UTH help

got a ball python two weeks ago hes doing good but i want to switch to a UTH for my heat source, right now i have a basking light that gets one side up to about 90 which is on a T stat i already have the stuff for the UTH and i can hook it up to the T-stat to make it safe but should i get two low wattage lights for ambient temps or do i not need them? Also will he come in contact with the glass if he burrow too much and burn himself should i be worried he dosnt really burrow i dont think he could get down the low but i do have aspen shavings. i want to switch because of humidity belly heat for digestion. so if can answer the qs and tell me if its a good idea, thanks everyone!

I'd just install the UTH, put the probe in the center of the UTH on top of the glass(!!). Set the t-stat to 91 and see where you stand. If you need more ambient heat, then either put the cage in a warmer room or get a CHE. You could also add another UTH on the other side for better heat on the cool side if you're having issues.

wats a CHE thanks!

sorry i no its a ceramic heat emitter would i put it so the heat goes to the center to i get better air temps all around the tank or just on the hot side

You'd put it on the cool side. Use the UTH for the hot spot.

oooo okay thanks so much also people have been sayin to put the T-stat probe in between the glass and the UTH should i do that or just put it way under the substrate

use hot-glue or non-toxic silicon to attach it to the glass on the top side. Nothing should be between the UTH and the glass. You can do that with flexwatt, are you using flexwatt?

no im using a zoo med heat pad the 10-20 gal one i have a 20 gallon long tank, anyway if i hot glue it i should hot glue the the wire closest the probe right, not the actual probe also would i put the temp probe under the bedding, and if i hot glue it i can still take it off right or will the hot glue attach to the glass so much you cant? couldnt i just tape it

I have had success with the foil tape. The big problem with tape is that since it's over the hot spot that means the snake will be moving around it and if it came just a little loose, it could attach to your snake.

I have never used the foil take on glass, just a tub. I hot glue the actual probe. If you want to remove it, take the UTH off the rheostat/t-stat and get it as hot as it will go and use a window scraper to carefully remove it. I uses the razor blade window scraper last time and it worked fine.

Hopefully someone else with experience will chime in.


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Hi,

I still think it's a far better idea to have the thermostat probe outside of the enclosure between the UTH and the glass. I would put the thermometer on the glass above the UTH though and make sure that never gets above 95f if possible. Just adjust the type/ thickness of substrate unitl you get the right temps on the surface of the substrate.

It prevents the snake from lessing up the readings by either sitting on or peeing on the probe making it overheat the enclosure.

And, I know I say this a lot, but no tape inside the enclosure with the snake - unless it is lowtack painters tape and I'm not even fond of that given the readily available alternatives.


dr del

okay thanks guys i out the t-stat probe on the ouside of the UTH and that works god but i have the digital thermometer under all the substrate should i raise so i get the temp on the surface?

Hi,

I tend to move the thermometer probe around a lot when setting the tubs up at first.

I keep it on the glass until I am certain that is right then move it to the top of the substrate inside the hot end hide until I have adjusted the substrate etc so that the temps in there are between 90-93f then check what the temps are in the cool end hide. :)

Once I know all three temps are right then I tend to put it back in the hot end hide and leave it there to monitor for changes.

I do find the infra-red temp guns to be a godsend though for spot checking temps.


dr del

i moved it up and the thermostat only gets the surface to like 88 im trying it without it

the reptitemp 500r sucks so i just ordered a nice syderrobtics that will wrk like a billion times better so im going back to the basking light till then and then once it comes in the mail everything will be great with my temps and hot spot then i can get the ceramic heater for night! thanks everyonne

i used the reptitemp for a year for my two snakes and never had a problem, the temps only changed by 2 maybe 3 degrees.

im not saying its not bad i did say it sucks haha, but in my situation i wanted better cause my digital thermometer isnt too bad but it might be off and i think it would be better if the T-stat had the built in thermometer all in one also it has some better features for being more safe to him and why not get a long term good one now then later. And the reptitemp had to much of fluctuation with the way that it goes on and off, when i get the new one it can just use less volts for the right temp so it can be more consistant.