Problem!!!!

:rage::rage::rage:Hey everyone, OK so ive had my rack for about 1 1/2 months and for the life of me i cant get steady temps in all four tubs, i try and use the same about of substrate in each tub pretty much the same stuff in each tub trying to keep them all the same, thinking the temps would be the same right, NOT i cant get that to happen :rage::rage: does anyone else have this problem its killin me here. Sorry its just frustrating like no other :please::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rage:

On my rack the bottom tubs are cooler than the top tubs, the temps drop or go up depending on where in the room the racks are it just takes some tweaking.

Hey buddie i knew you would answer haha do you have yours on the floor i have it on a big piece of wood so its not on the carpet do you have yours higher ? i dont know what else i can try (IM going crazy over this) :rage::rage::rage::rage::rolleye2::rolleye2:

All racks do this, it's a combination of several things. First, heat rises so higher tubs tend to be warmer. Second, the tubs above a tub help insulate it. So in most racks, the second from the top tub is the hottest. Third, depending on how the flexwatt is run, some have belly heat and partial side heat (sort of a zig-zag running up each side).

Above all, don't worry! Your snakes are more robust than you might think. If you have a several degree sway between various tubs, try and set all temps in the center of your ideal range so that the highs and lows balance out. For example, I shoot for about 90-92 degrees on the hot spot. I shoot for 80-82 on the cool side. After all was said and done, I have some that are 82-84 on the cool side, some that are 79-82. My hot spots in each tub vary from 93 to 90 degrees.

Sounds like you're doing everything right, so don't sweat it! :)

JonV

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Originally Posted by nevohraalnavnoj

All racks do this, it's a combination of several things. First, heat rises so higher tubs tend to be warmer. Second, the tubs above a tub help insulate it. So in most racks, the second from the top tub is the hottest. Third, depending on how the flexwatt is run, some have belly heat and partial side heat (sort of a zig-zag running up each side).

Above all, don't worry! Your snakes are more robust than you might think. If you have a several degree sway between various tubs, try and set all temps in the center of your ideal range so that the highs and lows balance out. For example, I shoot for about 90-92 degrees on the hot spot. I shoot for 80-82 on the cool side. After all was said and done, I have some that are 82-84 on the cool side, some that are 79-82. My hot spots in each tub vary from 93 to 90 degrees.

Sounds like you're doing everything right, so don't sweat it! :)

JonV

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I agree there is always gonna be variation which depends on location of tub like mentioned and the type of heating element. Flexxwats can vary slightly from one to another. I have racks with flexwatt(Freedom breeders) and other with heat rope(Animal plastics and Vision) and they seem to be a bit more even because they are one continual heat source. As long as the temps arent way off you should be OK.

How are you measuring temps? I noticed the location of probes of off an inch can change temp readings significantly

I use a temp gun and all the temps very by around 4 degrees, now i feel alot better now that i know that everyone else has theses problems as well haha sorry but it makes me feel better i mean i was going crazy over this, should i put some heat tape in the tubs on the buttom could that possibly help ? Thankx for the help guys i can now get a good night sleep haah :banana::banana::bow::bow::bow::gj:

I have the probe in the TUB not on the flexxwatt thats correct right ?????

Hey man,

I have been keeping bps in a rack for almost 2 years now, and use to worry about the same problems:D.

Btw, I noticed you live in Phoenix. I'm right around the corner!

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Originally Posted by Drew420

I have the probe in the TUB not on the flexxwatt thats correct right ?????

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There's a lot of talk over this as well, but I believe the generally accepted practice is to tape the probe right on the flexxwatt. Let's break it down:

Con's: Yes, fluctuations in your room temp will have a more significant affect inside the tubs because the temp probe is reading the flexxwatt, not the tub temp. But BP's lived in the wild for 1000's of years, they can handle fluctuations.

Pro's: All it takes is for one BP to bump that sensor in the tub, your flexxwatt kicks on harder and fries all your BP's in the rack. Flexxwatt gets incredibly hot, I thought it was going to melt my tubs when I turned it on without a thermostat.


Mathematically speaking, you can break it down in terms of expected value, well, sort of. With the probe on the flexxwatt there is a good probability temps will fluctuate more (let's set probability =0.7), and we associate with this some negative value, say -2 (once again, this is pretty touchy feely). Then, the outcome of this event is a value of -2*0.7=-1.4, meaning we are in some way unhappy with it.

On the other hand, let's say there is a miniscule probability one of your BP's would ever bump the probe inside the tub. Let's say the probability is 0.0001, absolutely miniscule. But, associated with the outcome of this event we have to place a huge negative value (because all your BP's are fried), let's say - infinity, more reasonably, -1,000,000,000. Then the expected value of this outcome is -100,000 which is way worse than -1.4

So, to recap. I tape my probe DIRECTLY TO THE FLEXXWATT to choose safety over a few degrees sway in temps.

JonV

I will try that but i would think that would be atleast a 5 degree difference becuase of the tubs not touching the flexwatt (in the type of rack system i have) so i would have to set the them to say 96 so the flexxwat would be 96 but the temp inside the tubs would be i hope around 90 ish what do you think ?

how big is the air gap between the floor and the rack. It helps atleast up here due to the fact that floors can get cold in the winter. i have about a 5 inch gap between the rack and the floor. casters and bottom of the cage. i have one rack with 3 different size tubs in it. I guess when i built it i was smarter than i thought. I have 4 41 quart tubs on the bottom 6 27 quarts above that and 16 hatchlings on the end of the tape. suprisingly enough i have a difference of 2 degrees in hot spots on all the cages and all my cool sides are at 82 degrees. i don't know how i did it but its awsome. i bet i could build the same rack again and not have that kind of luck. my snakes move better in the new rack than they did with the old rack. i moved 3 snakes from aquriums into this rack. kind of the reason i built the rack to begin with. They all seem happy. Im running it all on 4 inch 6 watt tape and a cheap rehastat. i keep telling myself that i should get a helix or something for it but i think it might mess up something good that i have going

i have my rack and a piece of ply woob about inch tall so i dont know if thats the issue because the wood is ontop of carpet

Something else to think about. Watch where your snakes hang out most - some seem to like it warmer or cooler. Adjust the snakes till they like the temps.

I have one girl that hangs mostly on the cool side, so she lives lower in the rack....

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Originally Posted by Drew420

I will try that but i would think that would be atleast a 5 degree difference becuase of the tubs not touching the flexwatt (in the type of rack system i have) so i would have to set the them to say 96 so the flexxwat would be 96 but the temp inside the tubs would be i hope around 90 ish what do you think ?

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Absolutely. I set my helix in the high 90's to achieve 92 in the tub.

JonV

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Originally Posted by JenH

Something else to think about. Watch where your snakes hang out most - some seem to like it warmer or cooler. Adjust the snakes till they like the temps.

I have one girl that hangs mostly on the cool side, so she lives lower in the rack....

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This is an excellent observation. If your snakes are all hanging out on the cool side means your rack is too warm. If they are hovering over the heat tape all the time means your rack is too cold. If your snakes are not eating well means your rack may be either too hot or too cold.

JonV

well i think they are too cold so im going to tape the probe to the flexxwatt, and try that out and ive had all my snakes almost 5 months or so and they all have a very strong feeding everytime they have never missed a feeding so ill just mess around and see what i can do,, thankx for all the help :bow::bow::gj:

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Originally Posted by Drew420

well i think they are too cold so im going to tape the probe to the flexxwatt, and try that out and ive had all my snakes almost 5 months or so and they all have a very strong feeding everytime they have never missed a feeding so ill just mess around and see what i can do,, thankx for all the help :bow::bow::gj:

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Holy cow you've got 5 snakes in 5 months?
<===Jealous!

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Originally Posted by Drew420

becuase of the tubs not touching the flexwatt

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Speaking of which, what is the airflow like around your rack, and how close and what direction is the nearest air register in?

When I finished our newest rack, I couldn't get the damn thing to stabilize to save my life, and then I realized it was because I had it sitting at the end of the hall where the air intake is, instead of in the relatively stable (in terms of airflow) snake room.

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Originally Posted by Drew420

well i think they are too cold so im going to tape the probe to the flexxwatt, and try that out and ive had all my snakes almost 5 months or so and they all have a very strong feeding everytime they have never missed a feeding so ill just mess around and see what i can do,, thankx for all the help :bow::bow::gj:

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Good call, if they have been eating great it sounds like you are doing a great job with them!

JonV

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Originally Posted by ctrlfreq

Speaking of which, what is the airflow like around your rack, and how close and what direction is the nearest air register in?

When I finished our newest rack, I couldn't get the damn thing to stabilize to save my life, and then I realized it was because I had it sitting at the end of the hall where the air intake is, instead of in the relatively stable (in terms of airflow) snake room.

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I second that. If I put a fan blowing on my rack, it forces all the ambient air in their which lowers temps and sucks humidity. If I just let the ambient flow do it's job things work much better.

JonV

Don't sweat it some much bro. We all have the same issue. Put your probe in middle tub or closest one possible and keep an eye on your animals like others have mentioned.

Usless your rack is setting on a bare concrete floor I'd ditch the board.

You'll be fine. :)

wow thankx guys i didnt think this many people would post there thoughts thankx for all the input ill keep you updated, i think thats the thing i keep the rack in my closet so the airflow is not great so ill try the fan as well, wish me luck

Yea ive had them around 5 months and still growing im going to hawaii for my 21st Bday and if it wasnt for that i would have more haha, i plan on one day breeding and sharing great living art with anyone who wants it:gj: