temps? please help

im getting everything ready for my new bp im getting tomorrow. terranium is done. uth is going getting the hot side to 90. but on the cool side i cant get the temp ove 73.6. im using a red bulb on the cool side which is a 2t watt bulb. but no luck... any suggetions... 1 other question about the uth hot spot. i have the thermometer probe right under the substract.. should it read a lil higher than 90 sinve its under the aspen or should it just be 90

If it's a screen top terrarium you can play around with ventilation to change ambient temps.

how do i do that? i was using a 25 watt and was only getting 73.6, then when i swithed it to a 50 watt it went to 83.3?? the uth hot side is ready 99. under the substract

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Originally Posted by TigerClaw864

how do i do that? i was using a 25 watt and was only getting 73.6, then when i swithed it to a 50 watt it went to 83.3?? the uth hot side is ready 99. under the substract

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You can get a lamp dimmer from any hardware store for the heat lamp with the 50 watt bulb so you can turn it down to about 80. Also, do you have a thermostat (not a thermometer) controlling the UTH? I'm assuming you don't if your temps are getting to 99 degrees under the substrate. I'd either hold off in getting the BP and get a thermostat for the UTH or unplug it til you get one. BPs like to burrow under substrate and can get burned if the UTH isn't properly regulated.

Check out this thread on how to set up a 20 gallon glass tank where you can find info about different thermostats.
http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showthread.php?t=201740

Definitely post some photos of the BP when you get him. Good luck!



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i have a thermo stat. its a rheostat. not sure if i spelled that right. but its not digital. its are off, low, med and high and i have it on low

Your hot side SHOULD NEVER be over 95 degrees. Yes I mean under the substrate because your snake can burrow.
Cover some of the top to try and retain some heat and humidity. 83 on the cool side will work but be more worried about the hot side burning your snake.

post a photo or model/brand of the controller you are trying to use.

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i have a thermo stat. its a rheostat.

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Two entirely different things.

A thermostat has a probe that measures the temperature then adjusts the electrical output to the heating element accordingly.

A rheostat provides resistance on the electricity so that the output of your heating element is reduced, but not intelligently.

I have never had luck using a rheostat and honestly its not too helpful, if there is a hot day you will have a hot enclosure and if its a cold day you will have a cold enclosure.

I would suggest returning the rheostat and getting a real thermostat, even the zilla brand thermostat will be an upgrade.

Thermostat is definitely a must. All mine like to move the substrate and lay directly on the glass

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i returned the rheostat and got a dimmer for now until my hydrofarm thermostat comes wednesday. the dimmer is working good. i do have to look at it depending on weather for now which im ok with till wednesday. hot side is staying between 88and 92. cool side between 78 and 82.6. humidity i was having problems with but i covered about 60% of screen and i misted once and it is staying between 56 to 63. left him alone since yesterday. i have to see if he will eat today since breeder said its been about 1 1/2 weeks since its ate...

does everything sound good?

A rheostat is a commonly referred to as a dimmer.

well here he is... just for me bout 45 mins ago... just got him yesterday..


https://fbcdn-photos-g-a.akamaihd.ne...7b528e1a7f38e3

Hes so freaking adorable!!! Congrats :D

thanks. he is perfect.

Did you unplug the UTH until the thermostat comes in?

i took the rheostat back since even on low setting it was to hot. i got a lamp dimmer from walmart which is actually working. keeping hit side between 88 and 91.8. which the breeder i got him from suggested it till the thermostat comes wednesday... then i took heat lamp that i had away and gota new that looks like a ceramic top and it is keeping cool side at 77.6 and 82.3. and humidity is staying between 56 and 64.

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Originally Posted by TigerClaw864

i took the rheostat back since even on low setting it was to hot. i got a lamp dimmer from walmart which is actually working. keeping hit side between 88 and 91.8. which the breeder i got him from suggested it till the thermostat comes wednesday... then i took heat lamp that i had away and gota new that looks like a ceramic top and it is keeping cool side at 77.6 and 82.3. and humidity is staying between 56 and 64.

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Temps sound good! Actually, I know many people who use dimmers instead of thermostats, and they work for them. HOWEVER, thermostat is much more reliable! I have used both (dimmer temporarily as well); and found it too much of a hassle to keep track of. As already mentioned, with fluctuating air temps you'll get fluctuating dimmer temps. Works well for heat lamps but not as much for UTHes I find.

As soon as your thermostat comes in you can keep your dimmer as a backup :) unless you wanna do the dishonest-but-let's-face-it-sometimes-we-do-it returnamajig.
Either way. That's a moral dilemma. Anyhow. BEAUTIFUL snake. Congrats!!

All the best. :)

OH MY....My favorite :D

yes that was my plan. as soon as the thermostat comes wednesday. im switching them and just keeping dimmer for a backup in case something goes wrong with thermostat.