Heat Mat + Thermostat Set Up Not Working?

I have seen some good and not so smart advise given here, maybe its just because its early for me.

Lets start from the .................. start.

You need to be worried first about the SURFACE temperatures............This is what your snake can touch.
I don't care how much substrate you can put in the tank, your snake will burrow and then can get burned if your pad is too hot.
Your thermostat probe should be between the tank and the heat mat, you adjust your stat till the temps are between 88-95. Do not go by the numbers on your thermostat because I have seen a huge variance and if the sticker was not put on correct it wont matter anyway. This is where a no-contact thermometer can come in handy.
Your heat mat is there to create a hot spot NOT heat the ambient temps.
Now you start playing with the overhead heating to heat the ambient temps, if you can get the cooler side to 77-80ish then you should be good.
The problem with overhead heating is you will kill your humidity.
Cover the top like you have done and another trick is to place your water bowl either partially on the heat mat or under the overhead heat source.

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Originally Posted by PitOnTheProwl

I have seen some good and not so smart advise given here, maybe its just because its early for me.

Lets start from the .................. start.

You need to be worried first about the SURFACE temperatures............This is what your snake can touch.
I don't care how much substrate you can put in the tank, your snake will burrow and then can get burned if your pad is too hot.
Your thermostat probe should be between the tank and the heat mat, you adjust your stat till the temps are between 88-95. Do not go by the numbers on your thermostat because I have seen a huge variance and if the sticker was not put on correct it wont matter anyway. This is where a no-contact thermometer can come in handy.
Your heat mat is there to create a hot spot NOT heat the ambient temps.
Now you start playing with the overhead heating to heat the ambient temps, if you can get the cooler side to 77-80ish then you should be good.
The problem with overhead heating is you will kill your humidity.
Cover the top like you have done and another trick is to place your water bowl either partially on the heat mat or under the overhead heat source.

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Not that I'm in this spot but... for others... he already has the the pad on the tank... how would you remedy that with the stat probe?

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Originally Posted by Crazymonkee

Not that I'm in this spot but... for others... he already has the the pad on the tank... how would you remedy that with the stat probe?

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Foil tape to the bottom of the mat.

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Originally Posted by PitOnTheProwl

Foil tape to the bottom of the mat.

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Ok I wanted to make sure I was correct.
Didn't wanna give out the wrong info, but it made sense to me to do it that way
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Originally Posted by PitOnTheProwl

I hope you mean thermometer and you really don't want tape in the enclosure. Hot glue it down but the better thing is putting BOTH probes between the glass and mat.

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I'm talking about the part that reads,the probe/ thermometer etc... As for the probe spots,I really don't think it matters,as long as ur temps are right.

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Originally Posted by Crazymonkee

But you have the heat lamp on... that is what is heating your air temp, as I mentioned to you before. You are wasting electricity running your pad because it's not really doing anything being that you're light is what is heating your hotspot

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No, my lamp is not heating the spot...NO no no .it's a 29 gallon high and I have some thick bulky resin type hide and it's quiet big. Being the winter is coming I'm using it to make sure he has constant heat under his hide as well..In case of those days it's cold and my heat doesn't kick on,I know he will comfortable. come summer,during the day while I'm at work,I won't use the UTH,my apt will be like 80-85 on avg, but when I get home and the AC goes on,the UTH will be going on as well. I have friends with tanks who have UTHs and lamps and there snakes are doing fantastic..as long as your snake isn't burning and has a cool side to go to he is fine. My guy eats like a slob,is always hiding and is growing and is going into shed again,so I'm having no issues with him( knock on wood).. I. So have a temp infra red gun and been checking air and sutra exempts,everything is fine. My 20 gallon I have no UTH. I have a heat lamp right above his hide and have them black plastic hides that contract heat very easily...

Sweet, got about 90% of that all set. Going to tape the stat probe to the bottom of the heat mat today and change his daylight bulb to an infrared that can run constantly. The water dish is right next to where the heat mat ends so the mat doesn't do much, especially since the dish is a pretty heavy piece of stone. However, the light source is pretty much right above the water dish. After sleeping and waking up I noticed the red light on the thermostat still hasn't shut off. Hopefully moving the probe will alleviate this issue. Since adding the foil humidity has been at a steady 50-60%. Sweet deal :)

Do you think a 50W Infrared will be enough? I grabbed a 100W but got home and saw that my lamp can only handle up to 65, so I'm gonna head back to the store and switch em

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Originally Posted by PitOnTheProwl

I hope you mean thermometer and you really don't want tape in the enclosure. Hot glue it down but the better thing is putting BOTH probes between the glass and mat.

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Also it makes no sense putting both probes between the mat.. For one depending on probe size it won't be keeping the hot spot of the mat where u are placing your probe flat to the glass of the tank..second of all I don't wanna know what the temp on the bottom of the glass that's pointless,100% pointless,that's not my concern,my concern is the inside of the tank on top the glass where my snake will be laying...I am new to snakes and health issues and things like that. but setting a tank and getting temps is all common sense bro! it's not really a complicated thing man.i know people that have no thermostats set and have mats and lights and there snakes are doing great....goal is simple keep tank warm and humid,that's all man,it's not rocket science :confusd:

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Originally Posted by Dev_DeCoste

Sweet, got about 90% of that all set. Going to tape the stat probe to the bottom of the heat mat today and change his daylight bulb to an infrared that can run constantly. The water dish is right next to where the heat mat ends so the mat doesn't do much, especially since the dish is a pretty heavy piece of stone. However, the light source is pretty much right above the water dish. After sleeping and waking up I noticed the red light on the thermostat still hasn't shut off. Hopefully moving the probe will alleviate this issue. Since adding the foil humidity has been at a steady 50-60%. Sweet deal :)

Do you think a 50W Infrared will be enough? I grabbed a 100W but got home and saw that my lamp can only handle up to 65, so I'm gonna head back to the store and switch em

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I'm using a75 watt heat bulb,not basking light but a heat bulb for heat.. I use a reg one during the day and a red at night,both 75 watts. I have a 20 gallon and my temps are all on the money as well as humidity.

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Originally Posted by NYHC4LIFE8899

I'm talking about the part that reads,the probe/ thermometer etc... As for the probe spots,I really don't think it matters,as long as ur temps are right.

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The tape sure matters ;)
How bout you use the little search box in the top right and find all the posts "how do I get my snake unstuck"