Questions about temperatures and my setup--your thoughts please...

[ecitizen]

I have had my new PVC cage set up and running for a few days with the radiant heat panel, cypress mulch, and no under belly heat. The probe on the hot side under the RHP is on top of the cypress mulch underneath the hide. It stays in the 86-89 degree range with the RHP running full blast so I can't get the temp to go any higher than that. On the cool side, the probe is about an inch above the cypress mulch and reads 79-81 degrees. I'm in a very humid environment so humidity is not an issue--stays between 60-75% all the time. My albino bp has been spending time on both the hot and cool side which I assume is a good sign?

How am I doing? Does this set up sound ok or do you think I need to get under cage heat so the probe on the hot side stays at 90 degrees under the hide on top of the cypress mulch? The bp is a 2 month old hatchling and I will try to feed him tomorrow, 3 days after putting him in the new cage and about a week after his last meal.

Thoughts are appreciated.

[KMG]

If it was me I would add a uth with a thermostat to maintain a 90 hotspot. I would place the thermostat probe between the cage bottom and the uth so if will not move and allow the Tstat to run out of control. The other temp probe in the hide is fine but I prefer using a temp gun to cut out wires on my substrate.

Overall if sounds good but pics are very helpful for this kind of thing.

The only thing I would check is the surface temp outside the hide. Depending on the hide it may insulate and not be as warm as the outside substrate. Put the probe outside to make sure it is not to warm. If might be fine but I would find out just in case.