Noob post- Affordable, effective heating pad (+thermostat?) for glass 40 gal setup

I just got a cute new BP (very unexpectedly, weird story in another post) a few days ago, an approx. 550g sweet-as-pie pastel girl, and want to make sure that she has everything she needs to be happy. I got her an under-tank heating pad, a comfy hide (getting a second one for the other side here shortly), some greenery under which she can hide, a little climb stick (that I didn't expect her to love but she's all over it during her active times). The thermometer/hydrometer (is that the right term) that came with her tank looks crummy to me, and I'm not certain how much I trust its output.

After installing the pad, the heat only read out to be about 82 on the "hot" side, which obviously worried me. I grabbed a 75w heat lamp that I've used for rehabbing other animals, but her enclosure still doesn't read much higher on average- 92 was the highest on a hot day the other day. It got particularly cold last night and I was mortified to wake up and see her thermometer reading at 74. She was more than okay with me taking her out to snuggle her warmer until I had to leave for work, but that's far from a viable solution. I want to get something that can handle Texas's wild temperature fluctuations and keep her cage at a stable temperature. I also feel like I need a new thermometer, or a thermostat to monitor/control a new heating element.

Obviously, I spent a bunch of money getting all of her initial equipment (because I'm apparently too dumb to check local classifieds) and am kind of strapped, but I don't want her to suffer for it. Does anyone have any effective, economical suggestions? There's a good chance I'll upgrade it later because that's how I am, but I'm worried about the little lady right now. I can't be letting down my newest family addition!

Congrats on your new BP Kip. If you're looking for an inexpensive but reliable UTH and thermostat I would check out the Ultratherm uths and the Hydrofarm Jumpstart t-stats. I've used both for years with no issues.

http://www.reptilebasics.com/ultratherm-heat-pads

https://www.amazon.com/Hydrofarm-MTP...art+thermostat

Tell me what you have now as far as a UTH.
How did you get 82 from the heat pad? Is that the Pad or the air (ambient temp)??

PS: What El-Ziggy said is the cheapest reliable products youll find. Dont listen to pet store workers.. They know nothing. All you need is the $19.99 heat pad from RB for your size tank/snake.

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Originally Posted by Mr Sully

Tell me what you have now as far as a UTH.
How did you get 82 from the heat pad? Is that the Pad or the air (ambient temp)??

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x2 on these questions. also, is your thermometer/hygrometer digital or analog/dial?

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Originally Posted by EL-Ziggy

http://www.reptilebasics.com/ultratherm-heat-pads

https://www.amazon.com/Hydrofarm-MTP...art+thermostat

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x2 on these products. i've used both and (when properly set up) have never had issues.

you don't mention a thermostat for the UTH you have now. if it's unregulated PLEASE unplug the UTH: they are dangerous when unregulated, reaching well over 100° and can kill your snake. you say you have a bulb, so going with out a UTH for a bit until you pick up your new UTH AND thermostat will not cause any harm to the snake.

It's a flimsy-looking dial thermometer that I have attached about an inch and change above her substrate, so it's measuring ambient.

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https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...10f987c44a.jpg

This is what I currently have going for her. You can't see the thermometer well from here, but it's by the rightmost piece of hanging greenery.

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Sorry to spam you guys, but thanks for the warning too! I'll unplug her heating pad when I get home. What is a good ambient air temperature, or does that matter less than the pad temp?

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Originally Posted by Kippykins

It's a flimsy-looking dial thermometer that I have attached about an inch and change above her substrate, so it's measuring ambient.

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unfortunately those dial thermometers are practically worthless in terms of accuracy. try to get an AcuRite digital thermometer/hygrometer from walmart or amazon. also laser temp guns are an invaluable tool most of us use to spot check temperatures as well as their hot spot; i recommend looking into them.

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Originally Posted by Kippykins

Sorry to spam you guys, but thanks for the warning too! I'll unplug her heating pad when I get home. What is a good ambient air temperature, or does that matter less than the pad temp?

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ambient should never drop below 75°, and anywhere around 80° is perfect for them. i try to keep my enclosures between 77-80°. if you keep your ambient temperature at the correct spot, not using a UTH will be fine for a few days.

Thank you all so much for your wonderful input! I'm glad I joined this forum, everyone has been fantastic so far, and I appreciate your patience!

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Originally Posted by Kippykins

Thank you all so much for your wonderful input! I'm glad I joined this forum, everyone has been fantastic so far, and I appreciate your patience!

Sent from my SM-N920T using Tapatalk

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Get that UTH on a Jump Start Thermostat or a Dimmer switch from Lowes.. Any way you look at it he needs a Basking spot of 88-91... And the ambient 76-81... Get a Probe thermometer to check surface heat.. Here is a Link to see how you can hook up thermometers and tstats/ uth ect..
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/show...-With-Pictures!