Safely securing digital probe?

Hi everyone,

I have yet another question, I was just reading a blog entry by someone whose digital thermometer probe came loose from the tank, causing the thermostat to just keep heating and heating since it was no longer secured to the heat pad. Those of you that have a heat mat and digital probe set up, how do you ensure that it does not come away from the mat and cause temperatures to get too high. The person who wrote the blog found their incubator at 120 degrees after this happened. Any advice? I am concerned because I know my little one likes to knock around the substrate and I could see something like this happening. =/ Any tips?

I think most that use under tank heaters have the thermostat probe secured between the mat and the underside of the enclosure, thus making it nearly impossible to come loose. It also give the most accurate reading as there is no chance of it getting wet or otherwise compromised by snake fluids.

Aluminum foil tape is a big help. It is super sticky and resist heat well. Just make sure to only place the tape on the wire directly behind the probe. Placing the tape over the probe can cause heat buildup therefore giving you false readings.

And of course never put the probe inside the tank. Like stated above it goes between the uth and the tank bottom, on the outside.

That makes a bit more sense but I read so many things staying to tuck the probe under the substrate. I already put the heat pad on the bottom of the tank and I know that pulling the pad off is a no no. Do you think I could safely wedge it in where the cord comes off of the uth?

Sent from my KFSOWI using Tapatalk

The uth can be removed if you go slow and don't bend it. The easiest way to keep from having this issue is to put foil on the sticky part of the uth then attach it with tape to the tank bottom. This way you can take it off when ever needed without issue.

The thermometer probe can go under the substrate not the tstat.

So I should be safe then to very carefully peel it back like an inch or two to put the thermostat probe underneath, and I shouldn't have any problems with the mat compromising the integrity of the probe cord?

Sent from my KFSOWI using Tapatalk

Just go slow and don't bend or crease it and it should be fine. I have a few that have been removed and still work fine.

Ok that was my only concern, I couldn't think of any very reliable way to secure it under the substrate. Should the probe be placed so only the metal is in contact with the uth mat or should it be farther in?

Sent from my KFSOWI using Tapatalk

I put it dead center and most of my cages have direct pressure making the tstat probe lay on the uth. No issues there.

For placing a thermometer probe on the cage floor hot glue is a good option as its semi rigid yet easy to remove for cleaning.

Is it considered equally accurate to secure it to the bottom of the heat pad? I have seen some set ups with the probe secured on the bottom of the UTH with foil tape or electrical tape, which I think I would prefer to do if there is no accuracy difference. I have electrical tape but wasn't sure if covering it with tape could somehow alter the reading. I do have the digital probe secured to the glass under the substrate so I was sort of thinking that even if it did cause it to read higher than it is, I can always compare to that and adjust as needed, but wanted to get some feedback from members here in case there is something I am not considering. I am just scared to mess with the heat pad still, I have no experience with them and am concerned that I might mess up and damage something, even if I do try to go slow. I would have to have my husband hold the tank up while I partially removed it and I could easily see someone moving wrong and accidentally forcing it. It is a 30 gallon and surprisingly heavy. : /

That should work fine. I would not use electrical tape as it becomes brittle and lets go after some time. Aluminum foil tape works best IMHO.

I guess I could check the hardware store tomorrow. The grocery store I went to only had the electrical, I don't live right in town. Would the electrical tape work in the short term?

Now I'm totally confused...I have a Tstat that one probe is on hot side, hangs down near floor near uth, the overhead lamp (heat only) and the uth are Plugged into Tstat. It keeps warm side ambient and uth at 90f. I monitor cool side to between 80-83f and have prob that measures cool side temp and humidity 60-70. Is this correct?


Molly & Precioucess

Just to clarify, do you mean you have both the thermometer sensor and the thermostat sensor under the hot hide with the actual thermometer reading room temperature on the cool side? If so, and keep in mind I am also new to this, but what everyone has told me thus far is that because snakes often burrow to get up against the warmest part of the tank (the bare glass) it can be a danger to have the thermostat inside the tank. Basically what can happen is the snake can knock the thermostat loose which will make it thing the glass temp has dropped. This will in turn cause it to heat up the heat mat to try to get the temperature right, but since the thermostat is no longer reading the glass it will just keep heating and heating until the glass gets dangerously hot. In other words, the thermostat has to be against the heat mat somewhere that it will not get bumped or other dislodged. Although you would eventually notice if this happened, the thermometer reading would spike, if you work or are ever gone for large portions of the day it could happen when you are not home to notice and by the time you realized it could be too late.

It is never safe to put tape or hooks of any kind inside the terrarium so the safest and most stable method is to secure the thermostat probe outside the tank in direct contact with the heat mat so that you are measuring the absolute hottest point. This way the snake can burrow as much as he likes with no risk of overheating and thermal burns. Just make sure you have enough elevation and clearance under the tank that there isn't any pressure on the thermostat cable running underneath it and that you use some kind of insulated tape that will not melt or otherwise be compromised. :)