how hot do i set me thermostat for ball pythons?

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Originally Posted by Skilla6000

13.5 Qt bins, and they're just stacking bins, as it says on the front of the bin, its for juiv balls.

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should I take the probs off the heat tape and put it in the bin, wait for the heat it reads, then set it to the right temp? ill be sure to buy a temp gun asap.

Basically you are going to have to slowly increase the daytime temperature on the herpstat until the tub is the right temperature. Without a thermometer that will be hard to get exactly right. Increase the temperature 2-3 degrees at a time then wait at least 20-30 minute before checking again and adjusting. It takes time for the heat to penetrate the tub.

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Originally Posted by The Serpent Merchant

Basically you are going to have to slowly increase the daytime temperature on the herpstat until the tub is the right temperature. Without a thermometer that will be hard to get exactly right. Increase the temperature 2-3 degrees at a time then wait at least 20-30 minute before checking again and adjusting. It takes time for the heat to penetrate the tub.

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I've put it right on the tub its self, the herpstat is set at 95 and the tub is reading 85.7, i'll let it sit for a bit. and for some reason the energy thing on the side is being used 100% on a 8 bin rack.

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Originally Posted by Skilla6000

I've put it right on the tub its self, the herpstat is set at 95 and the tub is reading 85.7, i'll let it sit for a bit. and for some reason the energy thing on the side is being used 100% on a 8 bin rack.

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sorry for being so annoying : / we removed the probe off the heat tape its self, now the heat tape is getting hotter almost instantly is the electrical tape cutting it off or something? I don't know what to do.

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Originally Posted by Skilla6000

sorry for being so annoying : / we removed the probe off the heat tape its self, now the heat tape is getting hotter almost instantly is the electrical tape cutting it off or something? I don't know what to do.

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is it suppose to be using 100% or what ever it is right beside the temp displayed on the herpstat? I removed the electrical tape from the heat tape and its working perfectly fine now... and ofcourse, I was un prepared and have a few snakes in the rack...

Here is what you need to do.

The herpstat will run the heat source at 100% power until the set temperature is achieved. This is normal behavior.

Stop moving the probe, and let the rack heat up. This takes time.

1. Attach the herpstat's probe (using hot glue/electrical tape/etc. Just don't use aluminum foil tape.) to the heat tape on the middle level of the rack

2. Get some sort of thermometer and stick it directly over the heat tape inside the tub on the middle level.

3. Adjust the daytime temperature on the herpstat until your thermometer reads somewhere between 88-92

You CANNOT have snakes in this rack right now.

If you don't have a thermometer go to walmart and pick this up for $12

http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/...3.jpg~original

Quote:

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Originally Posted by The Serpent Merchant

Here is what you need to do.

The herpstat will run the heat source at 100% power until the set temperature is achieved. This is normal behavior.

Stop moving the probe, and let the rack heat up. This takes time.

1. Attach the herpstat's probe (using hot glue/electrical tape/etc. Just don't use aluminum foil tape.) to the heat tape on the middle level of the rack

2. Get some sort of thermometer and stick it directly over the heat tape inside the tub on the middle level.

3. Adjust the daytime temperature on the herpstat until your thermometer reads somewhere between 88-92

You CANNOT have snakes in this rack right now.

If you don't have a thermometer go to walmart and pick this up for $12

http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/...3.jpg~original

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so it's normal for the herpstat to be jumping from 0% to 100% and different &% in the middle of those to? I just don't get it, we are placing electrical tape on it and its like the heat tape is getting cut off, and as for the snakes I don't have a place for them just this rack.

Here is what's happening.

The herpstat applies full power until the set temperature has been reached. At this point the power level is reduced to maintain the set temperature. If the thermostat sees that the probe is reading or about to read a temperature over the set temperature it will reduce the power to 0% to try to prevent the heat tape from getting hotter than the set temperature.

You are going to have to keep a very close eye on them until you get this set up properly.

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Originally Posted by Skilla6000

so it's normal for the herpstat to be jumping from 0% to 100% and different &% in the middle of those to? I just don't get it, we are placing electrical tape on it and its like the heat tape is getting cut off, and as for the snakes I don't have a place for them just this rack.

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it's working, but when we put the tape on it cuts the heat right down to very low temps, but still displays 95 degrees, on the probe those little holes, do they have to be uncovered or can tape be over them? I think that's are problem.

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Originally Posted by Skilla6000

it's working, but when we put the tape on it cuts the heat right down to very low temps, but still displays 95 degrees, on the probe those little holes, do they have to be uncovered or can tape be over them? I think that's are problem.

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The holes on the probe don't matter at all, they are just part of the rubber. They can be covered no problem.

I think I know what's going on now:

When you actually tape the probe to the heat tape it is holding the probe closer to the heat tape. This increases contact is giving the herpstat a better reading of the heat tapes actual temperature. Because the heat tape is hotter than the thermostat thought it was it is cutting power to lower the heat tapes temperature.

What is the herpstat's probe actually reading?