New Ball Python Owner with Questions

I can definitely see why a thermostat and accurate thermometer is important! The thermostat isn't here yet, but we've already got the thermometer in. The current reading is 104 on the hot side, 78 on the cool side and 68% humidity which really had me worried until we checked the surface temp on the hot side and only got 81! Am I right in thinking that we're probably using to much substrate for there to be so much of a temperature difference between the surface reading and the heating film reading? Will reducing the amount from 1 inch to 1/2 be enough to raise the surface temperature? I realize the 68% humidity is a bit high, but just after placing the probe in the warm side, I sprayed down the substrate, so that should settle down some.

Unplug the uth 104 is to hot!!!!!

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The 104 reading was directly on top of the heating film, under an inch of substrate. The surface of the substrate temperature reading is 81.

They can burrow. You wan the 104 temp to be 90.... if they move the substrate 104 will burn them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Unplug that damn thing until its controlled!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Or dont listen and possibly have to spend $$$$ on vet bills instead of proper husbandry supplies...

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http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/08...db33df9d63.jpghttp://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/08...23d31e52bf.jpg look see they move substrate
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/08...a3f8b8bfad.jpg
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My thermostat readings

Ok let's slow down here. Until the thermostat arrives, head to a hardware store and get a lamp dimmer. Dial it down get the temps to appropriate levels. The actual temp of the heat tape is going to need to be more than the temp on top of the substrate, as it has to heat through whatever material you are using for bedding. I've found that setting the heating device to about 94-95 will get the hot spot on top of the bedding to the high 80s/low 90s. This way if the snake does push the bedding aside and are flush to the bottom of the enclosure they won't be burned.

Thanks so much, Josh! The dimmer idea is working great. We set it up last night and after some trial and error (while the snake was outside her tank behind held) found a position on the dimmer that kept the heater temp between 90-94 with a reading on the substrate surface of 86 - 90. The 4° fluctuation seems to be from the dimmer, but is still within the safe zone. On the upside, tracking on the thermostat indicates it should be here on Monday at the latest! So this temporary fix will only be in place for a few days.

Funny enough, a few minutes ago Lucy discovered the wire for the temperature probe and proceeded to root around in her substrate until she uprooted the probe so I'll be spending some time re-positioning that. In the meanwhile, I've been keeping an eye on the temp with an IR temp gun.

Thank you so much for providing a solution, Josh! Any tips on how to get her to leave the temperature probe alone? lol