UTH heating

[kmooresd85]

I have a small ball python in a 20 long aquarium with a uth under it. i checked the temp at the substrate with temp gun but it seems kinda cold. it is connected to a thermostat and the thermostat seems to be reading it at higher temps. also, i have a thermometer probe taped to the bottom glass above the heater and it reads in the low 90's. i have thinned out the substrate (coconut husk) but it still reads cold when i check with a temp gun. shouldn't the temp right above the substrate be in the low 90's? this is the hot side of course. any suggestions?

[cmz1234]

Don't take my word on this but from what I understand BP's do good in mid to low 90's in the hot side and mid to low 80's in the cool side. The temp gun should be the most accurate, but temp guns take more factors into consideration. They account for scanned area and the average temp of that area. Is your probe placed on the hottest point of the uth?

[kmooresd85]

Don't take my word on this but from what I understand BP's do good in mid to low 90's in the hot side and mid to low 80's in the cool side. The temp gun should be the most accurate, but temp guns take more factors into consideration. They account for scanned area and the average temp of that area. Is your probe placed on the hottest point of the uth?

ya it is. the thermometer probe and the thermostat probe are both taped to the bottom of the tank. im thinking about bringing the thermostat probe above the substrate to go off of that temp.

[Skittles1101]

The temp above the substrate should be between 88-92, try using less substrate. Coco fiber is heavy and doesn't allow temps through as well, if you use less the temps should rise. I only use about 1/2 or less of substrate, especially if it's coco fiber.

Also, the thermostat probe should be on the UTH, the thermometer should be on the inside of the enclosure....

[kmooresd85]

The temp above the substrate should be between 88-92, try using less substrate. Coco fiber is heavy and doesn't allow temps through as well, if you use less the temps should rise. I only use about 1/2 or less of substrate, especially if it's coco fiber.

Also, the thermostat probe should be on the UTH, the thermometer should be on the inside of the enclosure....

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i have already thinned out the substrate. im afraid if i use any less, the snake will burn. i originally had the thermometer in the enclosure but was told to check the temp at the thermostat so started that recently. i will go back to doing that though. ive been setting the thermostat at about 93 but will set it higher based on the fact that its sitting right above the uth. ill keep an eye on the substrate and temp there with the temp gun. Thanks!

[Skittles1101]

It shouldn't be getting hot enough to burn, even without substrate. The thermostat should be keeping it set at whatever you wanted it at (93 in your case). I don't know about others, but all of my ball pythons that I don't use newspaper for pretty much push their substrate away anyways, so just be aware of that. I'd consider changing substrate if you can't get the temps down correctly, I use aspen and it lets the heat through much better than the coco fiber. I switched months ago.

[kmooresd85]

ya thats probly what ill do too

[TheWinWizard]

I use aspen as well, much better heat transfer with it.

[ogdentrece]

Yeah I use aspen too, but my snakes are always sitting on the glass. They just don't stop pushing the aspen to the sides of their hides and sitting in a hole. I've gotten use to that, and if your thermostat probes are in the right places for the right temperatures it shouldnt burn.