Just got a UTH

Ok so I just got a UTH at Petsmart and I wanted to know a few questions. Right now I'm testing to see how hot it gets, and right now it's at 101F. My snake is with me right now, not in the enclosure. I felt on top of the substrate to see if it was warm but it wasn't warm at all. The thermometer probe is between the UTH and the substrate at the bottom of the enclosure on the warm side. Would it be safe to put my BP in the enclosure, since it's reading how hot the UTH is but not sure how hot it is on top but I will test that in a minute. And also, if your supposed to have it at 92F, and the top of the substrate is not even warm, how do you expect the UTH giving the snake body heat to digest a meal? I have to leave in a few minutes, and I will unplug the UTH and put back the lamp just to be on the safe side. My girl does have a cool end and a water dish that I just cleaned and put new water in 5 minutes ago. She normally hangs out at the cooler end anyway, so should I not put her in anyway?

Need some answers fast my mom is pushing me to leave right now and I just want to make sure if it's ok to leave my snake in the enclosure while I'm gone. I won't be gone too long though.

I have been wondering the same thing;
For example, how would you know if its warm enough if the top isn't warm and you're meant to put the probe under the substrate? Everyone has different amounts of substrate and different material. =P Good question. I've no clue about the answer. [I shall be watching in hopes of finding out.]
All I know is, I've been told that the probe under the substrate is best.

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Originally Posted by drucebennedict

I have been wondering the same thing;
For example, how would you know if its warm enough if the top isn't warm and you're meant to put the probe under the substrate? Everyone has different amounts of substrate and different material. =P Good question. I've no clue about the answer. [I shall be watching in hopes of finding out.]
All I know is, I've been told that the probe under the substrate is best.

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Ya it just maxed 113F so I unplugged it lol.

You're gonna at least need some kind of reostat or dimmer switch. And check the temps often.

UTHs generally state somewhere on the package that they must be used with a controlling device such as a rheostat or a thermostat.

A thermostat is a very important piece of equipment when you are keeping any sort of reptile.

Don't use the UTH without the thermostat.

I am pretty sure you are using aspen and ball pythons are very capable of moving the aspen out of the way and laying closer to the UTH. That is why you have the probe right on the glass. Because they can easily get that close.

How much substrate are you using?

if u are leaving put on the air conditioner it lowers uth temperatures cause i wouldnt leave a snake in that heat

I turned it off before I left so no worries. I will not turn the UTH back on until I get the dimmer. I was just testing to see how hot it gets, and it got HOT. I'm using an inch or so of Aspen Bedding. But I don't get one thing. If the top of the substrate is not even hot at all, how do you expect the BP to get belly heat? I put my hand on the substrate where the UTH is and it just felt like it always did, even when the temps said 113F. So, I don't get it. Can the BP really get belly heat when the UTH is at 92F (when using dimmer/thermostat) and be able to properly digest the meal when the substrate is cold-ish on top and the temps above the substrate are not even correct?? That's the thing I don't get, it makes no sense to me.

The tank should be 80F on the cool side, and 90F where the snake comes in contact with the heat. If the air in the tank is cooler than this, then your UTH is not sufficient to heat the tank, and you will need to use additional heating devices. If the surface of the substrate is that much cooler than it is on the glass, consider switching to newspaper.

Proper temperatures are CRUCIAL for your snake's health. Spending time too cold can quickly result in depressed immune function and mouth and respiratory infections.

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Originally Posted by CoolioTiffany

I turned it off before I left so no worries. I will not turn the UTH back on until I get the dimmer. I was just testing to see how hot it gets, and it got HOT. I'm using an inch or so of Aspen Bedding. But I don't get one thing. If the top of the substrate is not even hot at all, how do you expect the BP to get belly heat? I put my hand on the substrate where the UTH is and it just felt like it always did, even when the temps said 113F. So, I don't get it. Can the BP really get belly heat when the UTH is at 92F (when using dimmer/thermostat) and be able to properly digest the meal when the substrate is cold-ish on top and the temps above the substrate are not even correct?? That's the thing I don't get, it makes no sense to me.

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They will push the substrate out of the way to get down to the heat, if need be, but you want it to be at no more than about 95 on the glass so they cant burn themselves.

I'm a noobie too. I use a lot of substrate in my tank, about and inch and a half. About an inch of it is the repti-soil and half an inch is the repti bark. I put the temp guage and term probe just between the soil and bark. My temps are at 92. This to me made the most sense. My snake has not burried into the substrate, and I have found no evidence yet that he has. He is a very happy snake, eating all the time, staying on the warm side, he balls up when threatened.

I'm not saying it's right, but that is what I've been doing for the last 3 weeks.

Remember, I'm not an expert.

Hi,

I really would urge you to control the UTH in some manner. :(

The vet bill from one burnt belly will buy you almost any thermostat out there and it really is just an accident waiting to happen otherwise. :weirdface


dr del