Heating question

I just bought a thermostat (which I do not like very much) anyway, I am having a hard time getting the temps right for my new adult ball. I don't have him yet and wont until this gets cleared up. I have a temp gun I use to see the temp of the plastic above the UTH and I also have an outdoor thermometer sitting inside the hot hide. Which one should I go by? The temp gun says a really high number and the thermometer says a way lower temp. For example the temp gun may say 110 (which is WAYY too hot) but the thermometer says 91.

Make sure when you test with the temp gun you have something for it to read off of like a paper towel.
I trust my temp gun way more than any of those cheapo digital thermometers.

Do you have the thermostat probe taped directly to the UTH on the outside of the tub?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by deftones2015

I just bought a thermostat (which I do not like very much) anyway, I am having a hard time getting the temps right for my new adult ball. I don't have him yet and wont until this gets cleared up. I have a temp gun I use to see the temp of the plastic above the UTH and I also have an outdoor thermometer sitting inside the hot hide. Which one should I go by? The temp gun says a really high number and the thermometer says a way lower temp. For example the temp gun may say 110 (which is WAYY too hot) but the thermometer says 91.

---

stick your hand on it, 110 and 91 degrees are easy to tell the difference

I tried taping it in between the plastic tub and the uth but it's hard to get the temps up like that. I bought a cheap thermostat and I wish I hadn't now. The probe is as large as my pinky it is HUGE! I have it taped to the floor in the corner of the hot hide right now. I'll lay some paper towel down then put some aspen on top of that. I was always told to take the temp at the closest spot the snake can touch so I have been taking it directly on the plastic above the uth.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by OhhWatALoser

stick your hand on it, 110 and 91 degrees are easy to tell the difference

---

When I put my hand on the plastic it feels fine to me but the temp gun says its like 110-115. It doesn't burn my hand at all. This is the first time I've kept a snake in a sterilite container so this is all new to me. The plastic seems to conduct heat a lot different than glass lol

Thermostat probe MUS BE OUTSIDE of the tub/cage/tank taped/hot glued to the UTH. Otherwise you get these kinds of problems

OK the probe is in between the uth and the tub. I have a hot hide sitting on top of aspen shavings. Should I use the temp gun to measure the temp on top of the substrate or on the plastic?

Also, how long should I wait after making adjustments to take the temp.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by deftones2015

OK the probe is in between the uth and the tub. I have a hot hide sitting on top of aspen shavings. Should I use the temp gun to measure the temp on top of the substrate or on the plastic?

Also, how long should I wait after making adjustments to take the temp.

---

Keep the aspen thin and not too thick. This stops over heating from happening.

Just make a .5" layer of aspen, set the temp and let it sit for 1-3 hours. You want the surface of the plastic to be the temp you set. The bedding will reach temps in time.