How do you guys keep temperature in your tanks?

[arke95]

Hello, I gave a 20 gallon tank. The top screen is covered in about 75% with aluminium foil. I use a heating lamp and UTH but the temperature still won't go above 85. Could it be that I use cypress as the substrate and it's about 1 inch thick? Also the thermometer is place more up top should i put it lower so it's more accurate? Please let me know how you guys keep the temperatures at 85+

[arke95]

Also I am using 60w heating bulbs should I get ones with higher wattage?

[bcr229]

Ambient can be 80, what is the temperature of the glass over the UTH as measured with a temp gun or IR thermometer?

Yes an inch of cypress over the UTH is too much, 1/4 inch at most will be fine.

[arke95]

Okay I will get rid of some cypress where the UTH is located but if they snake gets in touch with the glass directly where the UTH is won't it get burned?

[thejennabird]

Okay I will get rid of some cypress where the UTH is located but if they snake gets in touch with the glass directly where the UTH is won't it get burned?

You need a thermostat for your UTH (this is an inexpensive option). The glass above the UTH should NEVER get hot enough to burn your snake. The thermostat regulates your UTH and keeps it a proper, safe temperature.

Removing some cypress will help the UTH get more heat into the cage, but UTHs aren't designed to heat the ambient air. AFTER you get the thermostat, cover three sides of the tank with insulating foam/cardboard/etc to help retain heat. You may need to get a higher wattage bulb, which you can regulate with a lamp dimmer.

[arke95]

I do have a thermostat, and the top is covered with aluminium foil. The thermostat is set at 105 is there a risk the snake will get burned if he gets in touch with the glass?

[thejennabird]

So when you say the thermometer is placed "more up top", do you mean it's up on the tank wall (on the glass)? Or is it on top of the substrate? Ideally you'd want the glass bottom inside the tank to be no hotter than 95, so that if your snake burrows it doesn't get burned, even if it's a little cooler on the top of the substrate.

[Mr. Misha]

I do have a thermostat, and the top is covered with aluminium foil. The thermostat is set at 105 is there a risk the snake will get burned if he gets in touch with the glass?

You should either have a digital thermometer probe on the bottom of the glass to check how hot the UTH heats up the glass or your can use an infrared temperature gun. The glass shouldn't be hotter than 90 F.

In regards to your temperature gauge, if you have the circle analog gauges they're not very accurate so you should consider replacing them with a digital thermostat which should run you about $10-20 bucks at stores like Walmart. Most people here prefer something like this so that way you can put the probe on the glass where the UTH is and then also monitor ambient temp and humidity:

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Taylor-152...meter/24727251

http://www.walmart.com/ip/896347?www...tRedirect=true

[arke95]

I actually ordered the digital thermometer and it's coming in tomorrow. Thank you guys for replies

[arke95]

I just made a top screen with plexiglass. I want you guys to let me know whether or not i made enough holes for air flow.