Heating woes

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Originally Posted by dr del

Hi,



While this is indeed the correct advice for the thermostat probe you do not need to use tape to hold things down inside the tank ( the thermometer probe for example ).

For the reasons you mention tape is an all round bad idea - but you can use silicon (but you need to let it cure for 24 - 48 hours before putting the animal in ) or, my personal fave, a couple of dabs of glue from a hot glue gun.

It sets in a few minutes tops and is easily removed if needed while keeping the probe in place under most normal conditions.


dr del

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I don't understand the reasoning behind going through all the trouble just so it can be in the cage lol. And I know I wouldn't want to sit on a glob of glue jk I know they probably have no idea ;)

But, being that the probe from the thermostat is on the heat source directly what is the benefit of having the thermometer probe in the tub? You should be testing the enclosure out before letting the animal live in it anyway so your pet is not the guinea pig? So why wouldn't you leave the thermometer in there while testing it to make sure temps are not getting out of hand, and once everything is tip top place along side the tstat probe and monitor it that way? The heat source itself is going to just be a few degrees hotter then surface itself so as long as you monitor both for a reference point it works fine. And being that you tested prior to the animal being in there you KNOW that the temp is not rising above the selected one. For example: Thermometer probe reads 91.2 at its hottest point when in the enclosure, but on the heat source reads 94.3. As long as you know the range you know the temp.

Hi,

You've never had anything electronic or electrical fail on you?

You keep monitoring the temp to check for hot spots developing, heat mats failing, thermostat probes failing and a myriad of other problems.

It's one thing to say that since it worked yesterday it will be working today but I'd rather be able to look at an independant monitor or use a temp gun and know it is still working ok.

Using a digital thermostat with a readout gives you one reading but a rheostat or analogue thermostat gives none. And if the digital thermostat has failed then you cannot trust its reading in the first place.

I do take your point about placing the thermometer probe next to the thermostat probe - but that ignores an changes that happen inside.

If your tub has a thin bottom and bends under the weight of the snake for example the inside temp is now more than you thought it was - and yes, I have had that happen in the past. That also doesn't tell you the humidity unless you have the base unit of an acurite inside then feed the probe wire outside.

Belt and braces protection isn't only a stylish fashion choice but (at $12 an acurite ) it just plain makes financial and emotional sense from an animal welfare standpoint.

And the min/max history can also prove enlightening from my experience.


dr del

Thanks everyone for the info! I have ordered the digital thermostat from Amazon that has been reviewed in another thread and am holding ok in the meantime with heat lighting. It will be in on Wednesday.

Tiberious (the new BP) is acclimating right now anyway and only ventures out from his hide in the late pm when everyone is asleep. The thermostat has an emergency 108 degree shut off and I will set it to 93-95 or 95-98 depending on where I put the probe (outside the cage between the mat and the glass or in the cage between the repticarpet and the substrate) it will most likely ever be on for 15 minutes at a time. I am using both repticarpet and substrate to reduce burning danger, but with the thermostat, I may just remove the carpet. I will also have to wait and see if Tiberious is a burrower... I will eventually probably go to cypress substrate (looks like I may need the higher humidity anyway), but as I bought a seemingly ton of aspen at Repticon, I have a little while to go!

Again, thanks!

Laurel

Dbl check your temps with a temp gun. They're priceless when it comes to monitoring your temps.

Realize that substrate acts as insulation and holds heat. The more you have, the hotter it will be underneath it, so you can't depend on it's depth to protect them when it may actually make it more dangerous for them. And whether they purposely burrow or not, they will move the substrate around (when say, making a coil in their hide) and get down a little deeper.

I have 1 infrared gun, 1 digital thermometer with probe, 1 dial thermometer, soon to be 1 more probe w/thermostat, and perhaps too much insulation...I am about 93 top and bottom of warm side, 83 ambient temp, and 80.5 substrate on cool side.

I am on day 1.5 with Tiberious who seems to be avoiding the heated side all together for the moment ;-P

Thanks again!

BPQ