UTH Temps

I am getting my spider ball on Tuesday so I brought my tank home today and set it up to get all the temps right. I am using a zilla UTH on a herpstat. The herpstat is setup at 98 degrees. However, the bedding is not close to 90 degrees. Should I just set the UTH to 91 and let him burrow to the glass or set it higher to get the bedding that warm? I feel like I should just set it at 91, to be safe but would like some opinions. Thanks

Where is your probe located?

How thick is the substrate layer in the cage?

My probe is tape to the UTH on the underside. There is maybe 1/2 inch of substrate or less it is reptibark.

You always want to make sure you measure the temps below the substrate incase you python burrows.


Sent from my iPhone 5 using Tapatalk

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Pennstater6

My probe is tape to the UTH on the underside. There is maybe 1/2 inch of substrate or less it is reptibark.

---

Which probe??

The thermostat probe should be taped there. On the outside, directly on the underside of the UTH.

The thermometer probe, to measure and monitor your internal temps, should be on the glass, inside the tank, directly over the UTH. If the UTH is large enough, and the bedding is not too deep, a surface reading of 90/93 here should be fine.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by martin82531

You always want to make sure you measure the temps below the substrate incase you python burrows.


Sent from my iPhone 5 using Tapatalk

---

I understand that. I use a temp gun to measure the substrate and below it but should I just lower it to 91 and let him burrow down to the glass to get the heat?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Pennstater6

I understand that. I use a temp gun to measure the substrate and below it but should I just lower it to 91 and let him burrow down to the glass to get the heat?

---

What if he doesn't burrow?

As long as the bottom of the cage isn't hotter than 95 I would turn the thermostat up to try to get the surface temperature to 90 degrees. You might also try reducing the thickness of the substrate layer. (or switching to a substrate that doesn't block as much heat)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by The Serpent Merchant

As long as the bottom of the cage isn't hotter than 95 I would turn the thermostat up to try to get the surface temperature to 90 degrees. You might also try reducing the thickness of the substrate layer. (or switching to a substrate that doesn't block as much heat)

---

Ok what substrate holds heat well? I have repti-bark on him now but I have cypress mulch for my boas cage. Should I use that? That mulch isn't in the boas cage yet its still in the bag. Do you think the substrate will heat up if I give it more time?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Foschi Exotic Serpents

What if he doesn't burrow?

---

What if he does and its too hot down there?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Pennstater6

What if he does and its too hot down there?

---

It won't be if you're measuring the inside surface of the glass there with an accurate thermometer. Just don't let the temp exceed our recommended maximum for hot side temp. It takes more than 94/95 to burn the snake, but I wouldn't want it to be even a degree higher than that if it did burrow against the glass.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Pennstater6

Ok what substrate holds heat well? I have repti-bark on him now but I have cypress mulch for my boas cage. Should I use that? That mulch isn't in the boas cage yet its still in the bag. Do you think the substrate will heat up if I give it more time?

---

Wood mulches block out heat. If you want to stick with a wood substrate Aspen will let the most heat through, but even still you want to have as thin of a layer as possible. Eco-Earth in thin layers will also work well.

Air is an excellent insulator. The air pockets between wood shavings/mulch is what blocks out most of the heat. By eliminating these air pockets paper based substrates like paper towels and newspaper transfer nearly all of the heat from a UTH to the snake. Which saves electricity as an added bonus!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Foschi Exotic Serpents

It won't be if you're measuring the inside surface of the glass there with an accurate thermometer. Just don't let the temp exceed our recommended maximum for hot side temp. It takes more than 94/95 to burn the snake, but I wouldn't want it to be even a degree higher than that if it did burrow against the glass.

---

I'm using a temp gun that would count aas an accurate thermometer. Do you think if I give the substrate a couple of days it would warm up to 90 or so? My BP isn't in the tank yet so I have a couple days to mess with everything.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Pennstater6

I'm using a temp gun that would count aas an accurate thermometer. Do you think if I give the substrate a couple of days it would warm up to 90 or so? My BP isn't in the tank yet so I have a couple days to mess with everything.

---

A temp gun can't measure the temperature of the glass under the substrate. For that you need a probed thermometer

I doubt that the wood will warm up too much over time. As i said before it is the air pockets between the wood that is blocking the heat.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by The Serpent Merchant

A temp gun can't measure the temperature of the glass under the substrate. For that you need a probed thermometer

I doubt that the wood will warm up too much over time. As i said before it is the air pockets between the wood that is blocking the heat.

---

I agree with this..

A temp gun is a great thing to have, but you really should run to Walmart and pick up an accurite weather station so you can put the probe on the glass over the UTH. This way you can monitor the temp constantly for swings, instead of just once or twice a day when you decide to move the bedding and shoot it with a temp gun.. You see how that could cause inconsistencies? Being able to just see the temp on a screen all the time, whenever you look at it, is best.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Foschi Exotic Serpents

I agree with this..

A temp gun is a great thing to have, but you really should run to Walmart and pick up an accurite weather station so you can put the probe on the glass over the UTH. This way you can monitor the temp constantly for swings, instead of just once or twice a day when you decide to move the bedding and shoot it with a temp gun.. You see how that could cause inconsistencies? Being able to just see the temp on a screen all the time, whenever you look at it, is best.

---

I have a thermometer right now just haven't hooked it up yet. I am going to switch to aspen tomorrow. How should I anchor the probe in place?

I like hot glue. Just don't use tape

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by The Serpent Merchant

I like hot glue. Just don't use tape

---

OK. I'll do that tomorrow. What about the repti-carpet stuff. Would that transfer heat well?

It does but it is very hard to keep clean. I wouldn't recommend it.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by The Serpent Merchant

It does but it is very hard to keep clean. I wouldn't recommend it.

---

OK paper towel seems like the best for me right now. I don't like the look of newspaper.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Foschi Exotic Serpents

I agree with this..

A temp gun is a great thing to have, but you really should run to Walmart and pick up an accurite weather station so you can put the probe on the glass over the UTH. This way you can monitor the temp constantly for swings, instead of just once or twice a day when you decide to move the bedding and shoot it with a temp gun.. You see how that could cause inconsistencies? Being able to just see the temp on a screen all the time, whenever you look at it, is best.

---

The OP is using a herpstat, I really don't see how he is going to have temp swings with a proportional thermostat.


Sent from my iPhone 5 using Tapatalk