Just got a new Pastel Ball Python....

[Kaorte]

Hey Nightlad, since I don't currently have a rheostat or thermostat I just took your advice and added a little extra bedding over the are of the heat pad. My digital thermometer reads that above the heat pad right under the tree hide is consistantly around the mid-80's. Ever since I moved my red bulb from the hot side to the middle of the tank, the ambient air temperature seams to have stayed about the same, but like I said the heat area where his tree hide is has gone down from 87-92 to about 84-86.

Now I am worried that he isn't getting ENOUGH heat rather than too much. Should I just keep the red bulb on the hot side of the tank?

I am about to go out now and try to find a thermostat or something but none of the petshops carry the stuff that you guys reccommended that I purchase. I will probably have to just buy a regular home one instead of a pet one because I can only find them online and I dont really trust ordering stuff that much.

A home thermostat will not work. I would just buy the thermostat online. If you order from a reputable site, what is not to trust? I am pretty sure petsmart sells the reptitemp 500r online. In the meantime you can go to home depot or lowes and get a piggy back light dimmer so you have at least some control over the heat pad.

Stick the probe thermometer under the substrate right over where the heating pad is. You want to measure the hottest point your snake can get to.

[PurplePython]

A home thermostat will not work. I would just buy the thermostat online. If you order from a reputable site, what is not to trust? I am pretty sure petsmart sells the reptitemp 500r online. In the meantime you can go to home depot or lowes and get a piggy back light dimmer so you have at least some control over the heat pad.

Stick the probe thermometer under the substrate right over where the heating pad is. You want to measure the hottest point your snake can get to.

so i should put the probe under all of the substrate? right on top of the glass bottom over the heating pad? why would I do that? That wouldnt give me an accurate reading of the temperature of where the snake actually is laying.

[Kaorte]

so i should put the probe under all of the substrate? right on top of the glass bottom over the heating pad? why would I do that? That wouldnt give me an accurate reading of the temperature of where the snake actually is laying.

The snake can and will move the substrate around and can get in direct contact with the glass. You want to measure the hottest point in the tank and make sure it doesn't get above 95*F. If the temp on top of the substrate is 92*, then the temperature below the substrate will be much higher, possibly high enough to cause burns.

[NightLad]

Kaorte said it best, mate. The reptitemp 500r is the way to go, but if you are in a pinch you can pick up a basic dimmer at your local home building center.

The Rheostat is basically a dimmer switch for regulating power flow, that’s all. You plug it in to your power-cord/socket, and then plug the UTH into it. After that, you can play with the dial to find the optimal power-flow setting which will keep the UTH at the level you want.

I’d recommend putting a piece of tape over the dial after finding the right setting (and marking the setting in case it ever gets moved).

[PurplePython]

Okay I will do my best to find a reptitemp 500r online.

[PurplePython]

Well guys, I just ordered the reptitemp 500r from amazon.com. I payed the extra money to get the same day shipping. It should be here by tuesday probably. I will go pickup another heating pad also so that once it comes I can set it up right away.

How exactly does the reptitemp work? I can manually set each heating pad to be a specific temperature?

[Mrgbb]

Well guys, I just ordered the reptitemp 500r from amazon.com. I payed the extra money to get the same day shipping. It should be here by tuesday probably. I will go pickup another heating pad also so that once it comes I can set it up right away.

How exactly does the reptitemp work? I can manually set each heating pad to be a specific temperature?

how much did you pay for it? i really need one and im wondering the price range its gunna be in

[Kaorte]

Well guys, I just ordered the reptitemp 500r from amazon.com. I payed the extra money to get the same day shipping. It should be here by tuesday probably. I will go pickup another heating pad also so that once it comes I can set it up right away.

How exactly does the reptitemp work? I can manually set each heating pad to be a specific temperature?

One reptitemp 500r can set two heating pads to the same temperature but not to different temperatures.

When you get it, put the thermostat probe on the UTH OUTSIDE the enclosure. Aluminum tape works best for securing it. Then with your thermometer probe right on the glass where the UTH is, adjust the knob on the thermostat until it stays around 90*F.

I am a little confused as to why you want two heating pads?

[PurplePython]

One reptitemp 500r can set two heating pads to the same temperature but not to different temperatures.

When you get it, put the thermostat probe on the UTH OUTSIDE the enclosure. Aluminum tape works best for securing it. Then with your thermometer probe right on the glass where the UTH is, adjust the knob on the thermostat until it stays around 90*F.

I am a little confused as to why you want two heating pads?

wait up, didn't you say I should set one on the hot side to 90 degree and one to 80 degree on the cold side? or should I just stick with 1 heating pad and the red bulb that I currently use?

Right now my digital thermometer is saying his hot hide is at 88 degrees and the ambient air temperature is 82 degrees in both the hot and cold sides so that should be perfect.

Basically I should just use the reptitemp for 1 heating pad though?

[PurplePython]

how much did you pay for it? i really need one and im wondering the price range its gunna be in

i found one on amazon.com for about $23.50 I think it was.