Paper towels and hot spot temps...

When using paper towels as substrate in a tub, do i set the thermostat to heat the top of the paper towel to 90 degrees? Or do i set it so that just under the paper towel is at 90? To get the top of my paper towel to 90, i have to set the thermostat to 99, with underneath it measuring at at around 97-98. Worried about her moving the paper towel and being on that. Thanks for any help

Should be measuring under the paper towel.

But when I had that issue, I just set it to somewhere in between but still safe, like 93~94.

So its still an alright temp for the hot spot, even though its reading 85 on my IR thermometer on top the paper towel?

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Originally Posted by Cuddlez

So its still an alright temp for the hot spot, even though its reading 85 on my IR thermometer on top the paper towel?

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Yeah, it's the safest way, since they often eventually get under the paper towel too. Also, if you have a hide over the hot spot, the heat builds up in there too when you aren't checking on it, so it's not bad.

Not to be a pest. But you said "when i had this issue". What did you do to solve it? Different substrate?

You always measure the temperature of the hottest surface your animal can touch.
With belly heat this would be under the substrate, any substrate.

Always measure surface temps. Your surface temp will be the highest temp in the enclosure, and your snake will most definitely find it eventually. So you want to avoid that spot getting too hot and risking burns to your animal. So, always measure under the substrate regardless of what substrate you use. Think of it this way: If I use coco husk 3 inches deep and my snake burrows, it touches the glass. So wouldn't I want to know that temp? The same applies to a 1/8 inch layer of paper towel.