Substrate Depth & Heat

There has been a lot of discussion about the use of UTHs with various substrates. Our snake came to us in a tank with about an inch of ReptiBark. The temperature on top of the bark fluctuated SO MUCH, driving us nuts those first couple of weeks.

Then I read through threads here about different substrates and heat temps. Removed almost all the bark, leaving just enough to cover the newspaper, which nicely stabilized the temps.

Last night I went even further, removing all the bark and placing only one layer of paper towel on top of the newspaper. What a dramatic difference!

With the AcuRite probe between the newspaper and paper towels, the temp immediately shot up to high 90s (snakey was not in the tank at the time). For the first time, the ReptiTemp is dialed down to only about that halfway mark, instead of being toward the end (higher heat). Last week it was at close to full heat output, yet the temp read only high 80s.

Since we subscribe to the local paper and buy our paper towels at Costco, it looks like we'll be saving $$$ on pet store snake bedding. :)

I do have a question: The hide is over the AcuRite probe. (The probe itself is always covered, by bark before and now by the paper towel, so snakey can't mess with it.) I've noticed that the temp reading is warmer when snakey is directly on top of it. When not on top of it, the temp reading drops by several degrees. Should I always keep the temp at 92-94 degrees whether or not it's covered by the snake? Or allow it to go higher when covered because part of that heat is from the snake itself? (I hope that made sense.)

Yeah, paper towels/newspaper are the way to go. You'll love how easy it is.

What I do is dial in the tstat to 92-94. If the snake goes into the hide and changes the temp, I leave it alone. Eventually the temp returns to normal once she heats up (I get the opposite effect: she lowers the temp when in the hide since she's always coming from the cool side hide).

I think if you have to change the temp constantly, you are gonna drive your self nuts lol. Imagine when you get another snake. :P

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Originally Posted by mrshawt

Yeah, paper towels/newspaper are the way to go. You'll love how easy it is.

What I do is dial in the tstat to 92-94. If the snake goes into the hide and changes the temp, I leave it alone. Eventually the temp returns to normal once she heats up (I get the opposite effect: she lowers the temp when in the hide since she's always coming from the cool side hide).

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The same goes for my snakes. The temps go back to normal after a while. My Tstat is at 97 which comes to 91-94 inside the hide, in 28qt tubs with double newsprint layer.

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Originally Posted by Danounet

I think if you have to change the temp constantly, you are gonna drive your self nuts lol. Imagine when you get another snake.

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Another snake??? :P

I adjust the ReptiTemp a couple of times a day as just having the window open overnight has an effect on temps (and this is the peak of summer!). The adjustments are minuscule, though, and I don't mind at all. Wanna hear what I mean about the first couple of weeks driving us nuts?

While waiting for the ReptiTemp to arrive (couldn't find it in local stores and so ordered it online), the only way we had to prevent it from getting too hot was to add more bark. We literally raised Patriot away from the heat! When the AcuRite showed the top of the substrate being too cool, we'd remove some of the bark. Even after the ReptiTemp arrived and we'd have those temp fluctuations already mentioned, we'd play that maddening game of adjusting the depth of the bark.

It was only after I did a search on threads about the level of substrate affecting the heat reaching the snake did I find that newspaper and/or paper towels was the most highly recommended. The less substrate used, the less fluctuations in heat.

4 weeks. It's taken me 4 weeks to reach this point. Patriot must be a very patient snake, bless her little heart!

Lol. Well before I found this forum I probably was cooking my first BP (my normal) to death. I had a Lamp and a UTH uncontrolled with Sand. Good thing I bought a huge water dish too, She would swim in it alot. Im glad she survived! :D

She still the queen!

You want it to be 92-94 on the floor of the enclosure under the substrate. The snake will move the substrate around if it needs more heat. You don't ever want to set your temps on top of the substrate because then the bottom of the tub will be way too hot.

Hope this helps..

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Originally Posted by Danounet

Lol. Well before I found this forum I probably was cooking my first BP (my normal) to death. I had a Lamp and a UTH uncontrolled with Sand.

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Sand too? Doesn't that get into the scales? Oh boy, I'm so glad our snakeys survived our first days/weeks of hellacious husbandry, LOL!

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You want it to be 92-94 on the floor of the enclosure under the substrate. The snake will move the substrate around if it needs more heat. You don't ever want to set your temps on top of the substrate because then the bottom of the tub will be way too hot.

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Thank you! That was another thing I struggled with during those first couple of weeks.