Heat Pad

I got a BP a weeks and a half ago, she is a hatchling in a 10 gal tank w/2 hides water bowl and some other little things. The first heat pad I had lost it’s stick due to the first thermostat I had, had a huge wire which the probe was attached too. So the heat pad wouldn’t stick all the way so I had to turn the heat pad up to about 115 to get the substrate temp to even get close to 91 degrees. Also, one part would be 86 degrees and an inch over would be in the high 70s. So I went and got another heat pad and ordered a different thermostat and set it up. I set the thermostat to 104 and kept checking the temp over where she’d be for about an hour and it still barely got to the high 80s. It’s was getting late so I decided to put her back in her enclosure thinking that it wasn’t going to get much hotter if it the substrate only got to 86 degrees after an hour of it only having to go through glass and barely an inch(if that) of cypress mulch. I was laying in bed and I started getting afraid that should would get to the glass and burn herself because the glass was still getting about 95 degrees. So I got up and turned the thermostat down to 93 degrees so if she does get to the glass it won’t burn her until I check the temp tomorrow evening and then turn in up accordingly to try and get it right. I just don’t want to keep taking her in and out of her enclosure to check the temp ever hour because I don’t want to stress her out too much. Also, it’s 12am and I have to work at 6�� I just don’t know why the temp of the substrate isn’t getting hot enough when I’m doing everything right. And I don’t know what to do. I’m so sorry to make you read all this. ��

The temperature of the substrate doesn't matter. You want to get the temperature of the bottom of the tank (the glass) to 91ish degrees. Bps naturally burrow so if she wants to get warmer she'll go down to the glass. If you get the substrate to 91 then the glass could be 98 and she won't know it's that hot till it's too late.

So if the glass is 91 degrees and the substrate is 76 degrees than that is okay?

76 is a little chilly if that's what your ambient temp is but yes 91 on the glass is what you want

Well, the ambient temp is 82 degrees on the hot side and 77 on the cool side. But the cypress mulch isn’t at the temp of the air.

That should be fine. As long as the glass at the bottom of the tank isn't above 92 you're golden

Awesome!

I agree completely with what Toad37 said. You want the heat correct at the bottom of the tank. If the discrepancy is dramatic, as in your case, you might have too much substrate and can fix that by removing a little.

In general, if the substrate is too thick it can lead to bacteria buildup and mold, etc. if the tank is humid.

I am not a substrate expert but you only need a thin layer of most substrates.

Just a thought.