Another newbie question from a brand new owner

[OsirisRa32]

OK..so last night Aaron (theserpentmerchant) helped me out quite a bit....

Have a few small follow up questions....

I have two thermometers...and a thermostat on the way....thermostat probe is going between the outside of the glass bottom and the UTH

My plan is to have one thermometer on the side where I have my hot spot...the other way is going in the cooler side....What method of attachment is best for the probes? Obviously tape is a no go...I was thinking a hot glue gun? ( I am currently using a 10 gal glass tank).

My second question is placement of thermometer probes....between substrate and glass bottom or more on top of the substrate?

Thanks!!

[mercerasian]

I attach my thermometers to the back wall of the tank with velcro. It looks really nice and clean.

[OsirisRa32]

are your probes attached at ground level with the substrate tho or up the tank wall ? If they are up the tank wall arent they reading a temp too high off the ground if ball pythons are for all intents and purposes a ground dwelling species?

[satomi325]

OK..so last night Aaron (theserpentmerchant) helped me out quite a bit....

Have a few small follow up questions....

I have two thermometers...and a thermostat on the way....thermostat probe is going between the outside of the glass bottom and the UTH

My plan is to have one thermometer on the side where I have my hot spot...the other way is going in the cooler side....What method of attachment is best for the probes? Obviously tape is a no go...I was thinking a hot glue gun? ( I am currently using a 10 gal glass tank).

My second question is placement of thermometer probes....between substrate and glass bottom or more on top of the substrate?

Thanks!!

Hot glue is best for the probes and you want the probe on the hottest spot in the enclosure that is accessible to the snake. So you want the probe on top of the glass, under the substrate.

The problem with Velcro is that it does have sticky adhesive that is used to stick to the back wall of the enclosure and on the thermometers. There should be no sticky adhesives in the enclosure. Someday it could start unpeeling and stick to your snake..

[RoseyReps]

Hot glue is best for the probes and you want the probe on the hottest spot in the enclosure that is accessible to the snake. So you want the probe on top of the glass, under the substrate.

The problem with Velcro is that it does have sticky adhesive that is used to stick to the back wall of the enclosure and on the thermometers. There should be no sticky adhesives in the enclosure. Someday it could start unpeeling and stick to your snake..

This ^^^^

Velcro can be just as dangerous as tape. I've seen the scars and damage pics and it is not something you want to risk. Hot glue the probe to the glass (with the snake out) and let it cool completely before putting the substrate back. Make sure you are not hot gluing the actual probe, more like a dot at the base where the cord connects I believe.

[mercerasian]

are your probes attached at ground level with the substrate tho or up the tank wall ? If they are up the tank wall arent they reading a temp too high off the ground if ball pythons are for all intents and purposes a ground dwelling species?

I use thermometers for the ambient air and my thermostat keeps the temp of the UTH.

Hot glue is best for the probes and you want the probe on the hottest spot in the enclosure that is accessible to the snake. So you want the probe on top of the glass, under the substrate.

The problem with Velcro is that it does have sticky adhesive that is used to stick to the back wall of the enclosure and on the thermometers. There should be no sticky adhesives in the enclosure. Someday it could start unpeeling and stick to your snake..

I know tape isn't good to use inside a snake enclosure but I chose to go with velcro because the pieces that I used are not reachable for the snake. There's not enough space between my thermometers and the glass for the snake to even come close to the velcro.

[RestlessRobie]

I honestly use my temp gun for most temp checks I do have a Thermometer Hygrometer in the enclosures and I let the probe jut kinda float under the substrate I use MY IR temp gun to check all my temps and use the thermometer as just a kinda quick look and see gauge. If I see the temps are not what I want then I check with the IR temp gun and either adjust or move my probe back to where it was supposed to be. Snake love to play lets pull anything glued, taped, or velcored off so I just quite trying to keep them in one spot.

[TheSnakeGuy]

I just bury the line from my probe and the probe pops out right on top of my substrate. No adhesion needed and it works just fine. Love my Accurite therm.

[RoseyReps]

I use thermometers for the ambient air and my thermostat keeps the temp of the UTH.



I know tape isn't good to use inside a snake enclosure but I chose to go with velcro because the pieces that I used are not reachable for the snake. There's not enough space between my thermometers and the glass for the snake to even come close to the velcro.

If the thermometers on the wall are so high up your snake can't reach them, then they are doing you no good. The top of the tank ambient air temp will not be the same as the near-ground level (heat rises remembers), if you meant the velcro / thermometer is so tight...well never underestimate the power of a snake. You'd be surprised at how easily they can knock that gauge off, even a young one. Especially if you think they can't. They'll do it just out of spite

Anyways, OP: Though some might take risks, I would never, ever suggest taking the risk of putting anything sticky in your tank. You snake will thank you later when it's not missing a large portion of it's skin / scales.

[mercerasian]

if you meant the velcro / thermometer is so tight...well never underestimate the power of a snake. You'd be surprised at how easily they can knock that gauge off, even a young one. Especially if you think they can't. They'll do it just out of spite

That is what I mean. It's tight against the glass. Also, there is no place for a snake to find leverage to pull the thermometer off. Even the weight of the snake will not be able to move the thermometer. I even had to use a large amount of force to pull the thermometer off.