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  1. #1
    Registered User JamesJ's Avatar
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    Rack temperature fluctuation

    My balls are housed in a melamine rack (18 tub, 9 each side) that I built myself and heated via a heatstrip across the back of each shelf. Each 2/3 shelves are on their own thermostat since I also have corns / milks and hognose's in the same rack allowing me to get different temps for each species.

    The balls are at the top since the ambients will be higher here, I have 3 shelves with balls on. In this top 3 shelves, the middle tub sits at a perfect 92* but the shelves above and below are at 89* hot spots, all are on the same pulse thermostat. Has anyone else has problems with certain mats getting hotter than others of the same size / make even when on the same thermostat.

    Do you think I will have any problems with the 89* hot spots?

  2. #2
    BPnet Senior Member iCandiBallPythons's Avatar
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    Re: Rack temperature fluctuation

    All of my racks slots vary by a few degrees anywhere from 89-93
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  3. #3
    BPnet Senior Member anatess's Avatar
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    I don't have a rack and I'm really just a newbie, but I'm thinking maybe you can put the middle rack on a dimmer then plug to the t-stat and then bump up the temps to at least get the variance closer?

    I'm actually in the process of building one.
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    Registered User JamesJ's Avatar
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    Re: Rack temperature fluctuation

    Good idea! The anoying thing is, before I put the snakes in, they were all stable at the same temps (the top was a bit cooler but thats due to having no next level / insulation on top I guess) so don't know why they are now different.

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    Re: Rack temperature fluctuation

    I wouldn't mess with a dimmer if you have a thermostat. If adequate temps for BP's are 89-92 and that is where your hot spots are, why change it? My racks vary by 1-3 degrees too, but they are all 89-92 on the hot side and 81-83 on the cool side.

  6. #6
    BPnet Veteran m00kfu's Avatar
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    You won't have any problems with an 89 degree hot spot.

  7. #7
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    Re: Rack temperature fluctuation

    Quote Originally Posted by JamesJ View Post
    Good idea! The anoying thing is, before I put the snakes in, they were all stable at the same temps (the top was a bit cooler but thats due to having no next level / insulation on top I guess) so don't know why they are now different.
    Reason it was stable before ad not now is due to the snakes body is absorbing the surrounding heat.

    This is why belly heat is a better option.

  8. #8
    Registered User JamesJ's Avatar
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    Re: Rack temperature fluctuation

    Ok brilliant, its just some have become picky feeders so wanted to make sure temps were spot on.

  9. #9
    Registered User JamesJ's Avatar
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    Re: Rack temperature fluctuation

    Quote Originally Posted by RichsBallPythons View Post
    Reason it was stable before ad not now is due to the snakes body is absorbing the surrounding heat.

    This is why belly heat is a better option.
    Not sure if you think I meant they were heated from the back side instead of from the bottom? They do have belly heat, the heatmats are under the backs of the tubs

  10. #10
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    Re: Rack temperature fluctuation

    Quote Originally Posted by JamesJ View Post
    Not sure if you think I meant they were heated from the back side instead of from the bottom? They do have belly heat, the heatmats are under the backs of the tubs
    you mean the Bottom of the tubs not back. But either way temps will be different in certain spots as to where they are laying and absorbing the heat.

    88-92 is optimal for balls.

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