Hide overtop of UTC

[VooDooDoc]

Is it wrong to put a hide overtop of an under tank heater. I've got a 20gal tank, one side has an under tank heater. There is a hide on both sides. I'm wondering if the hide over the UTC is preventing it from working well.

The hide in question is a half hollowed out log. Inside its like 95 degrees but outside is much cooler. The snake never goes into that hide, he stays in the one on the cool side. I don't know if he just likes that one better or if the one over top of the heater is too hot.

[Daybreaker]

Are both of your hides identical? If not, he could be favoring the other cool side hide. If they are, it's possible that inside the hot hide is too hot for him.

I have a hide over my UTH in all my tubs and in my corn's 20L tank as well. I've never had problems with it: I have a felt sheet over the UTH (.29 cents at Michaels: just in case I have someone burrow under the newspaper so they arn't lying directly on top of the heater on the plastic tub surface) and over that felt piece I have my newspaper/paper towel substrate. The UTH measures in at ~90-92 degrees for me when I use my temp gun directly on the tub surface.

Are you measuring the 95 degree temps on top of the substrate or on the glass surface? If on top of the substrate I would lower it a bit depending on how thick you have your substrate.

And in regards to that question, how are you measuring those 95 degree temps?

[Ezekiel285]

A hide being on top of a UTH shouldn't affect how well it works at all.

[VooDooDoc]

No the hides are not identical. The one on the cool side is more enclosed. I'm gonna go out and get two that are the same though.

The 95 degree temp I measured was not directly on the substrate, about an inch off the surface, inside the middle of the hide. I'm using a temporal thermometer, figure if its good enough to detect if my kids have a fever it works to tell me what my snake's terrarium temp is.

He's not having any problems and did not refuse food the first time I tried to feed him so it can't be that unbearable, but I want to make it as comfortable for him as possible.

[Daybreaker]

I would get two identical hides that are as enclosed and cave-like as possible. Not transparent as well.

I use little plastic bowls that you can get at Walmart ($1 for 4) and I cut out a little door in them and use those for my snakes. They love them.

I don't have any experience with that kind of thermometer but I would get a temp gun and check what the temps are on the surface on the glass as well as the surface of the substrate. You might be surprised at how much a difference the temps could possibly be at (ie hotter than what you think they are). I paid $30 for my temp gun that I got at Lowes.

It might not be that unbearable to make him stressed and go off feed, but it still could definately be way too hot for him hence why he doesn't want to go in there (or he could hate that half log hide). I would double check the temps with a heat gun or with a thermometer with a probe (with the probe on top of the glass - $10-12 at Walmart as well, I like the Acurite brand) to measure the temps and get a good, enclosed hide (maybe those actual cave hides that they sell at Petsmart/Petco?)

[mattchibi]

Two identical hides. UTH beneath one of them should be fine. Get a thermometer with probe and hot glue the probe directly on the glass, in the center of your hotspot (above the UTH). This will measure the Hottest point at which the snake can rest on. Then cover with 1/2" of substrate.

If you are using a UTH, you have a thermostat right? Set the thermostat to 92-93 F. That way, the substrate on top will probably be closer to 90 F, but if the snake wants, it can burrow deeper to get warmer. I sometimes find my snake resting on the glass above the UTH, but I know that it is completely safe because my UTH is on a thermostat, and will never go above 92. Also, I find that if you have it set to 92, having a hide on top of the UTH actually helps to retain the heat inside the hide, and the snake will be nice and cozy in there.

Keep in mind, if you have two identical hides, this will let your snake choose temperature over security. As long as you have two hides, and there is somewhat of a temperature gradient, your snake will thermoregulate on its own and choose which side it wants to be on. Hope this helped!