Rack Temp Problem

[Dabonus]

I have an iris sweaterbox rack from reptile basics with the probe tapped right in the middle of the flexwatt on the top shelf. I only have three snakes in the rack at the moment, and the top shelf is empty (not even a tub in it).

Yesterday I was doing my monthly cleaning, and got tired of the empty tub being in my way so I just slid it into the open slot on the top shelf. After a couple of hours I noticed that the temperatures in the bottom three tubs dropped by about 6 degrees. I took the empty tub out again, and in a few hours the temperatures were back to where they needed to be.

The temporary solution is to just keep the empty tub out of the rack, but I do plan on getting another snake in the near future and will need that top shelf. I’m assuming the tub is preventing the probe from getting an accurate reading, but I’m not sure where else I could place it. Have any of you run into the problem before, and if so what did you do to fix it?

[Vypyrz]

It may be caused from the fact that when the top shelf is open the heat from the Flexwatt where the probe is dissipates quicker so the t-stat is running more to keep the temps up. When you add the empty tub, it actually retains the heat around the probe so the t-stat shuts off sooner, and with substrate in the bottom tubs it will not heat up as much. You can try either relocating the probe to the bottom shelf or basically setting the top tub up with the same type and amount of substrate as the bottom tubs and readjusting your thermostat. That's about the only thing I can think of. If it doesn't work, you may need to call Rich at Reptile Basics and see what he suggests...

I notice you are from Tyler. I grew up right down the road in Longview...

[Dabonus]

Thanks for the advise man. I'll try moving the probe tonight and see if that work.

My wife grew up right outside of Longview in White Oaks.
Small world.