UTH for my Albino Ball

So I pick up my baby Albino Ball today and have the cage all set up, my question is do I have to get a thermostat to plug into the UTH? The Breeder where I'm picking up my Ball said no I do not. But everywhere I read they say you have to get it. Also should I be worried of it being a fire hazard? I have Aspen shavings for the bedding and a hide box over the UTH. Thanks all for your help with this.

The use of thermostats is highly encouraged. What kind of UTH do you have?

Zoomed UTH for 10-20 Gallons, and the tank is a 20 gallon.

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Originally Posted by AlbinoBall

Zoomed UTH for 10-20 Gallons, and the tank is a 20 gallon.

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You DEFINITELY need at least a dimmer (approx. $10 at hardware stores), those types of UTH get extremely hot. When I was testing mine on a separate enclosure it got upwards of 113 degrees F! And you need to monitor the temperature under the substrate as well as on top of it. BPs burn so easily, better safe than sorry.

ok so the Dimmer from the hardware store will do the job? how do I set that up? just lower the dimmer and keep checking the Temp? what do I check the temp with? I know a reptile tempature probe but do I submit the probe into the bedding to check the temp? or just under the hide? sorry so many questions but I want to make sure I get this right as I spent a good penny for my first snake. LOL Thanks!

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Originally Posted by AlbinoBall

ok so the Dimmer from the hardware store will do the job? how do I set that up? just lower the dimmer and keep checking the Temp? what do I check the temp with? I know a reptile tempature probe but do I submit the probe into the bedding to check the temp? or just under the hide? sorry so many questions but I want to make sure I get this right as I spent a good penny for my first snake. LOL Thanks!

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It's better than nothing, but honestly, if you have the money I'd go ahead and buy a thermostat. They're SO much easier to maintain, you don't have to cheack the temps as often. (Cheapest I've found are on http://www.reptilebasics.com/ plus, the guy who runs Reptile Basics is so nice, he'll nswer any questions you e-mail him)

I'm no expert, so I'll just tell you what I've been told. If you're going to go with a lamp dimmer, connect the UTH by following the directions as if you were connecting the dimmer to a lamp. You should purchase a temp gun, you can find them fairly cheap and they tend to be the most accurate. Plus, with a temp gun you can check the temp directly on the glass under the bedding as well as on top of the bedding, with a digital probe you'd have to move it around and it's just a pain in the ass.

Sounds good thanks!!

Wow there expensive for Thermostats, maybe I'll get a Temp Gun and then the Dimmer. I should be ok with that just lower the dimmer until the reading comes out on the Temp Gun right?

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Originally Posted by AlbinoBall

Wow there expensive for Thermostats, maybe I'll get a Temp Gun and then the Dimmer. I should be ok with that just lower the dimmer until the reading comes out on the Temp Gun right?

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Yeah, they are expensive :/ I haven't been able to purchase one yet, so until I can, I'm using a dimmer. But you should definitely get a temp gun! And yes, just adjust the dimmer until you get the correct temperature readout. Just make sure you check the temps under and on top of the substrate because (although they often don't) they can burrow/move the bedding and reach the surface of the glass, wouldn't want a burned belly! :)

Oh so your using one, for sure I'm going to pick those two things up today. I pick up my Albino Ball after work, and dont want to spend to much as the Ball took my money LOL. So I'll go get the dimmer for sure along with the Temp Gun. I called another place here in Miami and they told me I dont need it just keep my house at 80 degrees and the UTH should only get to 90 but just to be safe Im going with your set up for now. Thanks

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Originally Posted by AlbinoBall

Oh so your using one, for sure I'm going to pick those two things up today. I pick up my Albino Ball after work, and dont want to spend to much as the Ball took my money LOL. So I'll go get the dimmer for sure along with the Temp Gun. I called another place here in Miami and they told me I dont need it just keep my house at 80 degrees and the UTH should only get to 90 but just to be safe Im going with your set up for now. Thanks

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LOL Idk why these people are telling you it won't get that hot.. almost everyone on here will tell you they get too hot, that's too funny. But good luck, I hope you get it all set up right before you get him in there! And congrats, I wish I could afford an albino LOL :)

Worse case if I dont get it right before I put him in the tank then I will put Zoomed Carpet right above the pad under the Aspen to prevent burn. I spoke to zoomed and they recommend the carpet to prevent burns. So If I cant get the temp gun and dimmer in time the carpet at least will do for now to prevent burns. I had ball pythons growing up and never had a problem with burns but I did always have just the carpet on the bottom of the whole cage. So that probably provented it. I also would like to control the temp due to if it gets to hot I dont want in to start a fire. I mean it could happen Im sure.

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Originally Posted by AlbinoBall

Worse case if I dont get it right before I put him in the tank then I will put Zoomed Carpet right above the pad under the Aspen to prevent burn. I spoke to zoomed and they recommend the carpet to prevent burns. So If I cant get the temp gun and dimmer in time the carpet at least will do for now to prevent burns. I had ball pythons growing up and never had a problem with burns but I did always have just the carpet on the bottom of the whole cage. So that probably provented it. I also would like to control the temp due to if it gets to hot I dont want in to start a fire. I mean it could happen Im sure.

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Yeah, I've heard stories of fires, electrical shorts, and malfunctions that melt the pad itself, and even pads that get SO hot it cracks the glass of the tank.. crazy stuff. I'm sure it'll be fine temporarily though, as long as you can get the stuff by tonight or tomorrow and have SOME way of measuring the temp today (probe thermometer). :)

Well I got my Albino Ball home yesterday, hes about to shed but wow really nice I'm so happy I got an Albino Ball. You were right wow the UTH was so hot through the glass that for sure I think it would have burned him. So what I did was for now I went to Petco and got the Tank Carpet and cut a piece of it and placed it over the UTH in the tank and then put the hide on top. Just until I get the Temp Gun today and really measure the Temperature. He was out all night going around the tank and even this morning he was still not in his hide, So I hope he finds his hide today so he can get warm.

I would definitely recommend a thermostat for your UTH. It will give you piece of mind about temps, save you money on vet bills for burns and will make you BP's life more comfortable.
This is the thermostat I would recommend checking out:http://www.reptilebasics.com/product...cat=250&page=1

I use the same thing, it's under my tank and get's VERY hot. I got a plug in dimmer from Home Depot (^^like she said) for $10.00. I also measure the temps using a temp gun. My dimmer is set below halfway...that's how hot they get. Home Depot should have temp guns also (you may have to explain to the employees what they are before you get the isle they are in), but if not the PE-2 which is awesome is on sale on tempguns.com for $35.00. Depending on how hot or cold your house is, you may have to adjust the dimmer like 2-3 times a day, and take temps with the gun. Hope this helps! Good luck :)

@LGray23 yeah I put my house at 80 degrees when I'm not home and when I get home I usally put the house at 75 degrees. So I have to adjust the dimmer when I go to work and then when I get home?

@Lgray23 I see your son loves snakes mine too he is only 3yrs old. This is a pic of my son with Spike.

http://ball-pythons.net/gallery/file...pike_wryan.jpg

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Originally Posted by AlbinoBall

@Lgray23 I see your son loves snakes mine too he is only 3yrs old. This is a pic of my son with Spike.

http://ball-pythons.net/gallery/file...pike_wryan.jpg

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Oh he is the cutest thing! Yeah, I use a Herpstat for my rack, it was $118 but monitors all three of my cages. For my 1 and only tank, I use the dimmer and temp gun to monitor temps. I take readings once in the morning before I go to work, when I get home from work, and then before I go to bed. Sometimes I don't have to adjust it and sometimes I do....hence why the temp gun is such an asset. I use the temp gun daily for my tank and my cages, I'd say for $35, you can't really go wrong with a temp gun.

Let me ask you, when you adjust the tank with the dimmer, does it automatically adjust the temp? or do you have to wait a couple of mintues to get an acurrate reading to your adjustment.

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Originally Posted by AlbinoBall

Let me ask you, when you adjust the tank with the dimmer, does it automatically adjust the temp? or do you have to wait a couple of mintues to get an acurrate reading to your adjustment.

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What I did when I got the dimmer was I lowered it to about halfway, I took temps about 20 minutes after that and adjusted until it was around 88-92. Then during the day sometimes it gets to like 93....so I'll just lower it a teeny bit and retest a bit later. It's quite sensitive, so once you get the general reading you want you'll only be adjusting it a tiny bit, like 1/2 mm each way is all. Takes some getting used to, but once you get the general hang of it, it becomes second habit.

oh ok cool, so if I get the Temp Gun and Dimmer today, you think once I adjust the Temp to the correct Temp I could remove the carpet from above the UTH right?

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Originally Posted by AlbinoBall

oh ok cool, so if I get the Temp Gun and Dimmer today, you think once I adjust the Temp to the correct Temp I could remove the carpet from above the UTH right?

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Ummmm...is the UTH actually under the tank or inside it?? It really should be on the outside, underneath the tank.....and what are you using for bedding? That repticarpet stuff?

The UTH is on the outside on the bottom, I'm using Aspen Bedding but when I pick up the ball yesterday before I put him in the cage I felt the spot inside where the UTH is located on the outside and it was hot as hell, so to be safe and not burn my ball I went real quick to Petco and just got a small piece of the Reptile Carpet and placed it inside above the UTH on the outside then place the hide back on top and then the aspen around it. Just until I get a Temp Gun to actually read the temps

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Originally Posted by AlbinoBall

Let me ask you, when you adjust the tank with the dimmer, does it automatically adjust the temp? or do you have to wait a couple of mintues to get an acurrate reading to your adjustment.

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If you adjusted the dimmer, higher for instance, the dimmer would send more electricity to the UTH, and you would have to wait until the heating element finishes heating up to the new setting.

The problem with rheostats (dimmers) is they cannot adjust and adapt on their own to changes in the ambient room temperature, someone has to be constantly adjusting it. If the room warms up what was an appropriate setting can become dangerously high.
In my opinion a thermostat is worth the extra money just for the piece of mind, not to mention less hassle and the increase in the quality of life of your BP by having stable proper temperatures.

Okay yeah, I'd say when you get the dimmer, even if you don't get the temp gun right away (if you order it online, not sure how much they are at Home Depot) I'd give it a good 30 mins-1 hour before you take that carpet off. Lower the dimmer to just below halfway. I use aspen also, and I keep my dimmer just below halfway, but definitely wait to take that carpet out for a bit so you don't risk frying your snake ;)

I agree with dragonboy, a thermostat truely is the best option. BUT, while you save up that 100 bucks for your thermostat that you should eventually invest in, the dimmer/temp gun system works well, as long as you are responsible and check the temps every chance you get.

can you guys look this up. Hydrofarm MTPRTC Digital Thermostat For Heat Mats
some one suggested it to me and it looks like it will do the job and its at a great price too. Thanks LGray23 I will make sure I got the temp perfect before I remove the carpet for sure.

I just sent you a private message regarding that okay? Way too much to type here lol

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Originally Posted by LGray23

I agree with dragonboy,

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dragonboy?!?:O

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Originally Posted by AlbinoBall

can you guys look this up. Hydrofarm MTPRTC Digital Thermostat For Heat Mats

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I have heard of this thermostat before, while I am sure its not safe or powerful enough for rack use it seems like it would be good choice for a UTH. Definitely a step up form a rheostat I think. But I have no first have experience with this particular thermostat but there seems to be some reviews for it on Amazon:http://www.amazon.com/Hydrofarm-MTPR...0373151&sr=8-2

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Originally Posted by Agent73

dragonboy?!?:O



I have heard of this thermostat before, while I am sure its not safe or powerful enough for rack use it seems like it would be good choice for a UTH. Definitely a step up form a rheostat I think. But I have no first have experience with this particular thermostat but there seems to be some reviews for it on Amazon:http://www.amazon.com/Hydrofarm-MTPR...0373151&sr=8-2

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WOOPS!! I am sooo sorry! I am on automatic and I'm used to agreeing with him!! haha Agent73 I apologize....

Hi, so I got this Infrared temp gun yesterday (http://www.harborfreight.com/infrare...ter-93984.html) seems to work great also has great reviews. Well my UTH was reading 134 degrees, thank god I had the carpet there to protect my ball. with the carpet its like 81 degrees at night Im sure during the day it gets hotter because the house is at 80 during the day. Any how what a mission to find a dimmer I have to order it online and I want it faster so I did some research and found a local lamp store that has them for $16 so first thing tomorrow morning I will be picking one up. At least for two months I'll do the dimmer thing, until I can recuperate from spending so much on the ball then I will get the Thermostat that you have. Thanks again for all your help. Lgray23.

No problem! I was shocked when I got my temp gun and saw how hot my UTH actually was. Glad to see you worked quickly to better your husbandry. I wish you and your snake the happiest of times!! lol :banana:

lol thanks