Heating questions! Hot side vs cool side!

[greengirl238]

Okay so quick facts for everyone: I live in Southern California so our room (the ambient heat) is generally above 73° during the day, and gets a bit cooler at night (which is why I've got the night heating lamp). When we put in the thermometer without any heating last night, when we got our little guy, it was about 77°. He lives in a 12" tall x 36" long 20gallon terrarium and he's an adolescent, probably about 13" long.

This being said what should I do for heating. You've all said great things but now, knowing the facts, what do you recommend?

[greengirl238]

Are they dial thermometers/hygrometers, or digital? Digital will be a lot more accurate than the dials you get in a pet store will ever be.

In the hardware section at Walmart, they sell an Accurite digital thermometer and combination hygrometer. It measures two temperatures (one with a probe) so you can stick the thermometer on one side to measure those temps and the probe on the other side to keep track of that side. It also measures the humidity. It's only about 13 bucks.

They are Dials but they two thermometers, which are different brands, have been reading the same (at night without the warmer side), so I think they're about right.

[k8nkane]

I would still recommend you get the Accurite.

I had dials before getting the Accurite and they were several degrees off according to the digital.

The problem you're going to run into, that you've already run into, is that everyone is going to recommend something different on how to heat your tank. Everyone has different set ups because everyone has different preferences, living conditions, snakes, etc. As long as the temps/humidity are correct, it doesn't really matter HOW you do it (with the exception of making sure the UTHs/CHEs/bulbs are temp controlled) so much as that you DO it.

Is your ambient light good? If your ambient light is good, like mine, I would recommend that you at least switch your bulbs to CHEs and let the ambient light suffice for day/night cycles. I leave my CHE on all the time (with a dimmer) and have had no problems (knock on wood) with my bp. He hasn't missed a meal and is going into shed.

[greengirl238]

So I guess my question is, since with my heating lamp I have the overall ambient temp right, should I get a small UTH for the warm side so it doesn't increase overal heating, but does create a warmer side?

Does this seem right?

Thanks to all your responses everyone! You guys rock, this seems like a really awesome community!

[k8nkane]

Sure. That's one way to do it. Leave your heating lamp on all the time (with a dimmer) to maintain ambient temps (just make sure it's infrared light) and then have your UTH on the hot side, also with a temp control so it doesn't get higher than 92. If you go with the UTH, you'll need to pick up the Accurite (at least) for sure though.

[greengirl238]

I would still recommend you get the Accurite.

I had dials before getting the Accurite and they were several degrees off according to the digital.

The problem you're going to run into, that you've already run into, is that everyone is going to recommend something different on how to heat your tank. Everyone has different set ups because everyone has different preferences, living conditions, snakes, etc. As long as the temps/humidity are correct, it doesn't really matter HOW you do it (with the exception of making sure the UTHs/CHEs/bulbs are temp controlled) so much as that you DO it.

Is your ambient light good? If your ambient light is good, like mine, I would recommend that you at least switch your bulbs to CHEs and let the ambient light suffice for day/night cycles. I leave my CHE on all the time (with a dimmer) and have had no problems (knock on wood) with my bp. He hasn't missed a meal and is going into shed.

See that's exactly what has been getting me confused (all the different responses, that is)! I will definitely go for the Digital thermometer when I get my next paycheck.

My ambient light is good, it's keeping the terrarium at around 77-80° (depending on whether or not we have our room fan going). When we brought our little guy home last night he seemed really happy to be out of the little terrarium he was in at the pet store and was out exploring. It was his feeding night and we were worried he'd be shy about eating, but he downed his meal with no hesitation.

I think that I'm going to go ahead and buy a small UTH & thermostat today for the warmer side, because it seems like the most controlled way, which doesn't affect the overall ambient heat. Sound right?

[greengirl238]

Sure. That's one way to do it. Leave your heating lamp on all the time (with a dimmer) to maintain ambient temps (just make sure it's infrared light) and then have your UTH on the hot side, also with a temp control so it doesn't get higher than 92. If you go with the UTH, you'll need to pick up the Accurite (at least) for sure though.

Excellent! Thanks so much, you've been a great help!

[The Serpent Merchant]

I have 2 Thermometers and a hygrometer. One Hygrometer and thermometer are on the cooler side, and the other thermometer is on the warm side.

For the bulbs, how do I get the dimmers? Would it be cheaper than at UTH and thermostat?

It likely would be. You can get a dimmer at home depot.

http://homedepot.digby.com/homedepot...egoryId=&path=

Also if your thermometers/hydrometers are the dial type from a pet store, I wouldn't trust them. You can get this one from Wall*Mart for $12. These work much better.