tub setup - cool side too cold.

[Mindibun]

Ok, I've gone through many pages of threads and posts, as well as read the caresheets and DIY guides for habitats. I still cant find the info I need.

So, quick question ...

I have a 15q tub for my BP with flexwatt tape on a ranco therm set to 91*. The warm side is constant, the humidity is constant at 40% (unless shedding) but the cool side is much too cold. It stays at about 70* and went down to 68* this evening. I need a way to warm it up without putting a heat lamp on it (would melt the plastic) and without adding another strip of flex watt (would have to purchase a second thermostat). I've resorted to putting my clothing (an old shirt or a towel, a sock, whatever is clean and lying around) in the tub on the cool side just in case she wants extra warmth. She is usually in her deli cup hide on the cool side so she doesnt seem to be bothered by the temps. But I am.

[JLC]

Definitely temps you should feel bothered about. And cloth on the cool side won't help her warm up. That trick would only work for warm blooded creatures who emit their own heat that a "blanket" could help hold in.


I had the same problem with my enclosure because we keep the house relatively cool. I got a little space heater and set it up near the tub (but not blowing directly on it). It took some tweaking and adjusting and lots of temperature monitoring to get it settled just right so I didn't have to fuss with it too much anymore...but it worked nicely.

Now I have an extra strip of flexwatt and an extra t-stat....that was SO worth the expense and time it took to set it up.

[Mindibun]

My boyfriend complains that things are too hot as it is. I seriously doubt he'd go for plugging in a space heater. Obviously, the extra flex watt would be the easiest and sure-est answer, but I dont have that kind of money right now. I was hoping there would be a more desirable home-made solution.

and thats a good point about the blanket. It didnt even cross my mind. I guess I can have my socks back now. -lol-

[Chuck]

What is the room temps? what are you using to measure the temps? I am having sorta a hard time warping my head around you having a 20 degree gradient in a 15 qt tub in Florida in the middle of the summer. Don't add another heat source to the cool end this is asking for trouble. It will be fine for now, look at it like this 70 degrees isn't exactly comfortable for the snake and as long as 70 degrees isn't the highest temp in the tub the snake will thermo regulate to were it feel comfortable. A few hours of the cool side hitting 70 at night isn't going to give your snake IR. What are the room temps day and night how much flex watt coverage do you have on the tub what kind of thermometer are you using and is there a fan blowing in the room is the tub less than 12 inches off the ground. So I think answering these questions will help set your temps right.


Chuck

[Mindibun]

To be honest, I'm having a tough time wrapping my head around that one also...

I am measuring the temps with an accurite thermometer from Walmart, the ones everyone has, IN ADDITION TO a $90 thermostat probe. It better be reading temps accurately for that price! The room temp is usually about 74 give or take. It may be cooler when my bf leaves the fan on (like I said he complains of heat, but I'm as cold blooded as my snakes. I'm always freezing).

The flex watt covers approx. half the tank (it's an 11" strip) and the tank is about, probably 10" above the ground. It rests on the shelf below my large bird cage so as not to take up any more space. Plus, that's the only available plug right now.

[dotc0m]

The flex watt covers approx. half the tank (it's an 11" strip) and the tank is about, probably 10" above the ground. It rests on the shelf below my large bird cage so as not to take up any more space. Plus, that's the only available plug right now.

Only half the tank? 11''? Don't those flexwatt run by the feet? So if you bought an 11'' flexwatt, the dimensions would be 11'' x 12''? That's pretty big for a 15qt Sterlite, which only runs 16'' x something.

Maybe if this may work, you can move the flexwatt into the middle of the tub where it may reach almost both sides of the tub (but more on the hot side), that way giving a gradient temperature that will warm up the cool side, but keeping the temperature down on the cool side as well due to the air temperature.

Might work, may not be super safe, but the benefits out-due the small risk. (lol I feel like I'm selling securities all over again)

[SatanicIntention]

An easy solution would be to go get a Lutron Credenza lamp dimmer(plug and play already) from Home Depot or Lowe's and plug a second piece of flexwatt into it, and then plug that into your thermostat. Dial the dimmer down about 3/4-1/2 way down and see where 83-84 degrees is and once it is there, tape the dimmer so it doesn't get moved. Once it is set, the thermostat will take care of the rest. It sounds weird, but it works perfectly. I am using the same method on my 8-shelf rack for the cool side flexwatt. Dimmer plugged into Helix, and flexwatt plugged into dimmer. It keeps the cool side at 84 and the warm side at 95. Works great and is a more inexpensive alternative if you're in a bind.

[Mindibun]

Thanks, I may try that. I have heard members suggest covering holes to trap heat and humidity as well. Do you think if I covered holes only on the cool side that it would affect anything?

[dotc0m]

Wow Becky, that's genius ! I have to try that. The only setback is drastic fluctuating room temperatures. Does that setup you mentioned still work with that?

[J.Vandegrift]

If your room temp is 74 there is no way for your cage to get down to 68 wether a fan is on or not. I really think your Accurite is not working correctly. It is not possible to have over a 20 degree temps difference in a 15qt tub. Are you using the lid that came with the tub or a screen lid? Something just does not make sense here especially with you using 11' flex watt. I did have a problem with my accurite thermometers when the batteries were running low one time. Mine were incorrectly reading way to high but you might want to try changing out the batteries or even getting a new thermometer.