UTH questions

[BuckeyeBalls]

I bought the ReptiTemp 500R based off what someone on this forum said so that the UTH doesn't burn him.
The room he's in is open to the rest of he house, so a space heater wouldn't work. A dimmer for the light sounds like my best bet so far, so I think that's what I'm going to look into.

Oh u do got a tstat? Thats really good then. Kepp ur uth hooked up to that.

You could try to cover the top with foil this helps keep in humidity.

Some1 also reccomended to me a bit back to buy stuff like a mix between cardboard/styrofoam at like walmart and put it around the sides of the cage to help keep heat it. Could always try covering the top see how that goes. It would keep heat it. If not them a dimmer switch on the lamp so u could control how much heat the lamp is putting out if u only need to raise it a bit

[severe_bomber]

I have similar problems. Got an UTH hooked up to a dimmer but still have to use a bulb to keep the ambient temps up (which shouldn't drop below 75f BTW!), thereby killing my humidity! Just bought one of those newfangled ceramic bulbs which don't give off any light and are not supposed to dry out the atmosphere so much. I've yet to try it though! Good luck!

[Patricia]

I'm in the same boat, needing an overhead lamp to heat the ambient air. Yes, that drastically drops the humidity. We get perfect sheds, though, so the humidity must be good. Here's what I do:

UTH (stuck onto the bottom to create belly heat) plugged into the 500r. That 500r has space for TWO things to plug into it, so the overhead lamp is plugged in as well. That way, the lamp is going on and off along with the UTH. It gives the humidity a chance to stay a bit higher than if the lamp were on constantly.

During the coldest part of winter these past couple of months, when necessary, the overhead lamp was plugged directly into the wall outlet, remaining on constantly.

To raise humidity there are 2 wet paper towels: One is inside a bowl with a bit of water. The other is on top of the warm hide. Since that hide is a big tortilla holder, the top is flat and holds a wet paper towel perfectly. Not damp, but as wet as they can be. During shedding, I'll also dab water directly onto the paper towel substrate around the tank, just not where the snake is actually lying on to prevent scale rot.

I check the AccuRite readings throughout the day. So far, this set-up has worked great! Good luck with your set-up! This forum is a wealth of information.

[BuckeyeBalls]

I'm in the same boat, needing an overhead lamp to heat the ambient air. Yes, that drastically drops the humidity. We get perfect sheds, though, so the humidity must be good. Here's what I do:

UTH (stuck onto the bottom to create belly heat) plugged into the 500r. That 500r has space for TWO things to plug into it, so the overhead lamp is plugged in as well. That way, the lamp is going on and off along with the UTH. It gives the humidity a chance to stay a bit higher than if the lamp were on constantly.

Prob i see with that is the fact ur kicking the light on and off. I can see u blowing bulbs A LOT faster then if u just left it on a dimmer

Way i see it if a bulb last 1 year hooked to a dimmer 24/7 that $11 a year

If u get bulbs last 3 months due to turning on and off A LOT during the day ur spending a lot more

[Patricia]

Prob i see with that is the fact ur kicking the light on and off. I can see u blowing bulbs A LOT faster then if u just left it on a dimmer

That's good to know, thanks. The overhead lamp is the one that came with the snake when I bought it back in June (came with tank, lamp, hide, tongs, etc.), and it's the same bulb. When it does eventually die, Petco is only a couple of miles away, so no problem running out to get a replacement. (The bulb dying, not the snake, LOL!)

[BuckeyeBalls]

The probe is inside of the tank, above the UTH, under the bedding.

I would NOT recommend that at all. What if the snake moves the probe? Spills water? Pees, poops on it?

Then ur readings will not be of the uth but its new place or whatever is on it

Thats bad! Cuz say the snakes moves it off the uth then what? Its gonna read the temp of the glass and let the uth temp rise.

What you want to do is use gorilla tape, duct tape whatever and tape the probe to the underside of the uth outside of the tank that it wont be messed with,.

That's good to know, thanks. The overhead lamp is the one that came with the snake when I bought it back in June (came with tank, lamp, hide, tongs, etc.), and it's the same bulb. When it does eventually die, Petco is only a couple of miles away, so no problem running out to get a replacement. (The bulb dying, not the snake, LOL!)

lol idk i just dont like having to buy the bulbs so i paid $10 for a lamp dimmer

[Laxhitman316]

Can uth's be used on wood as that is my stand for my tank

[Seak]

So far so good today, I keep checking on the tank (this really is an addictive pet to own!) and with a damp towel on top it's keeping humidity right around 45% which is a huge improvement from what it was.
Ambient temp for the tank is right around high 78 low 80 depending on if the heat in my house is blowing or not.
But what temp should I let the UTH reach before it shuts off? I have it set to 90 right now and kick on at 87, but that is just off of guessing on my part.

[BuckeyeBalls]

So far so good today, I keep checking on the tank (this really is an addictive pet to own!) and with a damp towel on top it's keeping humidity right around 45% which is a huge improvement from what it was.
Ambient temp for the tank is right around high 78 low 80 depending on if the heat in my house is blowing or not.
But what temp should I let the UTH reach before it shuts off? I have it set to 90 right now and kick on at 87, but that is just off of guessing on my part.

Should get a acu rite to put the probe on it to get a reading on the inside of the tank on the uth

Also the probe for the tstat where is it placed at?

UTH temp should be like 90-93 not over 95 tho

[Seak]

Should get a acu rite to put the probe on it to get a reading on the inside of the tank on the uth

Also the probe for the tstat where is it placed at?

UTH temp should be like 90-93 not over 95 tho

The probe is inside of the tank, above the UTH, under the bedding.