Themometer probe placement

This is for those that are using themometers with a probe. I am just curious as where the proper placement is for a probe is on the hot side of the tank. *Related to if there is aspen substrate.*

Also if you could explain why it should be done which ever way you choose, it would be appreciated.

Always under your substrate, on top of the tub/tank.

You want the HOTTEST part of your whole enclosure to be no more than like 95.

Granted it's not going to be 95 on top of the substrate, but you animal can burrow down to the heat if he wishes.

Make it 95 ON TOP of the substrate, and the floor of your enclosure under the Aspen will easily be over 100 degrees. Which is just asking for a burn, and other problems that won't be any good at all for you.

HTH

I place the probe all the way under the substrate and tape it down to the bottom of the tank over where the heating pad is.

Out of curiosity, though, should the temperature still be kept at 95-degrees despite the fact that there is no way that is what the temperature will be on the surface? In this instance, would it be appropriate to turn up my rheostat a little?

First off, snakes and tape, don't do well. BUT, if you don't have a temp gun, just make sure to use a low stick tape like Delicate Blue Painters Tape.

Second, no, don't turn the rheostat up. You want the hottest part anywhere in your cage to be no higher than 95 like I posted earlier. If you make it 95 degrees on top of the substrate, and your snake burrows down into his substrate, snake ka-bobs.

It's all about safety here, no hotter than 95. If they want to be warmer than say the 88 degrees they're experiencing on top of they're aspen or whatever, they'll burrow down towards the heat and warm up even more.

Make sense?

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Originally Posted by rynpckrd

I place the probe all the way under the substrate and tape it down to the bottom of the tank over where the heating pad is.

Out of curiosity, though, should the temperature still be kept at 95-degrees despite the fact that there is no way that is what the temperature will be on the surface? In this instance, would it be appropriate to turn up my rheostat a little?

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Alright, thanks!

I appreciate the tips and that all made sense!

:gj:

No problemo man:D

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Originally Posted by 2kdime

Always under your substrate, on top of the tub/tank.

You want the HOTTEST part of your whole enclosure to be no more than like 95.

Granted it's not going to be 95 on top of the substrate, but you animal can burrow down to the heat if he wishes.

Make it 95 ON TOP of the substrate, and the floor of your enclosure under the Aspen will easily be over 100 degrees. Which is just asking for a burn, and other problems that won't be any good at all for you.

HTH

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I have been told to keep the basking temp at 90. Do you kept the temp set at 95 so that the surface will be a few degrees lower then that?

Also people have told me about burrowing, but my snake has never burrowed down at all into his subsrate, so would this change any factors to what temp I should set the rheostat at? I bet you are gonna say no but I just wanna make sure.

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Originally Posted by van_garret2000

I have been told to keep the basking temp at 90. Do you kept the temp set at 95 so that the surface will be a few degrees lower then that?

Also people have told me about burrowing, but my snake has never burrowed down at all into his subsrate, so would this change any factors to what temp I should set the rheostat at? I bet you are gonna say no but I just wanna make sure.

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Nope keep the thermostat the same because IF the snake were to burrow it would not be capable of burning itself. :gj:

Some people keep they're hot spots at 90, some 92, some 94, some 95, and anywhere in between.

You can set yours at whatever temp you want, you just don't want anywhere in the enclosure to be over 95.

Has anyone else had any issues with their Zoo Med under-the-tank heaters?

I have it hooked up to a rheostat and it is dialed as low as it can go but my probe is saying it's at 110.5-degrees. Obviously, this isn't the temperature on top of the substrate, but as it was pointed out, our snakes can still burrow and risk the potential of being burned.

Should I place a towel underneath the substrate to lessen the chance of Atticus being burned?

Sorry if I seem like an idiot here...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by rynpckrd

Has anyone else had any issues with their Zoo Med under-the-tank heaters?

I have it hooked up to a rheostat and it is dialed as low as it can go but my probe is saying it's at 110.5-degrees. Obviously, this isn't the temperature on top of the substrate, but as it was pointed out, our snakes can still burrow and risk the potential of being burned.

Should I place a towel underneath the substrate to lessen the chance of Atticus being burned?

Sorry if I seem like an idiot here...

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What type of rheostat are you using? Is it just the light dimmer? A common mistake people do when using a dimmer, is thinking the hot end is the cold end and the cold end is the hot end.

I'd double check your rheostat, 110 is what most UTH's will max out temp wise. So what your thinking is low may actually be its high setting. What kind of rheostat are you using?

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Originally Posted by 2kdime

I'd double check your rheostat, 110 is what most UTH's will max out temp wise. So what your thinking is low may actually be its high setting. What kind of rheostat are you using?

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It's also made by Zoo Med; a Repti-Temp Rheostat "for manual heat control."

Quick guess, its malfunctioned. Those are notorious for failing, and its probably time for a new one. Can you get access to a light dimmer? That might hold you over until you can get a better/functioning thermostat such as a Ranco from www.reptilebasics.com.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 2kdime

Quick guess, its malfunctioned. Those are notorious for failing, and its probably time for a new one. Can you get access to a light dimmer? That might hold you over until you can get a better/functioning thermostat such as a Ranco from www.reptilebasics.com.

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Well that's just flat out annoying.

Unfortunately, no, I can't. I still have my heat lamp though, so I can hook that back up until I can get enough money to afford something like the Ranco that you suggested.

I would get rid of that UTH ASAP!! I had a ZooMed UTH fry out on me earlier this year and it was nearly a disaster. I walked in as it was literally melting, with the exposed wires sparking! I will NEVER use one of those things again, I have heard of too many of them going haywire.

From now on, I just use flexwatt.

v

Quote:

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Originally Posted by rynpckrd

Has anyone else had any issues with their Zoo Med under-the-tank heaters?

I have it hooked up to a rheostat and it is dialed as low as it can go but my probe is saying it's at 110.5-degrees. Obviously, this isn't the temperature on top of the substrate, but as it was pointed out, our snakes can still burrow and risk the potential of being burned.

Should I place a towel underneath the substrate to lessen the chance of Atticus being burned?

Sorry if I seem like an idiot here...

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Dam i think i have to same probelm. I Have the same rheostat and uth. What uth do you guys recomend with out using flex watt tape?

Hi,

Well as long as it isn't the occasional problem of getting the low and high ends of the rheostat mixed up then the best thing to do is use a good reliable thermostat.


dr del