Thermometer reading hot even though I have it dialled to low?

Kinda urgent issue. The hot side was at a nice balanced 94 earlier and it's now slowly climbing. It's at 97.6, is this normal? I had the Rheostat turned to complete low, any lower and it clicks off. I decided to unplug it for a bit to let it cool down a bit until I can figure out this issue. Is my Rheostat suddenly not working??? It's nighttime here, what can I do to monitor the snake until I can go to the store to exchange things? I've been balancing the tank for day and now this after I bring him home. I'm really worried about him if I fall asleep and it keeps climbing...

Repti-Therm UTH

ReptiTemp Rheostat

Exo Terra digital precision thermometer with remote censor

Also the heat pad feels quite warm. Warmer actually than it previously felt.

I would check your thermostat probe. If it's not placed right, it could be trying to heat up the UTH because it thinks is cooler than it is. This has happened to me before.

Hi Cletus,

the rheoostat doesn't have a probe, the digital thermometer does. The only thing plugged into my rheostat is the heating pad itself. The thermometer is battery powered and the probe is inside of the terrarium, under the substrate.

Carley I tried like crazy to explain this to you for 2 days before your brought your snake home. I even posted the Sticky Link that has the correct products for you twice.. Site MODS gave you a diagram also. We chatted back and forth about the probe and how to regulate your UTH with a Dimmer or Tstat... Several people also told you about getting the Lasers to check the Hot Spot. We can all comment till were blue in the face but only you can go back and read the Sticky on how to setup a Enclosure correctly. So here it is for the 3rd time for your Hatchlings sake. If you dont monitor that UTH the right way that Hatchling will die no matter how many times you ask the same question.
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/show...-With-Pictures!

Im new to all this but what I think I have gathered so far is to get a thermostat with a probe. also if the ambient temp is in the snakes range still I would think it would be ok til you were able to get a replacement. Im sure someone much more educated on all of this will chime in im sure.

Raise your room temps up to 80 tonight until you can Start Over tomorrow. Buy the $15 Dimmer switch that i posted the other day from Lowes for the UTH so you can dial it in at 88-91. Also get a Laser thermometer to test the Hot Spot. You can get Both at Lowes on a Sunday.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by facepirte

Im new to all this but what I think I have gathered so far is to get a thermostat with a probe. also if the ambient temp is in the snakes range still I would think it would be ok til you were able to get a replacement. Im sure someone much more educated on all of this will chime in im sure.

---

We have gone over this for days now.. If people don't take suggestions or follow Links thats are posted by Admins as "STICKYS" to refer to then theres nothing anyone can do to help.

Hi Mr Sully, I was lead to believe that a Rheostat was a dimmer... I was in a reptile store that had everything conveniently there so I purchased a rheostat instead of the dimmer that you suggested. Sorry for seeming like I wasn't listening, but I was, and I did appreciate your help and read the sticky. I didn't get the snake until I was maintaining a correct temperature but something happened. i'll be heading to Lowes tomorrow.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by cayley

Hi Cletus,

the rheoostat doesn't have a probe, the digital thermometer does. The only thing plugged into my rheostat is the heating pad itself. The thermometer is battery powered and the probe is inside of the terrarium, under the substrate.

---

Ahh. Srry about that. Well like Sully said, I'd unplug it and bump your room heat a tad and start over tomorrow. I've never used a rheostat. Get everything stable before you reintroduce the snake back. Proper heat regulation is prob the most important factor in husbandry. That has to be right.

a rheostat is quite different from a T-stat. with a rheostat the energy flow is constant despite fluctuations in relative humidity and thus temperature. the dryer the substrate gets the hotter it will be on a rheostat. a t-stat is better at minimizing these swings, but in incubators I've still seen humidity swings mess with even t-stats. it's also possible that the rheostat failed... anything can fail, but I'd check the humidity right over hot spot.

I've taken to sealing up my enclosures and heavily insulating them, and eliminating heat lamps and by doing so keeping the humidity more constant to reduce big swings in temp and humidity. if you want to get really into it, when water changes states from a liquid to a gas, it literally absorbs heat/energy, so a moist hot spot will literally remain cooler with a constant voltage than a dry hot spot. screen tops make for tedium.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by cayley

Hi Mr Sully, I was lead to believe that a Rheostat was a dimmer... I was in a reptile store that had everything conveniently there so I purchased a rheostat instead of the dimmer that you suggested. Sorry for seeming like I wasn't listening, but I was, and I did appreciate your help and read the sticky. I didn't get the snake until I was maintaining a correct temperature but something happened. i'll be heading to Lowes tomorrow.

---

Im not being mean I just want to help that cute hatchling :)
In order to get the "Hot Spot" correct the only way to check the temp is a Laser or a Prob thermometer where your snake lays (Basks)
I wish you read the products in the Sticky before you bought any of the stuff you have. These Pet Store people will sell you and tell you anything. This is actually simple if you started all over...
The style enclosure you have is better for a Mouse than a snake. All you can do at this point is get your UTH to the correct temp because you cant use a CHE/Heat lamps with a critter cage. So lets get his heat mat hide to 88/91 so he is safe...
Then keep a eye on Craigslist because you need a 20/30Gallon Long terrarium or something. You can find them for $20/$30.

A rheostat and a dimmer are the same thing. The problem is that the rheostat has to run the UTH for several days, with you fine tuning it, until it's dialed in. They also don't work when the ambient temperature in the room isn't constant. As you also noted the UTH may still end up too hot even when the rheostat is on its lowest setting, while a thermostat can turn off the heater if it gets too hot.

If on a budget, Amazon has some thermostats for around $25 to $35 that work quite well.. ;)

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/...=ATVPDKIKX0DER

Hey guys thanks for the help! The temp has been steady for a few hours now and it's not climbing anymore. Thank you!

My jumpstart arrived yesterday for my BRB that has been with an unregulated heat source for two years (I know, i'm a horrible person, but I'm getting better). so far I'm really impressed with how robust the unit is given the very reasonable price. It's simple, it's not nearly as fancy and nice as my herpstat but it sure looks like it can get the job done!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by zina10

If on a budget, Amazon has some thermostats for around $25 to $35 that work quite well.. ;)

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/...=ATVPDKIKX0DER

---

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Slither Seeker

My jumpstart arrived yesterday for my BRB that has been with an unregulated heat source for two years (I know, i'm a horrible person, but I'm getting better).

---

They don't tend to stay on a hot spot like balls do either.