Rack temps

Okay, so I have a 7 level AP rack that I finished setting up about 2 weeks ago. I use cocohusk substrate, space heater for ambient, and heat tape for belly heat with a herpstat 2 hooked up. I have the prob on the middle level. So, I’m having trouble with certain levels getting to the right temp(trying to hit 90-91*). The level the probe is on is getting to the right temps, as well as a few levels below and 2 levels above. The top level is only getting to 85-86*. If I raise the Tstat, then the tubs getting to the correct temp get too hot. Idk how everyone gets each tub to the correct temp on heat tape that’s snakes through the rack and not hooked up by each individual level. Thanks!

That is common.

If you are getting between 85-90 I would be happy with that as a hotspot. Most all my hotspots are 85 and I don't like them to get any warmer than 88.

Oh okay! I thought 85* wasn’t hot enough for a ball python to digest properly?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Jdrum6

Oh okay! I thought 85* wasn’t hot enough for a ball python to digest properly?

---

If the ambient temps are good they actually don't have to have a hotspot. My Ball hardly ever uses her hotspot and digests just fine and my snake room is usually 74-78 degrees. Many large breeders do not offer belly heat.

In my opinion 85 is perfect. It gives heat when needed but it gives a safe buffer from numbers that could harm your snake.

85 is enough to digest. I run mine slightly lower than that in the winter to stimulate breeding, and that is when they are eating the heaviest.

What is the difference from the top to bottom of the racks?
I usually use at least 3 thermostats, bottom, middle and top.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ascended

What is the difference from the top to bottom of the racks?
I usually use at least 3 thermostats, bottom, middle and top.

---

My guess is their heat tape is one continuous piece so it is on one tstat. That is how I mine is.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by KMG

My guess is their heat tape is one continuous piece so it is on one tstat. That is how I mine is.

---

Ahh, I see. Heat tape is hard to come by in the UK. I use individual heat mats. (mini heat tape I guess)
But what about the problem of heat rising?
The top will be always hotter than the bottom in a 7 high rack as stated here. Its just how heat works (shoot your gun at the floor then ceiling, there is a few degrees difference) . Unless you have incredible air circulation with serious fans and brilliant insulation in the racks.
That's why I use 3 thermostats minimum. The various levels are not the same otherwise.
In addition to heat rising - the bottom one has no bottom heat from the tub below, so even more cooler than just the heat rising alone.
Maybe I am being too precise. I guess a few degrees difference may not make that much difference.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ascended

Ahh, I see. Heat tape is hard to come by in the UK. I use individual heat mats. (mini heat tape I guess)
But what about the problem of heat rising?
The top will be always hotter than the bottom in a 7 high rack as stated here. Its just how heat works (shoot your gun at the floor then ceiling, there is a few degrees difference) . Unless you have incredible air circulation with serious fans and brilliant insulation in the racks.
That's why I use 3 thermostats minimum. The various levels are not the same otherwise.
In addition to heat rising - the bottom one has no bottom heat from the tub below, so even more cooler than just the heat rising alone.
Maybe I am being too precise. I guess a few degrees difference may not make that much difference.

---

With a single strip of heat tape in a rack this will always be a variable.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by KMG

With a single strip of heat tape in a rack this will always be a variable.

---

Yes, but is it ok for just one heat strip on one thermostat? or am I being to controlling and over the top spiting them of into 3 ? are a few degrees difference ok? Genuine question. I don't know
Also I believe heat strips can be cut to size, so one at the bottom, one at the top and the rest in the middle, is that possible, or unnecessary?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ascended

Yes, but is it ok for just one heat strip on one thermostat? or am I being to controlling? are a few degrees difference ok? Genuine question. I don't know
Also I believe heat strips can be cut to size, so one at the bottom, one at the top and the rest in the middle, is that possible, or unnecessary?

---

You can set heat tape up many different ways.

If it is one long piece only one tstat can be used.

If you have a piece for each level then each will need a tstat.

In my opinion a small difference on each level is fine. If my "hotspot" is between 83-86 I am happy. Hardly any of my snakes use their hotspot and being so I turned many of them off and will only use them during colder months...if then. None of my hotspots are set higher than 85 or to a temp that gives a 85 degree hotspot.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by KMG

You can set heat tape up many different ways.

If it is one long piece only one tstat can be used.

If you have a piece for each level then each will need a tstat.

In my opinion a small difference on each level is fine. If my "hotspot" is between 83-86 I am happy. Hardly any of my snakes use their hotspot and being so I turned many of them off and will only use them during colder months...if then. None of my hotspots are set higher than 85 or to a temp that gives a 85 degree hotspot.

---

I see, I guess it depends on your local climate and if you have a thermal gradient and if you can achieve decent hot spots its ok.
Its cold here in the UK most of the time, so I get a bigger difference between the floor ant top rack. its harder to maintain a decent hot spot on all levels of a 10 level tub system for me here in the UK.
Hence my 3 thermostat system. (With the cold temperatures the floor is pretty cold and he variation is quite large from top to bottom.)

Your making me think about heating my whole snake room to closer to ideal temperatures. Or even just heating the snake room and not the racks.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ascended

I see, I guess it depends on your local climate and if you have a thermal gradient and if you can achieve decent hot spots its ok.
Its cold here in the UK most of the time, so I get a bigger difference between the floor ant top rack. its harder to maintain a decent hot spot on all levels of a 10 level tub system for me here in the UK.
Hence my 3 thermostat system. (With the cold temperatures the floor is pretty cold and he variation is quite large from top to bottom.)

Your making me think about heating my whole snake room to closer to ideal temperatures. Or even just heating the snake room and not the racks.

---

My oil filled heater does most the work for keeping my collection happy. Being in Texas certainly helps though. During the hot months it seems none of the heaters have to do much. Today around 11am I walked into my snake room and checked my oil filled heater and found it cool to the touch......the ambient temp in my room? 82F. Sometimes in the hot months I will leave the door of my snake room cracked to let some hot air out during the hot time of the day.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by KMG

My oil filled heater does most the work for keeping my collection happy. Being in Texas certainly helps though. During the hot months it seems none of the heaters have to do much. Today around 11am I walked into my snake room and checked my oil filled heater and found it cool to the touch......the ambient temp in my room? 82F. Sometimes in the hot months I will leave the door of my snake room cracked to let some hot air out during the hot time of the day.

---

OK, now you have me more than interested this method. I have some oil filed heaters for emergencies, power cuts and such. I could use one or two of them in my snake room.
How would do you manage the temperatures in the room. Their own internal thermostats or another way?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ascended

OK, now you have me more than interested this method. I have some oil filed heaters for emergencies, power cuts and such. I could use one or two of them in my snake room.
How would do you manage the temperatures in the room. Their own internal thermostats or another way?

---

Mine has a built in digital tstat that has always worked well but many suggest putting it on a back up tstat as well. It is up to you.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by KMG

Mine has a built in digital tstat that has always worked well but many suggest putting it on a back up tstat as well. It is up to you.

---

Ok thanks, I think I will give it a try, at least for the minimum cool end temperature for a start. Then experiment with optimum temps.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ascended

I have some oil filed heaters for emergencies, power cuts and such.

---

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by KMG

My oil filled heater does most the work for keeping my collection happy.

---

I've been wanting to invest in some of these heaters for when I get a designated reptile room except I wasn't sure which ones to use. Which products do you think are best for these purposes?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Erie_herps

I've been wanting to invest in some of these heaters for when I get a designated reptile room except I wasn't sure which ones to use. Which products do you think are best for these purposes?

---

This is the brand I have. I actually have two and have had them for over 8 years so these in the links are not the exact ones I have. They have served me well. The oldest is just now having the LCD screen fade but it is still working correctly. I think I paid $85-90. Mine is more like the second one with the screen and buttons.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/DeLonghi-15...ter/1000107815

https://www.amazon.com/DeLonghi-TRD4...2245351&sr=8-7