New to ball pythons! Need help with how to measure hot spot temp!

[tomjones456]

How do you properly measure hot spot temp? I have a accu rite thermometor/hygrometer from walmart for 12$ with probe, and i put the probe right where my snake would sit, on top of the eco earth. Should i be measuring by putting the probe on the bottom on the glass directly above the UTH? or am i doing it right? please help! thanks

[The Serpent Merchant]

Do you have a thermostat regulating your UTH?

How thick is the layer of eco-earth?

Your probe placement sounds fine as long as the substrate layer is thin enough.

Here is a thread that covers cage heating in detail:

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...t-Thermometers

[tomjones456]

im using a lamp dimmer hooked up to it and its working well. my eco earth layer is about an inch thick. i tried putting the probe on the glass on the bottom, and temps are at about 100-104 right now. but with the substrate on top, it's like 87-90 steady... need help quick! thanks

[The Serpent Merchant]

How thick is the eco-earth?

Your lamp dimmer isn't working well. The bottom of your tank is way too hot. No part of the cage should ever get above 95 degrees. What if your BP digs down into the substrate and lays directly on the glass?

Here are some good thermostats:

Budget: http://www.amazon.com/Hydrofarm-MTPR.../dp/B000NZZG3S

Mid-Range: http://www.reptilebasics.com/ranco-etc-111000-pre-wired

Best: http://spyderrobotics.com/home/products.html (for a single cage I would recommend the Herpstat intro + or the Herpstat 1)

[tomjones456]

so just keep the probe on the glass? im confused cuz i was told temps on hot spot should be 90-92, and i worked hard to get it to that, but now i might be doing it wrong because im measuring the top of the substrate instead

[The Serpent Merchant]

How thick is the Eco-Earth? If it is any thicker than 1/2" The UTH isn't going to be able to safely create the hot side temperature as the floor of the tank will be too hot.

Yes the hot side of the cage should be 88-92 degrees at the top of the substrate layer, but the floor of the tank can't be so hot that your snake would get burned if it digs down into the substrate. You probably need to remove some of the substrate to make a thinner layer so heat can be transferred more easily to the surface without making the floor of the cage so hot.

[tomjones456]

how much is too hot for the bottom of the glass?

[The Serpent Merchant]

It needs to be 95 or less

[tomjones456]

i just thinned out the substrate to 1/2 inch and now the bottom of the glass is at 95. whats the lowest temp the hot spot should be? not sure if the top of the substrate is gonna be able to get to 90 like its suppose to be.. i have a babyish albino 165g

[The Serpent Merchant]

88 is the coldest the hot side can drop to.