Need help with a uth. Tia.

[megan8706]

Ok, I finally switched one of my girls over to a uth, and done away with the heat lamp. I have the thermometer probe stuck to the underside of the tank in between the uth and glass. It's staying right around 85*, my question is I've read on here something about a thermostat to regulate the temperature, but I didn't see any today at petsmart, so my question is, do I really need one? Especially since the temps seem to be sticking in a good range or do I really need one? If so please give me some recommendations. Thanks!

[Skittles1101]

Most chain pet stores, especially Petsmart will not carry thermostats. Yes you need one. Here is Hydrofarm, it's cheap and reliable. Here are Herpstats, much more expensive but they are great. And just for good measure here is Johnsons, I have one of these and it works very well for the price.

If you thermometer probe isn't even inside the enclosure, how do you measure temps inside?

[thejennabird]

Yes yes yes! You need one. What if your UTH goes on the fritz and heats up to 110? What if your room gets colder and you want your UTH to kick on a little higher? You want something to regulate that sucker. This or this is what you're looking for... since PetSmart and other local chains don't seem to carry them.

Also, 85deg seems a little low for a heat mat, especially when you want a basking temperature of 90 within the cage. Was that the first reading, or has it been that cool for a while?

[megan8706]

Most chain pet stores, especially Petsmart will not carry thermostats. Yes you need one. Here is Hydrofarm, it's cheap and reliable. Here are Herpstats, much more expensive but they are great. And just for good measure here is Johnsons, I have one of these and it works very well for the price.

If you thermometer probe isn't even inside the enclosure, how do you measure temps inside?

Thanks.
I read you're supposed to put the thermometer probe between the uth and the glass flooring, is that wrong?

[megan8706]

Yes yes yes! You need one. What if your UTH goes on the fritz and heats up to 110? What if your room gets colder and you want your UTH to kick on a little higher? You want something to regulate that sucker. This or this is what you're looking for... since PetSmart and other local chains don't seem to carry them.

Also, 85deg seems a little low for a heat mat, especially when you want a basking temperature of 90 within the cage. Was that the first reading, or has it been that cool for a while?

It's been on for about 2 hours so far, right now it's reading 85.2.
How does thermostat work is it something I plug uth into or what? I'm sorry I'm new to the whole thing.
The room she's in stays right around 70-75 degrees constantly, but now I'm really worried over this uth!

[Skittles1101]

Well, if it's outside the tank you can't properly measure the temps inside, which is the most important thing. When you have a thermostat, that probe should be secured to the UTH. It regulates the temperature of the thermostat, so that you can maintain the temps inside the tank measure by the thermometer. Your UTH should be much hotter than 85, the store bought UTHs are known to reach ridiculously high temps, as well as having hot spots. I'd get a thermostat as soon as you can, and I'd make sure your thermometer is properly reading temps because 85 doesn't sound right.

Also, when you have your thermostat, you will most likely have to set it at a higher temperature than you want inside the enclosure. I know in my racks, my thermostats are set to (an average) of 92-98 in order to maintain the temps i need inside the tubs. It's a trial and error kind of thing. Room temps also mess with them, so you'll have to account for that. Luckily mine have their own room, or else my temps would be different.

[Zephyr]

Your UTH should be mounted on the outside of the glass, and the thermometer needs to be inside the tank above the UTH. Plug the UTH into the thermostat which will basically be a resistor because you're plugging the thermostat into the wall.

[KMG]

Yes you need one.

You plug the tstat into the wall and then the uth into the tstat. You then set the tstat for the desired temperature. The tstat then sends juice to the uth to keep it at the set temperature.

Cheap tstats are simple on/off types. This means they control the uth by just turning off and on as need be to keep your temps. These are not the best as they are not as steady.

The higher end tstats will have a proportional option that sends juice to the uth constantly but only enough to keep the uth at the set temp. These are the best option but are the most expensive.

Anything you find at the big box stores are pretty much junk and way out dated technology. I second Herpstat as I have four and have never had an issue.

The tstat is the most important thing you will buy for your collection so buy the best you can. Do it right the first time and it will last you forever.

[megan8706]

Well, if it's outside the tank you can't properly measure the temps inside, which is the most important thing. When you have a thermostat, that probe should be secured to the UTH. It regulates the temperature of the thermostat, so that you can maintain the temps inside the tank measure by the thermometer. Your UTH should be much hotter than 85, the store bought UTHs are known to reach ridiculously high temps, as well as having hot spots. I'd get a thermostat as soon as you can, and I'd make sure your thermometer is properly reading temps because 85 doesn't sound right.

Ok maybe that was my misunderstanding I thought it was the thermometer probe. I have analog thermometers inside the tank along with hygrometer for inside readings.

[megan8706]

Your UTH should be mounted on the outside of the glass, and the thermometer needs to be inside the tank above the UTH. Plug the UTH into the thermostat which will basically be a resistor because you're plugging the thermostat into the wall.

Uth is outside, under her warm hide. My thermometer is wired so that's not safe to have inside the tank with her?