Dimmer question-placement of thermometer probe

I use a zoo med uth (10-20g size) on a 10g tank, and i had unwittingly not using a thermostat or dimmer of any kind, i would jut use 2 layers of paper towels and aspen shaving, and it never felt too hot. I had been reading and realized i HAD to have at least a dimmer. Before, my ball would just use the cool side hide, and I had a lamp during the day for temps as reccomended by petland:colbert: so my temps were always withn the correct range, but inconsistent. I dont use the basking lamp anymore, and i got a lutron dimmer from lowes because Im an underfunded college student and cant spend any more money on the bp or a t-stat at the moment. My temps have been a little on the cool side since i dont use the lamp now. My thermometer probe is placed on the back wall of the terrarium about 1 inch off the bottom of the tank, near the warm side hide. should i reattach the probe at a different spot on the bottom of the tank? if so, where? also, i still have the clamp lamp to use, is there any bulb that would help heat the tank and not dissrupt a day/night cycle (besides a che)?

You can always try placing it on the floor of the tank, under the substrate, just have to make sure to hide the wire. Some people go with the flexwatt tape because they can put it around the sides and when you stick the probe on the side, it's fine.

so the probe should go directly on the glass on the bottomom of the enclosure?

so what would be the best place to put the probe? My Ball is starting his first shed since i have owned him! Im excited to see how it goes!

I use aspen bedding and put the probe on the hot side, secured above a thin layer of aspen. Hope this helps.

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Originally Posted by Oroborous

I use aspen bedding and put the probe on the hot side, secured above a thin layer of aspen. Hope this helps.

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I disagree with this. You want to be measuring the highest temp the snake can reach. Bp's are notorious for burrowing down to the glass in a tank. So, if your probe is measuring 94 at the top of the substrate, it will be hotter on the glass and could burn your snake.

Instead, I put my probe against the bottom of the enclosure. To prevent it from being pushed around, secure it with a tiny drop of hot glue - don't worry, it will pop right off with little effort for cleaning.

You could also attach the probe between the UTH and the bottom of the tank.

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Originally Posted by branson

You could also attach the probe between the UTH and the bottom of the tank.

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But then you're still not getting the most accurate reading as to what temp the snake is exposed to. Normally, the tstat probe goes in that position, and you'll notice you'll have to dial the tstat higher than 94 to reach a temp of 92-94 within the enclosure.

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Originally Posted by mrshawt

But then you're still not getting the most accurate reading as to what temp the snake is exposed to. Normally, the tstat probe goes in that position, and you'll notice you'll have to dial the tstat higher than 94 to reach a temp of 92-94 within the enclosure.

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This is very true. My 95 degree F reading on the thermometer (from the UTH) corresponds with 92 degrees F on the paper towels in the tank. That's close enough. Should she ever get below the paper towels, she's only as hot as 95 degrees.

you should always place the probe on the actual heating element, the UTH in this case, so you can accurately control the amount of heat the animal with come in contact with.