Is there a Difference

Quick question is the Exo-Terra Heatwave Rainforest, a better option the a ZooMed UTH? I ask because I am trying to have the best setup for my sons BP. The substrate that we use is Eco earth which Fang loves over the Aspen.

I would go with the zoo-med but how thick is the substrate layer? UTH's don't work well with substrate layers thicker than 1/2"

Do you have a thermostat for the UTH? If not you need one or else the UTH will burn your snake.

The ZooMed UTH I have does not have a thermostat I will get one and the substrate is about maybe a little more then a half inch a inch at the most

Ok don't buy one of the thermostats from the pet store as they don't work well you should either get a hydrofarm (sold on amazon for $30) or a Herpstat (sold on the spyder robotics website for $99) the Herpstat is much better than the hydrofarm and I highly recomend it, but either will work for you.

For a good T-stat you could also try Reptile Basics they also have some very nice UTH as well :) I love my Vivarium 300 and plan to get more in the future

www.reptilebasics.com

I bought one of the Zoo-Med thermostats and I recently upgraded to herpstat. If you get the right one the first time, there won't be any need for an upgrade. I am very happy with my purchase! But you def want to look into getting a t-stat, don't want to roast your snakes!

They can be comparable in quality, although ZooMed heat pads have a reputation for lasting longer.

There are several inexpensive options for a thermostat or rheostat if you only have one or two cages to control temps on. In our stores and in our breeding facility as well we use the ZA thermostats, as well as the helix thermostats, and we have tried every single thermostat we carry.

-Jen

I thank you all for being so helpful with this , and thank you as well with suggestions on the thermostats as I was un aware about the uth getting to hot for him

ok one more question when I get this thermostat and I will be getting the hydrofarm thank you TSM I would it be ok to get a bigger UTH as I feel the one I have that is for 10-20 gallons does not seem to heat up his enclosure that well any way. I have a 20 gallon long but I also use one heat emmiter over the top of the cage and I heat my sons room up with a space heater which gives the enclosure the most heat because my house is old and does not hold heat well.

I also feel that I have the thermometers in the wrong place as they are close to the top and read most of the time 80-85 on the cool side and 85 - 90 on the warm but I think it is acutaly cooler closer to the bottom to him by say 5 degrees or so. I am just want the best for my sons snake as we all do and would love for my son to grow up with Fang for a long time and even be able to bring him to collage.

IF you have a T-stat a UTH that covers up to a little over half the tank would be fine. All my tanks have flexwatt that covers about one half the tank and I have had no problems at all. This also makes it a little easier to keep the thermal gradient a little more stable :)

What temp do you set it at? Do you set it for say 80 degrees or a little higher

You should set it at 90 degrees to start. It needs to provide 88-92 degrees on the hot side of the tank. UTH do not effect air temperature it's just "belly heat". A probed thermometer is essential to monitor cage temperatures.

This one costs $12 at wall*mart

http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/...nt/photo-3.jpg

I saw that earlier I am going to Walmart tomorrow to buy that one . I hope they have it down here now is what dept did you get that one from?

I have seen them in the paint department and the home department when asked most walmart employes didnt know hehe so youl have to look around

As for temps I have mine set at about 95 on the T-stat I have the probe for said T-stat taped to the Flexwatt on the bottom of the tank outside the enclosure. This give me 94 on the glass inside the tank and 91-92 on the hot spot after is gets threw my thin layer of Eco Earth bedding I use :) hope this helps. Basically I would set it to about 90-92F and adjust from there it will take a few hours up to a day for everything to stabilize then adjust from there:)

Restless and Serpent thank you I am running late on buying this stuff but I am off tomorrow :)