Reasonable thermostat settings for flexwatt heat?

I don't have a designated snake room and am trying to get the temps right in my T8 with cypress mulch. Right now I'm struggling to get the heat up beyond 85 for the warm side. How high can I set my thermostat before its harmful or dangerous? right now its set at 102, I just bumped it to 108 to see if that will do it but I'm hestitant to leave it that high or higher.

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Originally Posted by Blitzjg

I don't have a designated snake room and am trying to get the temps right in my T8 with cypress mulch. Right now I'm struggling to get the heat up beyond 85 for the warm side. How high can I set my thermostat before its harmful or dangerous? right now its set at 102, I just bumped it to 108 to see if that will do it but I'm hestitant to leave it that high or higher.

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How and where are you measuring the 85°F temperature?

Theres a probe inside on top of the cypress mulch under the warm side hide.

That means the temp under the substrate is in the danger zone. UTH is not a very good option to boost ambient temps.

What is the temp of the room the snake is in?

You need to monitor the UTH temp on the bottom of the cage floor under the substrate which should be 1/4 thick at most.

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Originally Posted by Blitzjg

Theres a probe inside on top of the cypress mulch under the warm side hide.

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That's the problem right there. The thermometer probe for the hot spot shouldn't go on top of the substrate - it should go underneath against the floor of the enclosure.

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h1...psp2koldrd.jpg

Ok sorry I must not have the terms correct. The thermostat is connected to my flexwatt heat tape with the thermostat's probe in the correct position between the tape and the bottom of the cage. The thermometer probe i have sitting ontop the substrate (i thought it goes on top to tell the temperature the snake will be exposed to?)

The room ambient temp is probably around 75, which is obviously making it harder to heat properly.

75 is actually fine.

The issue with monitoring the temps on top of the substrate is it leaves the actual bottom of the cage to warm. Your snake can and eventually will get there and if it is too hot you will have a burned snake. Thin he substrate and monitor the temps on the cage floor and you should be good. As long as the room does not get cooler than 75 you should be good with a proper hotspot.

Ok, I way overdid the substrate then, I used all of a 22 qt(?) bag of cypress mulch. Can I bag and reuse excess or do I need to trash it? So the thermometer probe should be directly against the bottom below the substrate and what temp should that range?

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Originally Posted by Blitzjg

Ok, I way overdid the substrate then, I used all of a 22 qt(?) bag of cypress mulch. Can I bag and reuse excess or do I need to trash it? So the thermometer probe should be directly against the bottom below the substrate and what temp should that range?

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Depending on what condition it's in, I don't see why you couldn't reuse it.

The temp against the bottom should be your hot spot temp - the 90° range.

I keep a very deep substrate in most of my cages. I like to give my snakes the ability to burrow if they want and I also have real plants in some cages so it helps keep them in place. Where I have the uth the substrate decreases to a thin layer with a hide over it.

There is no reason you can not save the substrate for later.

I use a mixture of cypress, eco earth, and repti bark. I mix it to the desired look and keep it in a large tub with holes in the top to keep it from growing mold. When Im ready to use it I add water, stir, and dish it out.

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Originally Posted by KMG

I keep a very deep substrate in most of my cages. I like to give my snakes the ability to burrow if they want and I also have real plants in some cages so it helps keep them in place. Where I have the uth the substrate decreases to a thin layer with a hide over it.

There is no reason you can not save the substrate for later.

I use a mixture of cypress, eco earth, and repti bark. I mix it to the desired look and keep it in a large tub with holes in the top to keep it from growing mold. When Im ready to use it I add water, stir, and dish it out.

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Oh wow so its feasible to keep for awhile? Maybe ill just thin out in the heat area. It doesnt seem too thick in general

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Originally Posted by Blitzjg

Oh wow so its feasible to keep for awhile? Maybe ill just thin out in the heat area. It doesnt seem too thick in general

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Yes it can keep for awhile. When you snakes have a movement in a tub with the naturalistic substrate I remove the substrate all the way to the bottom of the cage and around the immediate area. I then clean the floor of the cage where I removed the soiled substrate and replace the entire area with fresh substrate. Basically its like a revolving door with the dirty substrate going out and the clean coming in. However every once and awhile I will dump it all and start completely over with a fresh mixture. I mainly do this in my tubs with Bloods as they can really save it up and make you a mess. Sometimes it is just easier and better(cleaner) to start over. With my Ball and its tiny movements(compared to a Blood) it is not as bad and not needed as much.

Moving it off the UTH and leaving the rest thick is fine. Mine is over three and four inches thick in some spots.