Help with a UTH.

[ac5202002]

I bought a Zoo Med heat pad a few weeks ago and it got entirely too hot. Temp was at 111 to 112 degrees. It didn't have a thermostat so I went and bought a rheostat and have it set on as low as it will go without shutting it off completely. Problem is the temps sometimes still get to 108. I felt the substrate (cypress) to see how warm and it doesn't feel 108 but who knows. Is this normal with zoo meds or is this a defect in this one? Any help is appreciated. Thanks in advance.

[Elise.m]

Our body temperature is naturally 98 degrees, so if you touch something that is a little higher than that, it won't feel hot to you. It will feel hot to the snake though, as their body tempterature isn't controlled like ours.

Get a Thermostat, if you're low on money you can buy a cheap Repti-temp 500R for about $25, but if you want a good one you can buy them from Reptilebasics.com.

Also, what kind of thermometer are you using to read your temps?

[ac5202002]

It's a Accu Rite digital, with the probe on the hot side. My other tank with a Exo heat pad has never gotten this high, but I can't control it at all with the rheostat. It stays where it's at, so I also use a heat lamp with it to keep temps where they need to be

[Elise.m]

Ok. I'd suggest getting a real thermostat, or at least a dimmer in the mean time. You can get a dimmer at Lowes or home depot for $11.

I have two kinds of UTHs, Zoo med and Exo Terra. I find the Exo Terra is alot easier to control with a dimmer. Zoo meds you really need a thermostat with, they're constantly spiking.

Edit: Here is reptile basics, he's got a really good reputation on this forum, and the thermostats that he sells are very good, but a little costly.

[ac5202002]

Thanks for the info I will try it, b/c it's that or putting in a built in a/c for his hide haha.

[ac5202002]

I checked out the site and I think I will get that Johnson thermostat. 80 bucks is not bad compared to racking my brain trying to figure out what else to do. Thanks again for the help.

[Elise.m]

No problem! I bet the Johnson will last longer and will be much easier than a Repti Temp anyhow.