Ambient temp issues

Hi herpers, I posted something similar yesterday so forgive the repetition. Slightly different thrust to the question today.

I've had my bp only a few days. She's in a tub w/2 hides, a UTH under one side of the tub, Acu-rite thermometer/hygrometer on cool side w/probe on warm side, and Herpstat controlling the heat mat.

I have no problems at all maintaining the warm side in the low 90s, and humidity consistently runs around 58%. My problem is the temp as measured on cool side with the Acu-rite. The only way I can keep it to 80 or above is to crank a small space heater 24/7 to keep the whole room around 80.

The snake spends all her time in the cool hide - I don't think she's even ventured to the warm side of the tub yet - so I want to make sure she's warm enough in her favorite spot. I don't like leaving the house with the space heater running, for safety reasons (but thanks to the person who suggested one with a tip-over shutoff feature yesterday).

Finally getting to my question now, if you're still reading this ;) :

If I put another UTH w/separate thermostat on the cool side to keep the floor there in the low 80s and ditch the space heater, how important would the room temp be? House is usually low 60s at night to max low 70s during the day. I understand that heat mats only provide heat to the surface they're attached to. The tub is about 6" high. Would an ambient room temp of, say, 68 be acceptable? Any and all input welcome! Trying to get it right.

UTH's do not change the air temperature in the cage, air temperature is important espicially in a room as cold as yours is. The air temp shouldn't ever be under 75.

I would suggest that you get a Ranco thermostat to regulate your space heater, they can handle the wattage and are commonly used in the reptile industry for this.

You can get one here: (make sure you get the room heater version and not the outlet strip)

http://www.reptilebasics.com/ranco-etc-111000-pre-wired

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Originally Posted by The Serpent Merchant

UTH's do not change the air temperature in the cage, air temperature is important espicially in a room as cold as yours is. The air temp shouldn't ever be under 75.

I would suggest that you get a Ranco thermostat to regulate your space heater, they can handle the wattage and are commonly used in the reptile industry for this.

You can get one here: (make sure you get the room heater version and not the outlet strip)

http://www.reptilebasics.com/ranco-etc-111000-pre-wired

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Thank you, that's excellent advice. My heater supposedly has an internal thermostat, but I'm not impressed with the way it functions so far, and of course there's no way to set it except to fiddle with the unmarked knob and hope.

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Originally Posted by Fidget

Thank you, that's excellent advice. My heater supposedly has an internal thermostat, but I'm not impressed with the way it functions so far, and of course there's no way to set it except to fiddle with the unmarked knob and hope.

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My space heater also has the internal thermostat, but it doesn't keep a consistent temperature at all.

The thermostat Aaron suggested is your best bet and is designed specifically for this use. I have a very similar product and am very happy with it and the end result.

This is one of the issues with tubs there are very few options to provide secondary heat. The johnson or ranco will work well with the space heater. Sometimes the forced air ones cause spikes up and down when it kicks off and on. I tried one for a while AND FOUND THAT LOCATING IT HELPED A LOT WITH THIS SWING. IN MY CASE I HAD IT QUITE HIGH, THE TOP OF A SHELVING UNIT. Oh stupid caps lock sorry I am leaving it... The unit pointed up a bit it blew away from the snakes enclosures directly, it also mixes the air in the room well.

As far as that goes a hydrofarm may work just fine. Check the max wattage of the heater and max allowable of the hydrofarm but if the heater is below the T-stat it should be fine.


Max current: 8.3 amps / 1000 watts


http://www.hydrofarm.com/product.php?itemid=3372

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Originally Posted by kitedemon

As far as that goes a hydrofarm may work just fine. Check the max wattage of the heater and max allowable of the hydrofarm but if the heater is below the T-stat it should be fine.


Max current: 8.3 amps / 1000 watts


http://www.hydrofarm.com/product.php?itemid=3372

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Thanks, I'll check that out too. Going to shop for a different heater w/better safety features & can look for correct wattage as well. Do you think a radiant-style heater place nearish to the tub would work? since it's just one, it seems inefficient to heat the whole room.

If your BP is hanging out on the cool side then thats where it wants to be. When it needs to thermoregulate it will, BPs really don't have a favorite hide, they go where they want to go to thermoregulate.

As far as room temp goes, I think it's easier to keep the room warm with a space heater. A radiant heater attached to a Ranco works great. And if you have one snake you will eventually have more, just seems to work that way. Good link with everything.

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Originally Posted by EAC Reptiles

And if you have one snake you will eventually have more, just seems to work that way.

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It does seem like if I'm going to have a whole room warmed up, I might as well fill it up with snakes, now that you mention it! :D

Quote:

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Originally Posted by The Serpent Merchant

UTH's do not change the air temperature in the cage, air temperature is important espicially in a room as cold as yours is. The air temp shouldn't ever be under 75.

I would suggest that you get a Ranco thermostat to regulate your space heater, they can handle the wattage and are commonly used in the reptile industry for this.

You can get one here: (make sure you get the room heater version and not the outlet strip)

http://www.reptilebasics.com/ranco-etc-111000-pre-wired

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This is exactly what I do

That's good enough for me - I just ordered it. Thanks for the recommendation.