Thermometer Sensor Placement

[mlady8]

Hi Everyone! I got my first BP this weekend. I have two UTH : 4 watt on cool side and 8 watt on warm hooked to a Rheostat (added this today to replace a red bulb lamp---too hard on humidity!). I have the Accurite thermometer-do I place the sensor directly on the glass under the substrate(Aspen) or do I place it on top? Currently I have it underneath the substrate on the hot side and am maintaining a temp of 90.3.

[giaach]

I put mine on top of the substrate, that way I know what the temp is directly were the snake is laying. Don't put it next to the glass because its gonna be about 5-10 degrees warmer than the surface of the substrate.

[gunkle]

Think about the temp of the glass when the thermometer is on top of the substrate. It's going to be 5 to 10 degrees warmer than the temp your getting on top of the substrate (maybe even more depending on how thick your substrate layer is). Now some BP's like to burrow or push aside the substrate and get to the bottom of the tank. This could potentially be a health hazard and cause burns. If you put the sensor on top of substrate just make sure that the snake isn't burrowing at all. Mine likes to.

[Argentra]

The thing that I do is to nestle the probe into the substrate but not cover it completely. I use a layer of newsprint paper under my aspen (for ease of cleaning as well as insulation) and the aspen is about fingernail deep, so I know that there isn't much deviation in temps on the floor and on the substrate surface. Also, it's best to place the probe under the hide so a) you have a reading where the snake spends most of its time, and b) you have the hide to hold down the cord and keep the probe mostly in place.