UTH for my Albino Ball

[AlbinoBall]

So I pick up my baby Albino Ball today and have the cage all set up, my question is do I have to get a thermostat to plug into the UTH? The Breeder where I'm picking up my Ball said no I do not. But everywhere I read they say you have to get it. Also should I be worried of it being a fire hazard? I have Aspen shavings for the bedding and a hide box over the UTH. Thanks all for your help with this.

[Kymberli]

The use of thermostats is highly encouraged. What kind of UTH do you have?

[AlbinoBall]

Zoomed UTH for 10-20 Gallons, and the tank is a 20 gallon.

[Kymberli]

Zoomed UTH for 10-20 Gallons, and the tank is a 20 gallon.

You DEFINITELY need at least a dimmer (approx. $10 at hardware stores), those types of UTH get extremely hot. When I was testing mine on a separate enclosure it got upwards of 113 degrees F! And you need to monitor the temperature under the substrate as well as on top of it. BPs burn so easily, better safe than sorry.

[AlbinoBall]

ok so the Dimmer from the hardware store will do the job? how do I set that up? just lower the dimmer and keep checking the Temp? what do I check the temp with? I know a reptile tempature probe but do I submit the probe into the bedding to check the temp? or just under the hide? sorry so many questions but I want to make sure I get this right as I spent a good penny for my first snake. LOL Thanks!

[Kymberli]

ok so the Dimmer from the hardware store will do the job? how do I set that up? just lower the dimmer and keep checking the Temp? what do I check the temp with? I know a reptile tempature probe but do I submit the probe into the bedding to check the temp? or just under the hide? sorry so many questions but I want to make sure I get this right as I spent a good penny for my first snake. LOL Thanks!

It's better than nothing, but honestly, if you have the money I'd go ahead and buy a thermostat. They're SO much easier to maintain, you don't have to cheack the temps as often. (Cheapest I've found are on http://www.reptilebasics.com/ plus, the guy who runs Reptile Basics is so nice, he'll nswer any questions you e-mail him)

I'm no expert, so I'll just tell you what I've been told. If you're going to go with a lamp dimmer, connect the UTH by following the directions as if you were connecting the dimmer to a lamp. You should purchase a temp gun, you can find them fairly cheap and they tend to be the most accurate. Plus, with a temp gun you can check the temp directly on the glass under the bedding as well as on top of the bedding, with a digital probe you'd have to move it around and it's just a pain in the ass.

[AlbinoBall]

Sounds good thanks!!

[AlbinoBall]

Wow there expensive for Thermostats, maybe I'll get a Temp Gun and then the Dimmer. I should be ok with that just lower the dimmer until the reading comes out on the Temp Gun right?

[Kymberli]

Wow there expensive for Thermostats, maybe I'll get a Temp Gun and then the Dimmer. I should be ok with that just lower the dimmer until the reading comes out on the Temp Gun right?

Yeah, they are expensive :/ I haven't been able to purchase one yet, so until I can, I'm using a dimmer. But you should definitely get a temp gun! And yes, just adjust the dimmer until you get the correct temperature readout. Just make sure you check the temps under and on top of the substrate because (although they often don't) they can burrow/move the bedding and reach the surface of the glass, wouldn't want a burned belly!

[AlbinoBall]

Oh so your using one, for sure I'm going to pick those two things up today. I pick up my Albino Ball after work, and dont want to spend to much as the Ball took my money LOL. So I'll go get the dimmer for sure along with the Temp Gun. I called another place here in Miami and they told me I dont need it just keep my house at 80 degrees and the UTH should only get to 90 but just to be safe Im going with your set up for now. Thanks