thermostat question.

[sn@ke247]

I just got a reptitemp 500r thermostat for my UTH. wouldn't it make more sense to put the probe in the hide instead of underneath the bedding? I think it would make more sense because you want to get the temp in the hide to a certain temp and if the probe is right on top of the glass above the UTH it's going to be cooler as the heat goes through the bedding and into the hide..right now i have it under the bedding and it's reading 82.9, i would like to get it in the low 90's and the setting on the thermostat is all but on high.

[sn@ke247]

i'm going to set it on high and see what i get

[Argentra]

Ok, it's a common misunderstanding with probes.

The probe for the thermoSTAT - the thing that controls the heat - goes OUTside the cage taped right to the heat pad/tape!

The probe for the thermoMETER - the thing that reads the temperatures - goes INside the cage under the bedding against the glass/plastic.

The reason you want to read the temp against the glass and NOT right on the bedding is because you want to know the hottest temp the snake can come in contact with. If the thermometer probe was on the bedding and read 94, then the snake burrowed under the bedding (and trust me, they all do it) and contacted 100 deg. glass... well, that wouldn't be good.

If you really want to know the temperature on the bedding under the hide, you can use a temp gun or a second probed thermometer to get the reading. But as far as your thermostat setting, you want it to keep the surface of the warm side under the bedding at the highest acceptable temperature.

[2kdime]

The temp will get lower as the heat rises through the bedding, but get the temperature where he rests on the substrate, and the floor will be way over 100 degrees. Which if and when he burrows down into the substrate, will most certainly burn him.

Put the probe for it under the tub, on top of the UTH. Use a thermometer inside the enclosure at the bottom of the substrate. Still with me?

Get THAT temperature to 92 to 94 by adjusting your thermostat accordingly. If he needs to be warmer, he'll burrow down and get to the heat. Simply put, NO spot in the enclosure should be over 94 to 95 degrees.

Sit back and have a beer

[dr del]

Hi,

You dont want the probe from the thermostat inside the tank at all.

Having it in there just makes it possible for the snake to affect it by P'ing on it or moving it which could throw the readings off so much it can lead to overheating the enclosure.

The most recommended place for the thermostat probe is between the UTH and the bottom of the tank on the outside.

The thermometer probe however can be placed on the glass inside the tank under the warm end hide to double check that, even if the snake burrows, it is not exposed to dangerous temperatures.

You then adjust the depth/ type of substrate above that until the temps inside the hide are correct.

**edit**

Dang I type slow.

**end edit**


dr del

[sn@ke247]

ok i have the probe at the UTH for the termostat and the thermometer probe on top of the glass under the bedding. right now it's at 103.5, but like always he's been over on the cool side all day. giving me a chance to mess the warm side temps. the cool side is at 72 degrees which i know is too cold. i'm going to put the heat lamp on that side but dim it down that way it's not as warm as the hot side, duh.does this sound like a good plan?

[sn@ke247]

ok, i got the temps where they should be finally! he still doesn't won't move out of the cold end. he must be an extremely shy/scared snake! hope he comes around soon!

[Argentra]

Don't worry about him not moving from one side... they actually do it, just usually not when you can see them.

[EJ45]

once I got my thermostat set up it took my snake a few days to figure out the hot side ... now she spends a lot of time there

[sn@ke247]

ok, that makes me feel a little better. thanks a bunch