Thermostat Probe Placement

[chapskis1]

I have decided to get a ball python after I sold my eight year old male a couple of years ago (wished I hadn't done that). I am planning on getting a baby, and am probably just going to start it out in a 10 or 20 gal aquarium to start with.

I'm not sure how to go about placing the probe for a thermostat in regards to the uth. I am thinking about just converting an aquarium instead of spending the extra money for a critter cage -- and this leads to my dilemma. Do the probes need to be mounted inside the tank, or can they be placed outside directly on the uth? I am asking this, because there are no notches for wirinig on a standard aquarium.

How does everyone else do their wiring if they are using an aquarium for housing their ball?

Thanks

[chapskis1]

Thanks for all of the replies everyone. As a new user to the forum, it is nice to get so much feedback and help!

Chapskis1

[OuijaBoid]

Mount the probe directly to the UTH with your thermostat and then use a temp gun or thermometer to see what the inside temps of the tank are....then adjust accordingly....

[Spaniard]

Hey Chaps,

Its very rare that a thread goes unnoticed like this. I'm sure many of the regulars are bowing their heads in shame, myself included.

Anyways to answer your question you should place your probe in the middle of your UTH between the UTH and the bottom of the glass. Set your thermostat to whatever degree setting gets you the proper thermal gradient in the tank. Be cautious about the amount of substrate you use in your tank as too much will not allow heat to transfer properly and can lead to a heat blockage.

[stargazed85]

Thanks for all of the replies everyone. As a new user to the forum, it is nice to get so much feedback and help!

Chapskis1

I'm a new bp owner as well. But it seems like I have to keep re-posting to get a response to any of my questions too. Hang in there! I wish I could help but I'm learning as well. Maybe we smell *shrugz*

[Spaniard]

Its a very active forum and sometimes posts get buried, I wouldn't get discouraged just bump up your post.

[chapskis1]

Thank you very much -- that helps a lot -- now I don't have to drill holes into the sides of my aquarium. I am actually goiing to put repti-carpet down first, and then a thin layer of aspen (I think). I thnk I will just go with a thermometer with a probe that I will mount on the inside...(and place the probe on top of the carpet).

Thanks a lot for the help.

BTW -- how do you "bump" your post up?

Chapskis1

[Spaniard]

You'll probably want to ditch the repti-carpet, it harbors bacteria which can lead to things like scale rot. You would be much better just using aspen.

As for bumping you post. Just find your thread that is unanswered and post a reply to it with "bump" in the body. Which means "bring up my post".

[chapskis1]

I was going to use the repti-carpet as suggested by someone (sorry, don't remember who) in the sticky forum/cage set-up guide. They suggested using the repti-carpet to keep the snake from having direct contact with the glass -- possibility of a burn?? (I was going to get two pieces and sanitize and alternate them every time the tank is "messed" up).

I'm not too familiar with uth's (I understand how they work, just haven't used one before) -- I used an in tank heat mat in my old cage.

Thanks again! (loving all the responses -- at first I thought maybe you guys didn't like newbies!!)

[OuijaBoid]

the carpet will just make more work and hassle, and I dont think it will prevent a burn that wont happen if youre using your thermostat properly....I like aspen and just plain old newspaper (printed or non printed) which is what I use most of the time....