Thermostat for controlling AMBIENT temps??

[KWenger]

I use a Hydrofarm digital thermostat to control the "hot" side of the tanks for my two BPs. The probe is placed near the top of the substrate under the hide (which is over the heat mat.) I have it set at 90 and the thermostat does a great job of keeping the temperature a constant 88-92 degrees. I check the temps regularly with a digital infrared thermometer, and they are always close to perfect regardless of what the room temperature is. The problem I'm having is controlling the AMBIENT air temperature in the tank. I like to keep the ambient temp in the mid 80s, and the cool hide at 80. I use a ceramic heat emitter and it works well, but how to control it? We are not using heat or a/c in our house this time of year (I live in NC and springtime temps can vary greatly) so some days the air temp in the "snake room" is as warm as 80, but at night it can drop to as low as 62-65. I was considering buying a second Hydrofarm thermostat and connecting the ceramic heat emitters to it. Would that work? If I set the thermostat at 85 and placed the probe on top of the substrate in the middle of the enclosure, would the thermostat control the ambient air temp the same way it controls the temp above the uth? I'm not sure about this and would appreciate advice. Thanks!

[VooDooDoc]

Yeah NC weather can be a pain. I use heat lamps with a thermostat to control ambient. I hang the probe in the middle of the enclosure and adjust based on what temps I want. The lamps are over the ends. It works well. I suggest running with a rheostat as well. This gives complete control and you can adjust one side to be hotter than the other if need be.

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[KMG]

Having your tstat probe on top of the substrate is a bad idea. Your snake can easily move it making the uth go to full power and possibly harming your snake. The best place for it is between the uth and the bottom of the cage. Having it outside leaves no chance for the snake to move it.

Hanging the probe is probably the best way for you to get the best results. I think you might get better results with a bulb. A che is directed heat so if you choose to use it make sue the probe is hanging in the beam of the che. A bulb will spill the light and heat into the cage and more evenly heat the entire area not just one spot like a che.

[KWenger]

KMG: I have never used a bulb for heat because I thought the snakes would not like the light produced by the bulbs at night. I've been using CHEs because they produce no light. I wasn't aware that bulbs distribute heat more evenly than CHEs. If that is the case, a bulb sounds better. What type do you recommend for BPs? I've seen the red heat bulbs. Perhaps BPs don't object to the red light? Also, when you suggest I "hang" the probe for the thermostat controlling the bulb for ambient heat, where exactly should I hang it? I'm thinking I could easily attach the wire leading from the probe to the back side of the tank in the middle with electrical tape so the snake couldn't move it. Maybe place the probe itself about an inch above the substrate? What do you think?

[KMG]

Never use tape inside the cage.

You can cut a small notch to run the probe wire into the tank. Then just let it dangle from there. Tape the wire on the back of the cage on the outside.

If the bulb is sitting in the middle of the tank place the probe in the middle of the back wall. If the bulb is alittle more on one side or the other keep the probe with the bulb on the back wall.

I used both red and blue night bulbs and either are fine with snakes. The blue ones out out far less light if that is what you want.

The che works just like a basking bulb. They direct the heat to one main spot with little flooding. A regular style bulb floods the heat without directing it to one point. That said a regular style bulb will be hottest directly under the bulb, so be sure to make sure it is within range.