Question About UTH's

I moved all of the coconut husk from the bottom and put my thermo/hydrometer right in the center of it and it only measured 101 after 15 minutes. That is with the two lights on as well so a lot of it is probably from them.

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Originally Posted by missi182

There is a HUGE difference measuring the temperature above the heat pad, and directly on it, where your bp's sensitive belly rests.

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My ball pythons belly is not directly on the pad. There is about an inch to and inch and a half of coconut husk between him and the pad. Not to mention that it is mainly underneath the water dish and just a corner of it is under the hide on the right side of my cage.

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Originally Posted by missi182

I have heard CRAZY explanations from pet store sales people that just want to get you to buy their products.

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The pet store I go to isn't a major corporation. It is a local store that breeds and takes care of it's animals.

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Originally Posted by Cop

I talked to the pet store owner I bought it from and he said it'd only raise the temperature of the tank by maybe 5 degrees. He said I wouldn't need a thermostat because it is a very low wattage heat pad and that it wouldn't burn at all. He has a small one on each of his cage that he kept snakes in so I trust him. Plus it's only 8 watts compared to a 25 watt desert heat pad. It is perfect for keeping the belly warm and mine has always eaten and digested fine.

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Rule number 1!

NEVER LISTEN TO THE GUY AT THE PETSTORE.......ANY OF THEM!!!!!!!!!!!:rofl:

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Originally Posted by the bull

Rule number 1!

NEVER LISTEN TO THE GUY AT THE PETSTORE.......ANY OF THEM!!!!!!!!!!!:rofl:

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Please. I am NOT talking about PetCo or Petsmart. I am talking about a local guy who owns his store and employs only people he knows. Why does everybody assume people are buying their supplies from corporate stores?

That's like saying I shouldn't listen to any of you. I would much rather listen to a friend who owns his own pet store than somebody with 1,000 posts on an internet forum.

My ball pythons belly is not directly on the pad. There is about an inch to and inch and a half of coconut husk between him and the pad. Not to mention that it is mainly underneath the water dish and just a corner of it is under the hide on the right side of my cage.



Why so much substrate?

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Originally Posted by ThyTempest

My ball pythons belly is not directly on the pad. There is about an inch to and inch and a half of coconut husk between him and the pad. Not to mention that it is mainly underneath the water dish and just a corner of it is under the hide on the right side of my cage.



Why so much substrate?

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I buy the coconut husk in a two pack and use all of it each time so why change? He is healthy and clean so there is no problem with it.

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Originally Posted by Cop

Please. I am NOT talking about PetCo or Petsmart. I am talking about a local guy who owns his store and employs only people he knows. Why does everybody assume people are buying their supplies from corporate stores?

That's like saying I shouldn't listen to any of you. I would much rather listen to a friend who owns his own pet store than somebody with 1,000 posts on an internet forum.

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Hey that's cool! I know better than to argue with a COP...They know EVERYTHING......:salute:

Just so you know though...101˚ is too hot and the worst thing that could happen if you did have a t-stat is that it would just apply power all the time if it never got hot enough.

Oh yeah! Pythons don't need lights they are nocturnal.

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Originally Posted by the bull

Oh yeah! Pythons don't need lights they are nocturnal.

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But they need a day and night cycle. I only have the daylight bulb on during the day, when he sleeps, and turn it off at night.

In no way is it just Corporate pet stores that do this. I have a decent, non-corporate reptile store near my home town called Anamalia, and I consider them to have great products, and in general, informed sales-people, but even they do not carry thermostats and say that a UTH is fine uncontrolled. They also recommend a lot of products you don't need when someone buys a new reptile.

Anyway, I'm not trying to tell you not to trust any pet stores, thats not as important as being sure your snake is safe. It is good to hear that your UTH is not closer to 110 degrees, but a thick layer of substrate in no way will stop your bp from burrowing under it. And if you have never seen your bp burrow beneath it, well O.K but it can happen, so why risk it? As mentioned, if you can afford a thermostat, it is the sensible thing to use Do you honestly think your UTH will never go higher than 101? It can and likely will.

Were just trying to help, not bash your set-up I promise.

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Originally Posted by Cop

But they need a day and night cycle. I only have the daylight bulb on during the day, when he sleeps, and turn it off at night.

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Technically they don't. In nature, bp's spend their time in dark termite mounds, and are active at night. No - little light. UV is not needed, but a little daylight in the room is more than enough to let your bp know its sleepy time.

But if the lamp is helping with your ambient temps, then it is important. If not, then you don't actually need it. There are thousands of happy, healthy snakes that live in tubs with very little light. (BHB is a great example)

I have a cover over my window because it faces the west and I don't want it shining in my room when I am trying to go to sleep. I lay down to bed at 8:00 and the sun is still up then. When it is daytime outside there is hardly any light coming in my window. Right now the most light being ommitted if from the computer monitor and the clock. I like a lot of darkness, but like light now and then, too.

Just like ball pythons :)