Hot side Temps

[Hock3ymonk3y]

Hey guys,

My probe-thermometer inside luther's hot side reads 97 with the uth and 60 watt bulb plugged in. It had been that way for a while until I found a thermometer and realized that he is never on the hot side. So, I decided to unplug the uth which made the temps 89.7 (right now) and I have seen at is low as 85. I am pretty sure that without the uth is the best but I just wanted to make sure. And plus if I dont need it then I have a uth that I can use for another herp. Please post you opinions

Thanks,

[STORMS]

I would keep the UTH and get rid of the heat lamp. Is your UTH being controlled by a thermostat??

[Spaniard]

I would stick with the UTH since belly heat is much more beneficial to a bp for digestion than a lamp would be. 85 is too low for your hot side to dip into though, you need to manage 90, give or take 2 degrees.

[Hock3ymonk3y]

I would but the heat lamp is the thing that creates the correct ambient temp of 85. Also, I did not have it hooked up to a thermostat, but I don't have the time or money to buy that.

[Spaniard]

If you don't have the time or money to properly take care of the snake perhaps you should revisit if you are ready for the commitment. You can get a dimmer switch at lowes for $10 that would be better than nothing. Using unregulated heat sources are just burns waiting to happen.

[STORMS]

I would but the heat lamp is the thing that creates the correct ambient temp of 85. Also, I did not have it hooked up to a thermostat, but I don't have the time or money to buy that.

If you can't afford a thermostat you could always pick up a rheostat at the pet store or even a dimmer switch at Wal-Mart/Lowe's/Home Depot. They are fairly inexpensive.

[Hock3ymonk3y]

then how would you recommend keeping the ambient up to 85 without turning my room into a furnace?

[Spaniard]

You'll need to give us more info to help with that.

What kind of enclosure, glass or plastic tub? What Size?
How much of the floor space is the UTH covering?

[Hock3ymonk3y]

aquarium with 3/4 of the screen taped so humidity cant escape and the uth probs covers like a fourth of the cage

[Spaniard]

Thats probably your problem right there, the UTH should cover 1/3 to 1/2 of the tanks floor space. With a thermostat, or rheostat (dimmer switch) controlling your lamp and uth you would probably have an easier time getting the right temps since you would have a means of controlling them.