Racks and Thermometers

I'm planning on purchasing a rack that houses four snakes this Spring. I will also be purchasing a Helix DBS1000 Proportional Thermostat. The rack will be heated with belly heat (Flexwatt). I was wondering if it is a good idea to use a thermometer to measure the hot side temp (side with Flexwatt) as well as a thermometer to measure the ambient side. I was thinking of using these..

http://www.petsmart.com/product/inde...earch&keepsr=1

I currently use them on the ball python tanks to measure ambient temp and on my gecko tank. I use Flukers Temperature and Humidity thermometers for the warm side of each tank. Those smaller thermometers cost less than $10 so they wouldn't be very expensive. And what about setting up hydrometers?

The ones I use are great I bought one at Walmart that reads out side and inside temps for 8 dollors and I put the sensor on the heating side and the unit on the cool side so I can see both temps with one unithe and it also reads humidity very well you can't go wrong with it.

That works, but I use what jbwanted uses; some cheap ones from Wal-Mart. They have one that measures inside (use this to measure ambient), outside (use the probe for the flexwatt side), min/max, and humidity for ~$10. Can't go wrong with that.

Hmm, I'll go to walmart on Saturday and try and find these. Accurite thermometers right? If I use that, I'll only have to get 4. Are seperate humidity sensors needed?

nope, they include the humidity sensor with the "indoor" temp sensor. I can get you some detailed pics of how mine are set up in my rack if you want...

Sure! We will only be using two of the four tubs when we get the rack, but in a few months time those spare tubs will likely hold an occupant. ;)

If you use the accurite inside the viv itself for cool side measuring, just make sure it doesn't get wet. I've lost a couple when they got wet, the lcd display sections die out.

My setup was sort of accidental, but I like it...

I already had a Fluker's thermometer/hygrometer that I had mounted in the middle of the enclosure (I use a 20L glass setup), then I read on here that you should get the kind with probes... I was going to get the Acurite combo, but the Wal-Mart here was out of them. Since I already had a humidity measurement, I got two Acurite regular theremometers (that don't have the hygrometer built in). They were $7 each, and each has its own probe so I don't have to put the unit inside the enclosure. I left the Fluker's in there, but put it more at ground level.

So for $2 more (assuming you already have the Fluker's, that is) you can get separate probes and not have to put your thermometer in harm's (or poo's) way. :)

There may be some benefit to having a humidity measure inside the hides, but I haven't heard anyone say so, and his last shed was in one piece using the Fluker's as a reference to keep it above 70%.