Ball Python temps

Hey guys,

My bp is in his new cage, but I just can't get the temps right. It's a smaller tub, with a large heat pad covering about 4/5 of the bottom. I have the thermostat probe at the bottom of the cage against the heat pad, but even with the thermostat turned to the max, the cage won't get hot enough. It will only get hot enough if I plug it directly into the wall, which is a risk obviously, as well as the fact that it will start to get too hot.

Any suggestions? Thanks.

What thermostat are you using? When I read "even with the thermostat turned to the max" I think of more of a rheostat (like a light dimmer) than a thermostat.

My guess is a defective thermostat. But when they are bad, they often fail by allowing max heat as if the thermostat were not even there. Bad heat control products scare me. I tested my UTH at 130 degrees set on low with a Zoo Med rheostat. Obviously, no good.

The thing is, I've tried it on two thermostats, and neither one can get it hot enough, but it gets plenty hot enough when I plug it straight into the wall.

Maybe try a diff thermostat.