Temperature and humidity problem.

http://i40.tinypic.com/mcsw1k.jpg


Im WAY off and cannot get these numbers to go up any higher.
Could it be the thermometers? My BP had a perfect shed, and i havent done anything different 1 week ago, from now..

Oh, forgot to mention..

left = cold side
right = hot side

what is the enclosure? im guessing its a big glass aquarium. i used one of those and i duct taped aluminum foil on the inside and cuz a hole in the middle where i put a red light for ambient temp. worked pretty good

by the pic it looks like u have ur accurite outside the enclosure. the hygrometer is inside of the actual accurite so the whole unit has to be inside

Where are you putting the probe? It looks like you have a lot of substrate in there, which will bring your temps down a lot.

Also, the unit measures humidity, so the reading you are getting for humidity is just the humidity of the air in the room, not in the tub.

Sorry for the long reply time. Yeah there is a good bit of substrate in there. Should I take out a lot of it? And my temperature probes are..

Left temp probe = attached to the side of the tub about an inch off the substrate, behind the water bowl. So.. I was hoping that would show an increase in humidity but it's not I guess.

Right temp probe = inside the actual hot hide.. on the side of the wall.

Any suggestions will probably be put into immediate action.

how much substrate should I have?
I bought a UTH but it was no warmer than my hand so i threw it out and bought a heating pad for people, and it cranks out some good heat but like I said, I found he was just staying on the cold side all the time. Give me a second and I'll put up some fresh results. I just got the thermometers today, which I know is irresponsible as an owner.. but hey everyone falls on hard times sometimes I guess.


Edit: Here's the new temperatures a couple hours later.

http://i39.tinypic.com/2n0vh4o.jpg

Stick your probes right onto the plastic where the UTH is (inside the tub).

The probes DO NOT measure humidity, the actual unit does.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Kaorte

Also, the unit measures humidity, so the reading you are getting for humidity is just the humidity of the air in the room, not in the tub.

---

So then I need to have one of the actual units inside of the tub for an accurate reading?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Twist

So then I need to have one of the actual units inside of the tub for an accurate reading?

---

Yes, and you need to move your probes to where the heat mat is.

I would also remove some substrate. It should really only be 1/4-1/2 inch thick

Really that little? I've probably got almost 3" easy.. haha might explain something.
yeah let me do this real quick.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Twist

Really that little? I've probably got almost 3" easy.. haha might explain something.
yeah let me do this real quick.

---

Yeah, they don't really burrow so you don't need that much substrate.

Since the uth is actually inside the enclosure, but under substrate will this matter? Right now my therm is reading 110 degrees, but its on medium, so down to low it goes. Im not trying to cook him. hahaha.

I took out a lot of the substrate. it's down to about an inch.


I'd really like to get this set up right.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Twist

Since the uth is actually inside the enclosure, but under substrate will this matter? Right now my therm is reading 110 degrees, but its on medium, so down to low it goes. Im not trying to cook him. hahaha.

I took out a lot of the substrate. it's down to about an inch.


I'd really like to get this set up right.

---

Take the UTH out of the enclosure, now.

they are NOT meant to be placed inside the enclosure.

Also, 110 is way to warm. Have you thought about purchasing a reptile thermostat to keep it from over heating?

I just spent close to 400.00 getting my car past inspection, and i've been in a dry spell till next sunday, so something like that will have to wait more than likely. He seems to be doing fine though. he's eating properly, hasnt been the slightest aggressive to me and when i take him out at nights since thats when im usually home hes always cruising around on me or my bed. Im just having a bit of trouble getting all the technicals down pat so he's housed properly.

I've got the uth out and under the actual tub, with the probe on the inside under the substrate.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Twist

I just spent close to 400.00 getting my car past inspection, and i've been in a dry spell till next sunday, so something like that will have to wait more than likely. He seems to be doing fine though. he's eating properly, hasnt been the slightest aggressive to me and when i take him out at nights since thats when im usually home hes always cruising around on me or my bed. Im just having a bit of trouble getting all the technicals down pat so he's housed properly.

I've got the uth out and under the actual tub, with the probe on the inside under the substrate.

---

Do you have a dimmer built into the heating pad? Is there just one?

You could, as a temporary solution, go to the home depot or lowes and pick up a $10 light dimmer. It will help keep the temps a bit lower and give you more control then low medium and high.

This is bad. Before he was just happy, but now im the one who's unhappy. With the original UTH, Four Paws Natures Heat item # 7000, actually under the glass table his tub is on, with the probe inside the tank which is ON the table the thermometer reads 108f. But the actual substrate feels to be about 80, if that.

Im so lost right now. haha..

I personnally would measure the subtrate surface temps and get them to 90 on the warm spot.

Remember it will take a while for the substrate to heat through properly once its been disturbed.

Give it an hour and check the temps again on the surface with the cool end probe.

Jim

As a newbie just learning myself the biggest thing I can suggest is get a thermostat! You said your low on funds at the moment. but as soon as you have the money invest in on. It makes it so much easier to keep the basking temp and the cool side under control.... If I could just keep the ambient temp up at night i'd be perfect. :(

GL to you,

You could always add and compact the subtrate to reduce temps a bit if its too hot in there if you cant adjust it with a stat.

May help until you can get one.

Let us know what the humidity is once you have put the gauges in the tank and you have let the tank stand for an hour or so at least

Jim

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Twist

This is bad. Before he was just happy, but now im the one who's unhappy. With the original UTH, Four Paws Natures Heat item # 7000, actually under the glass table his tub is on, with the probe inside the tank which is ON the table the thermometer reads 108f. But the actual substrate feels to be about 80, if that.

Im so lost right now. haha..

---

You cannot tell temperature with you hand. It is just impossible since our extremities vary so greatly in temperature.

Use the readings the thermometer tells you. They are more correct then your hand.

If you move the probe to the top of the substrate, you won't be getting the highest temp your snake can touch. The snake is more then capable of moving the substrate (it can and it will) to get closer to the heat source.


Keep in mind a reptile thermostat for your purposes doesn't have to be expensive. The reptitemp 500r is about $25 and is widely available online.

As of right now, my humidity is reading 40% (The unit is on the cool side)
The temperature on the cool side is 76.8

On the hotside the temp is 127.6, but thats right ontop of the UTH which is under the tub. The probe is in the tub. I dont think it's too hot for him because he's chilling in his hot hide which makes me think he's not overheating.

I'll check the actual surface temp. when my mom is off her rampage about everyone sleeping all day. haha

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Twist

As of right now, my humidity is reading 40% (The unit is on the cool side)
The temperature on the cool side is 76.8

On the hotside the temp is 127.6, but thats right ontop of the UTH which is under the tub. The probe is in the tub. I dont think it's too hot for him because he's chilling in his hot hide which makes me think he's not overheating.

I'll check the actual surface temp. when my mom is off her rampage about everyone sleeping all day. haha

---

127* is too hot and will cause burns if he sits on it long enough. Ball pythons can't always tell when it is too hot, that is why they get burned so easily. They don't have the same kind of heat receptors that we do.

what about increasing airflow under the tub?

Here's a great solution:

Unplug the UTH.
Buy one of these http://www.reptilesupply.com/product.php?products_id=75
Plug the UTH into the thermostat
Get your temps right

Then we're all happy.

Yeah sure, but it's going to have to wait till next saturday when I get paid again. Driving a souped up car hard before you get a snake, and then the inspection date comes and you have like 400.00 in repairs for expensive parts sucks so bad. haha

After placing the coldside probe on the surface of the bedding, I've came up with a temp of 92.5, This is on top of the substrate inside of his hide. Im assuming this is to much?

That's perfect,

But the snake can still move around the substrate to get right down on top of the UTH. My Ball pythons even move substrate around to get to the bottom. Find some other way to heat up the snake until you can purchase a thermostat.

I've got.. this


http://www.zoomed.com/db/products/En...D=2&SearchID=1

and this

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Critter-Cu...-Pets/10323662

I picked up the night bulb last night along with my thermometers for around 30.00 total.