Thermostat Question

So I have my backup thermostat (one of those hydrofarm t-stats while I save up for a helix/herpstat), and I was wondering what temperature I should set the thermostat to shut the heat pad down at. My BP likes to burrow in his aspen (my husbandry is proper in terms of temps and humidity), and I don't want to burn him. I've heard 95 degrees is a popular setting, but I want some input from others. Thanks!

You need to use a temp gun to make sure you are reaching appropriate temps in your cage/tub. Or risk burning your snake. With that info, adjust your thermostat accordingly.

Sent from my DROIDX

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Originally Posted by notmyfault

You need to use a temp gun to make sure you are reaching appropriate temps in your cage/tub. Or risk burning your snake. With that info, adjust your thermostat accordingly.

Sent from my DROIDX

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Yup this is correct. For example, my herpstat is setup to 97 degrees for my rack, and the highest the temps will go on the hot spot is 91-93 degrees. Ranco's definitely arent the most ideal thermostat, but its not the worst either and will probably work fine for now. Definitely consider Herpstat or Vivarium-Electronics thermostats when you save up enough.

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Originally Posted by mattchibi

Yup this is correct. For example, my herpstat is setup to 97 degrees for my rack, and the highest the temps will go on the hot spot is 91-93 degrees. Ranco's definitely arent the most ideal thermostat, but its not the worst either and will probably work fine for now. Definitely consider Herpstat or Vivarium-Electronics thermostats when you save up enough.

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But what if my snake burrows to the point that it touches the glass bottom of my tank? What would be the highest temp that it wouldn't get fried if it burrowed and was on the glass? (I'm planning on putting repticarpet under the aspen when I put the heat pad on)

If you are only using a hydrofarm. It's not a backup. Treat this just like any other thermostat. Set it at whatever temperature is necessary to maintain a 88-92 degree hot side. Once you have a proportional thermostat then you can use your hydrofarm as a backup.

The Serpent Merchant has it right you have only one it is a primary tsat and must be treated as such. I personally don't like having a temp much higher than 94º inside the enclosure.

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Originally Posted by kitedemon

The Serpent Merchant has it right you have only one it is a primary tsat and must be treated as such. I personally don't like having a temp much higher than 94º inside the enclosure.

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I might be misunderstanding the responses, but I am concerned with the actual glass temp, and not the temp that the substrate is (94 degrees might have been what you meant you had your t-stat set to). I will be able to play with the temps to find the best temp of the substrate and ambient temp, but I am wondering what the highest temp that it is unsafe to have a snake in direct contact with the glass is. Thanks for the responses so far tho! :)

This is the problem, you are going about this wrong. You need to set your thermostat at a safe temperature (less than 100) that will achieve a hot side of 88-92 degrees. If you have to set the thermostat higher than that to achieve said temperatures you need less substrate. UTH really work best with paper or corrugated wrap substrates and don't work well with shredded wood/Eco-earth style substrates because they do not transfer heat well.

You should not have ANYTHING the snake can contact hotter than 94-5º. The glass on the bottom included. It is irrelevant what the t stat is set to as long as nothing is much hotter than 94. Snakes bodily functions start to shut down when the snakes temps reach 96 so allowing access to anything approaching this is simply not a good idea. Personally I have the T-stat set to 92º and this delivers 90º to the warm side.