where to take temperature reaings?

[kc81]

Hello all and thank you for your input in advance. I have confusion as to where to take my hot temp readings from. I use an UTH and a daytime incandes bulb. Should the hot side read come from under the substrate in the hide, on top of the substrate inside hide, an inch over the substrate? It seems that everyone reccomends something different. As of now im reading 88 outside of hide on substrate, 92 on substrate inside hide and 100 under the substrate directly on top of the UTH. Just want to make sure i dont burn him if he digs through the 2-3" aspen.

[kc81]

i believe ive answered my own question thanks to reading on the forums. Set the thermostat so that the thermometer probe under the bedding in the hide reads no more than 92 give or take a degree?? Also my ambient temps are around 78. Im using a 55gal tank with a screen lid. Im thinking of cutting some plexiglass to cover 2/3 of the top. hows that sound with regards to temp and humidity?

[ChuckSM]

Probe inside inclusure on top of the UTH area.

If humidity is a problem I would do a full sheet of plexiglass and drill air holes

[bones93]

Place your temp probe on the hottest point inside the enclosure that the snake can get to. That way you can monitor it and not cause any injuries to the snake. Hope this helps you out.

[Vypyrz]

I would recommend only using about 3/4" to 1" of substrate. This will allow more heat to dissipate up through the substrate and give you a little more even temp on the warm side...

[jfreels]

Also, don't bother with the plexiglass, you can just put foil over the top and secure it with foil tape. Unless you want something more presentable......

[MikeV]

I put both termometer probes in the hides.

I also put the ambient/hygrometer device about half an inch off the floor of the tub to accurately see what the temps and humidity are where my snake spends most of her time, the ground

[kc81]

Thank you all for the tips. I will set the probe accordingly and thin the substrate around the UTH.