checked it every 30 minutes for a few hours, at the bottom of the cage it was 133 degrees!! So I unplugged it. But on top it was 92-94 max. Even 88 in some place.

Maybe I should try paper towels. I don't wanna bother her again while she is acclimating though by changing substrates. Poor dear has it hard enough with a dummy like me.

I bought my BP at a reptile show today. and I went to 4 stores looking for a dimmer switch which I could not find. I feel like I a real jerk. But I am trying to get her set up. Atleast I got a side set up where she has good ambient but I am gonna order a new thermostat pronto monday morning. So I can get her her perfect temp.

[Kaorte]

What kind of thermostat are you using? Make sure your probe is outside the tank on the under side of the UTH.

You will probably have to set your UTH higher then 92* to get inside the cage to 92*. Shoot for an under substrate temp of 95*. The top of your substrate should then be around 90-01*.

How thin is your substrate? You only really need like a half inch.

[Seru1]

Double Ranco From Reptile basics.

The probe it outside the tank inbetween the UTH and the cage.

The UTH it atop a sheet of 6mm polyurethane insulation


The substrate is considerably less than half an inch.it I put my finger in it it doesn't even go to half the first digit.

I am shooting for 82-84 on the side in question for ambience. Sadly as I couldn't find a dimmer today I'll have to go searching again tomorrow to find one for the basking side. I'm going to order a thermostat for that side, but I don't want her to have to wait three days because her owner is stupid.

The part under the substrate reads 85 to 86, but the thermostat reads 92 I don't get it.

[Kaorte]

Double Ranco From Reptile basics.

The probe it outside the tank inbetween the UTH and the cage.

The UTH it atop a sheet of 6mm polyurethane insulation


The substrate is considerably less than half an inch.it I put my finger in it it doesn't even go to half the first digit.

I am shooting for 82-84 on the side in question for ambience. Sadly as I couldn't find a dimmer today I'll have to go searching again tomorrow to find one for the basking side. I'm going to order a thermostat for that side, but I don't want her to have to wait three days because her owner is stupid.

Oh, so you are using this one for the cool side? low 80's for the cool side is fine.

[Seru1]

True but it's just a weird problem! I am frustrated at to why it is this way.

I am worried at some point the temperature on the ambient side may rise above the low 80's. Then she wouldn't have a cooler spot when I get the basking area going tomorrow.

[Kaorte]

True but it's just a weird problem! I am frustrated at to why it is this way.

I am worried at some point the temperature on the ambient side may rise above the low 80's. Then she wouldn't have a cooler spot when I get the basking area going tomorrow.

Do your UTHs cover the whole bottom of the tank? If not, she could find a cooler place if she needed too.

What are your ambient temps without the cool side UTH?

[Seru1]

It's a 3' tank and an 11x17 pad so it almost covers half ((I have an 11x23 coming monday))


The side without a working UTH is sadly only 74-75.


I rescanned the side with a UTH and it is 89.5 below the substrate and the very low 80's atop it. Except in her hide where she is where it's 85.


When I get my dimmer switch tomorrow though the UTH's will cover the whole of the tank. as there will be two 11x17's. one UTH for basking, one UTH for ambient.

[Kaorte]

It's a 3' tank and an 11x17 pad so it almost covers half ((I have an 11x23 coming monday))


The side without a working UTH is sadly only 74-75.


I rescanned the side with a UTH and it is 89.5 below the substrate and the very low 80's atop it. Except in her hide where she is where it's 85.


When I get my dimmer switch tomorrow though the UTH's will cover the whole of the tank. as there will be two 11x17's. one UTH for basking, one UTH for ambient.

Let us know how the dimmer works out. Hopefully that will fix your problem.

Honestly, I think you will be fine though as long as you don't let the temp on the glass get over 95*. 74-75* as a cool side ambient isn't horrible but it is a tiny bit chilly.

[Seru1]

Trust me I don't want it to stay that low! The spot that is 74-75. Was supposed to be the basking side! I just couldn't find a dimmer or Rheostat at

Lowes
Walmart
Petco
Radioshack
Or the Reptile show I went to and bought opera.


I am feeling like a worm. She is on a rack in a plastic neodesha cage above where this week will be a Asian Ratsnake.

The low 80's that will be her cool spot is his Hot spot! And they cannot be kept over 85 because over 85 will kill them. The cages are fine for them but the top cage is the warmest so I was hoping a ball would do well up there with a 2nd UTH.


Eventually I wanna get opera a vision cage and move her upstairs where it's warmer and I can provide her a light on the cool side and a UTH on the basking. But I am forced to wait on my state tax return for that.



Thanks so much for all your help Kaorte. I like to be prepared before I buy an animal, it kills me that my plan didn't work, and that opera may not be as warm as she wants to be because I was impatient. I hope the dimmer will be a good temporary fix till I can order a 2nd Ranco monday.

[Kaorte]

Are you sure you couldn't find one at lowes? did you ask an employee?

Home depot should most definately have one.

I would almost stick with dual UTH heat since an overhead lamp will lower your humidity.


No problem, no one gets it right the first time. Just takes a little fine tuning but once you have it right you are set!