Heat pad not working?

[SpartaDog]

A couple months ago I bought a 20L from a friend's neighbor and it came with a heat pad already attached to the bottom. There's now a leuci texas rat baby in it (though I'm considering switching him and my juv bp). The pad is plugged in 24/7, but the temperature doesn't seem to be changing. Both sides of the tank read about 79˚F - 80˚F, give or take depending on the time of day. Humidity's at about 70%. I've got a heat lamp on that end until I fix/replace the pad. Any idea what could be wrong and what I could do about it? Or should I leave it as is?

There's no thermostat on it, by the way. How much does one go for?

[joepythons]

A couple months ago I bought a 20L from a friend's neighbor and it came with a heat pad already attached to the bottom. There's now a leuci texas rat baby in it (though I'm considering switching him and my juv bp). The pad is plugged in 24/7, but the temperature doesn't seem to be changing. Both sides of the tank read about 79˚F - 80˚F, give or take depending on the time of day. Humidity's at about 70%. I've got a heat lamp on that end until I fix/replace the pad. Any idea what could be wrong and what I could do about it? Or should I leave it as is?

There's no thermostat on it, by the way. How much does one go for?

How are you reading the temps?

[tiny_tiger60978]

I had a problem with this when I moved for the summer...have you tried plugging it into a DIFFERENT electrical outlet? Some don't work and/or don't put out enough power for the uth to heat all the way up. I'd try changing the outlet it's plugged into before I changed the uth

Just a suggestion!!!

[SpartaDog]

I had a problem with this when I moved for the summer...have you tried plugging it into a DIFFERENT electrical outlet? Some don't work and/or don't put out enough power for the uth to heat all the way up. I'd try changing the outlet it's plugged into before I changed the uth

Just a suggestion!!!

I'll try that, thanks.

How are you reading the temps?

An ExoTerra round thermometer right above the heat pad on the glass, and one of those stick-on strip thermometers on the cool end. Again, they came with the tank.

[RichsBallPythons]

Rat snakes can be comfortable in a 83F room with out a hot spot or cool side.

So if your able to get room temps up then your fine with out the UTH

[dr del]

Ah,

An ExoTerra round thermometer right above the heat pad on the glass, and one of those stick-on strip thermometers on the cool end. Again, they came with the tank.

Sadly both of those are known to be unreliable.

I'd try and pick up a nice digital thermometer with probe - and a humidity reading as well if you can. Thje acurite weatherstation form walmart for $12 is a good buy.


dr del

[SpartaDog]

Ah, Sadly both of those are known to be unreliable.

Damn. I knew the strips were, but I thought ExoTerra might be better. I'll see what I can do about a digital, and until then I'll have to live with the lamp I guess. I'd leave the tank at a single temp if the rat snake was still in it, but I moved him to a smaller tank and put my juvie ball in that instead.

If you don't mind me asking, what is it about them that makes them unreliable? Are they inaccurate, or do they stop working? How far off are they?

[RichsBallPythons]

Damn. I knew the strips were, but I thought ExoTerra might be better. I'll see what I can do about a digital, and until then I won't necessarily wonder about a hot or cold spot.

If you don't mind me asking, what is it about them that makes them unreliable? Are they inaccurate, or do they stop working? How far off are they?

They only measure the surface their on and surrounding air. You need to know the belly temp your snake is at. This is where digital comes into play that has a probe to measure it.

IR temp guns work well for this for Instant temps

the stick ons can be off by as much as 10F cool or hot

[BPelizabeth]

as Del stated...go to Walmart and get yourself an acurite....they are awesome and have a probe attached. Will read temp and humidity and it is very accurate. (no pun intended)