Temperature issues with new rack (again)

Hey everyone.

I am having many issues with temperatures with this new animal plastics rack I was given. It is a brand new iris 375 rack with 7 shelves. This rack is also heated with belly heat.

The first issue I was having was that it would not regulate temperatures properly when utilizing the probe slot for holding the probe. I have since then change the location of the probe to directly on the flexwatt. Two days ago I started testing temperatures to get the hot spots correct and I was successful in getting the hotspots at a consistent 89-92 from the bottom to top shelf. In addition to this my cool side temperatures were at 81-83. Finally the humidity was reading at 50-55% inside the tubs. To achieve all of this I had to put my thermostat (herpstat 2) on 97 degrees. Up until this point I did not have anything in the rack other than the tubs (no substrate, hides, water bowls).
Yesterday I then added my aspen bedding as my substrate and as soon as I did that my humidity went way down to 32 at one point. Because of this I then added my water bowl which was fairly small but I started small to see how the humidity would adjust. With the small bowl it only went up to about 38%so I have now added a much larger bowl to hold more water. Also I have no holes in my tubs. I haven’t checked the humidity again since the new bowls have been added but they should be fine and I will check them very shortly.

My new problem lies with the temperatures. Ever since I have added the hides (irrelevant to the problem but just trying to be thorough on explaining what has changed), water bowls, and aspen bedding I am getting hot spot temperatures through the roof. What I mean is that they are no longer 89-92 but reaching max of 96-97! What would be the issue? I have since turned the temperatures back in increments every few hours to see if I can get my temperatures back in order and now have my herpstat 2 set all the way down to 94.2 from 97. In about a half hour from now I will be taking temperatures again to see what my readings are but this makes no sense. How can simply adding bedding, water bowl, and hides change a hot spot? They can’t affect the temperature of the flexwatt…..

I would like to finally end by mentioning that when I do get the hot spot readings of 96-97, it isn’t across the entire tub but more localized in one spot. The thing is it is never always the same spot each time I check. Also I am using the pro exotics pe-2 for heading surface temperatures.

Thank you. (Sorry for the long post)

Flexwatt is a radient heat source it heats objects not air so adding substrate causes it to become heated where just the plastic tub floor has no mass to hold heat in and cools off quickly. Too much substrate concentrates heat at the bottom of the mass.

Aspen arrives dried all wood is hydroscopic and adsorbs water from the air. It will always lower humidity. I would never suggest using exhalation of a snake to increase humidity. vent holes IMO are absolutely necessary. Racks relay on the room that house them to help hold temps and humidity they are greatly effected by the room the simple solution is humidify the room. Easy. Often ambient temps will cause undue grief to rack regulation in many cases the temp too needs to be regulated to between 75-80ºF.

Yes Understood I will be making my holes in the tubs to provide ventilation. I just was waiting until I saw what my humidity maxed out at before making holes so I can do so accordingly. Also my room is regulated and is at a constant 78-80 degrees. Once in a while it raise to 82 but never over that. I understand that the aspen would decrease the humidity and is why I have compensated with a larger watering bowl. So that leaves me with the question, do you think if I remove some of the aspen bedding so there is less, then my temperatures will start to get better? I actually already put very little in due to the fact that I knew my humidity would drop from it.

Better or worse? I have my rack set to 91ºF and get 90ºF Setting so high as 97ºF seems very odd to my mind you are approaching normal temps rather than worse temps.

Are you using animal plastic racks and what substrate do you use if you don't mind me asking?

I had the same issue with my AP rack (economy rack for iris 41qt). I dremeled out the pre cut channel so I could tape the probe directly to the flexwatt (also using a herpstat 2). I'm using precut paper liners, but I have to have the herpstat set at 94 to get temps of 89-90 in the rack. It's been consistent at this point for several months so i've kind of chalked it up to just 'one of those things.'

i would imagine the substrate traps the heat where when you were just measuring the temp of the tub the heat had more room to escape. how are you measuring your temps? i highly suggest getting a temp gun. i have the pro exotics PE 2 and i love it. best thing i've ever bought for my snakes and its only $35. i always get my tubs set up exactly how they're going to be when the snakes will be in them before i go trying to set the hot spot.

Sorry for such long time since reply. Been really busy. I am using the pro exotics PE 2 as well. I got everything pretty much under control now. I just use very little aspen now and it seems to balance out the temperatures pretty well. I might try a tub with just paper to see what the temps are since that would make things more consistent. I have just always liked aspen.

Sorry I missed it somehow, yes I have an AP rack and am using up the last of my aspen I am going to switch back to coco coir when it is gone, it works better for me, less issues with substrate under scales, and cheaper (a lot).

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Originally Posted by boyer.michael.s

Sorry for such long time since reply. Been really busy. I am using the pro exotics PE 2 as well. I got everything pretty much under control now. I just use very little aspen now and it seems to balance out the temperatures pretty well. I might try a tub with just paper to see what the temps are since that would make things more consistent. I have just always liked aspen.

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Mine are all on paper, I like that I can see what they pass very clearly (and thus see early if something is off) and it's easy to clean. I'm checking temps with the 412L, and I still have to have the t-stat set a few degrees high to get the temps right.