New owner! Just a few quick questions!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by tttaylorrr

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...430ea3fcc0.jpg
couldn't find PitOnTheProwl's original diagram

---

Man, I like the crayon drawing... It's in his gallery

https://ball-pythons.net/gallery//sh...mageuser=19365https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil.../5/crayola.jpg

I still need to ask.....how is the probe inside the tank held in place? If it's tape get it out. Use a hot glue gun.

Sorry Ill clarify one thing. The probe was no in the substrate at all times, only when i put it in for a few minutes to check the temp. So i am wanting one probe under neath the substrate? on what side?warm or cold? and i understsand the heating pad. im sorry for my ignorance, i feel dumb. just need to figure this out and learn!

Snakes can and will burrow and push down to the warmest part of the hot side in their hot hide. This is why you need to measure and /or monitor heat at the inside bottom of the tank. So if you have a thermometer with a probe to monitor heat, the probe goes under the substrate. You can put it there loose, you can hot glue it down, you can use silicon to keep it in place. the thing you should never do is use any tape to secure it. Tape can and will come loose and you don't want to deal with that on a snake.

Also, you are by no means dumb! You are asking questions and looking up information. That's the smartest thing you can do :D We all started somewhere and none of us were born knowing how to take care of a snake ;)

The best choice you can have in your arsenal for taking temperature is an IR temp gun. Those things you see construction workers use and at auto parts stores to read temps remotely. They work wonders. They are also cheap, I got mine for like $12

On the hot side. You want to know what your temps are at the hottest point, since your snake can burrow down to get to it if they want.

EDIT: seconding the temp gun, I use mine to measure prey temperatures as well before I offer.

We have all been where you are. Not dumb. Keep asking questions.

Sent from my SM-G386T using Tapatalk

I have one last question. Should I be putting the probe for the heating pad like on the glass under the substrate or just buried? My initial test for surface temp was just buried about halfway down, and i read the 92*. But after putting it fully under the substrate against glass, it was upwards of 105-107*! I put the pad on a dimmer for now to be safe until I get responses. Thanks in advance!

There is a diagram above. The thermoSTAT probe for the heat mat goes between the glass and your heat mat. That is outside of the enclosure. See above crayon drawing.

I actually use styrofoam pad so my set up is a little different since my heat pad was already stuck before getting the thermostat. Taylor can you post that drawing too?

final update and questions!

I got a thermometer for over the heating pad, and got a dimmer for it and the heat problem is solved there! I have the entire tank heated up to 78-80 (ranges) for the ambient air temp where the probe is a few inches off of the surface, on a side of the tank, and directly underneatht the light. Hot side surface temps have been about 95 for directly ontop of the pad, and low 90s at the surface of the substrate so problem solved there. Only last thing- i measured the surface temp of the COOL side of the tank, and was measuring out to a lower temp than the actual air temp, around 76 or so. Should the cool side surface temp be warmer? Im surprised the surface temp isnt warmer than the air temp, but thats what my thermometers have been reading. Thanks!