UTH temperature question

I'm curious to know what people have their UTH's temp set to on their thermostat. I don't have a temp gun yet so I can't be totally accurate as to what the surface temperature on the bedding is, I just have to judge it by feel. So what do you have your thermostat temp set to and how thick is your bedding? I'd just like a reference to go by before I get my temp gun. Thanks!

I taped a thermometer sensor directly on the bottom of the tub and adjusted the thermostat to the desire degree. Then I obviously removed the tape and thermometer. But of course, a temp-gun is the best choice and more convenient. I use newspaper as substrate, which isn't thick at all. :)

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Originally Posted by ACP123

I don't have a temp gun yet so I can't be totally accurate as to what the surface temperature on the bedding is, I just have to judge it by feel.

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This is wrong in so many ways.
1-you are 98 degrees, this is too hot for your snake and you cannot judge 89-95 degrees by feel.;)
2-it is NOT the surface temp of the bedding you need to worry about. You need to worry about the hottest point that your snake can touch (YES THEY WILL BURROW), so it under the bedding where you should measure.

The temp on a thermostat probably will be different based on what kind of material the UTH is hooked up to. Also the type of thermostat will most likely affect this as well.

For me, my heat tape on both of my T8's that are made from a type of PVC, they are both set to 103 degrees. This gives my a warm spot of 89-91 degrees.

As for substrate, you want it between 1/4 - 1/2 inch thick to make sure the heat is able to penetrate the substrate and reach the snake. Like the above poster mentioned as well, balls like to burrow. With this said, you need to measure the temperature that your snake has the ability to reach, surface temperature.

I would most likely leave off the UTH until you can verify the temperature it's putting out, if you do use it, I would probably set it to 80 degrees until I could verify the temp output.

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Originally Posted by PitOnTheProwl

This is wrong in so many ways.
1-you are 98 degrees, this is too hot for your snake and you cannot judge 89-95 degrees by feel.;)
2-it is NOT the surface temp of the bedding you need to worry about. You need to worry about the hottest point that your snake can touch (YES THEY WILL BURROW), so it under the bedding where you should measure.

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That's my point, I can only judge the surface by feel since I don't have a temp gun and that's inaccurate. That's why I'm asking what others have their UTH's temp on. Anyway, how hot should it be under the bedding? And how deep is the bedding you use?

Thanks guys for replying, I took your advice and put the thermometer sensor on the bottom of the tub (it was previously taped directly on the UTH) then adjusted the thermostat to 90 degrees. I feel really stupid for not putting the sensor on the bottom of the tub in the first place lol.

Don't feel stupid... We have all been where you are and learned as we went along. You were smart enough to ask and get the right answer, as apposed to many who don't bother asking until it's too late and we get pics of snakes with some nasty burns.

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Originally Posted by ACP123

That's my point, I can only judge the surface by feel since I don't have a temp gun and that's inaccurate.

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That is my point, you cant.;)

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Originally Posted by ACP123

That's why I'm asking what others have their UTH's temp on.

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What works in my house wont be the same in yours, too many variables. One of my racks is set at 98 and another is set at 108, identical set-ups just different locations of the room.

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Originally Posted by ACP123

Anyway, how hot should it be under the bedding?

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No hotter than 95 degrees PERIOD, that is the surface your snake can touch.

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Originally Posted by ACP123

And how deep is the bedding you use?

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Paper towels

You most definitely cannot judge it by feel. I have an UTH for my dubia roaches that is unregulated. I felt it and it's never felt all that warm, I checked with a temp gun and it's over 115 degrees!

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My bp doesn't really like her heat lamp but loves the heat rock. Yet she doesn't really move around the cage? Is she just lazy?

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Originally Posted by bwhifhs

My bp doesn't really like her heat lamp but loves the heat rock. Yet she doesn't really move around the cage? Is she just lazy?

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Your ambient temperature is probably too low. She isn't lazy, and she doesn't love that rock - she's cold and trying to warm up. Heat rocks are dangerous in their own right - Are you regulating or monitoring it's temp in any way?

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Originally Posted by bwhifhs

My bp doesn't really like her heat lamp but loves the heat rock. Yet she doesn't really move around the cage? Is she just lazy?

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Originally Posted by Annarose15

Your ambient temperature is probably too low. She isn't lazy, and she doesn't love that rock - she's cold and trying to warm up. Heat rocks are dangerous in their own right - Are you regulating or monitoring it's temp in any way?

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What she said. The reason she's always curled around the rock is that she's cold. The skin in contact with the rock is warm, but the other 90% of her body is cold. This is how massive burns happen.

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Originally Posted by bwhifhs

My bp doesn't really like her heat lamp but loves the heat rock. Yet she doesn't really move around the cage? Is she just lazy?

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That's a bbq waiting to happen

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Originally Posted by bwhifhs

My bp doesn't really like her heat lamp but loves the heat rock. Yet she doesn't really move around the cage? Is she just lazy?

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You shouldn't be using a heat rock. Their temps can't be controlled & could seriously injure your snake.

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