UTH Temps

[Foschi Exotic Serpents]

What if he does and its too hot down there?

It won't be if you're measuring the inside surface of the glass there with an accurate thermometer. Just don't let the temp exceed our recommended maximum for hot side temp. It takes more than 94/95 to burn the snake, but I wouldn't want it to be even a degree higher than that if it did burrow against the glass.

[The Serpent Merchant]

Ok what substrate holds heat well? I have repti-bark on him now but I have cypress mulch for my boas cage. Should I use that? That mulch isn't in the boas cage yet its still in the bag. Do you think the substrate will heat up if I give it more time?

Wood mulches block out heat. If you want to stick with a wood substrate Aspen will let the most heat through, but even still you want to have as thin of a layer as possible. Eco-Earth in thin layers will also work well.

Air is an excellent insulator. The air pockets between wood shavings/mulch is what blocks out most of the heat. By eliminating these air pockets paper based substrates like paper towels and newspaper transfer nearly all of the heat from a UTH to the snake. Which saves electricity as an added bonus!

[Pennstater6]

It won't be if you're measuring the inside surface of the glass there with an accurate thermometer. Just don't let the temp exceed our recommended maximum for hot side temp. It takes more than 94/95 to burn the snake, but I wouldn't want it to be even a degree higher than that if it did burrow against the glass.

I'm using a temp gun that would count aas an accurate thermometer. Do you think if I give the substrate a couple of days it would warm up to 90 or so? My BP isn't in the tank yet so I have a couple days to mess with everything.

[The Serpent Merchant]

I'm using a temp gun that would count aas an accurate thermometer. Do you think if I give the substrate a couple of days it would warm up to 90 or so? My BP isn't in the tank yet so I have a couple days to mess with everything.

A temp gun can't measure the temperature of the glass under the substrate. For that you need a probed thermometer

I doubt that the wood will warm up too much over time. As i said before it is the air pockets between the wood that is blocking the heat.

[Foschi Exotic Serpents]

A temp gun can't measure the temperature of the glass under the substrate. For that you need a probed thermometer

I doubt that the wood will warm up too much over time. As i said before it is the air pockets between the wood that is blocking the heat.

I agree with this..

A temp gun is a great thing to have, but you really should run to Walmart and pick up an accurite weather station so you can put the probe on the glass over the UTH. This way you can monitor the temp constantly for swings, instead of just once or twice a day when you decide to move the bedding and shoot it with a temp gun.. You see how that could cause inconsistencies? Being able to just see the temp on a screen all the time, whenever you look at it, is best.

[Pennstater6]

I agree with this..

A temp gun is a great thing to have, but you really should run to Walmart and pick up an accurite weather station so you can put the probe on the glass over the UTH. This way you can monitor the temp constantly for swings, instead of just once or twice a day when you decide to move the bedding and shoot it with a temp gun.. You see how that could cause inconsistencies? Being able to just see the temp on a screen all the time, whenever you look at it, is best.

I have a thermometer right now just haven't hooked it up yet. I am going to switch to aspen tomorrow. How should I anchor the probe in place?

[The Serpent Merchant]

I like hot glue. Just don't use tape

[Pennstater6]

I like hot glue. Just don't use tape

OK. I'll do that tomorrow. What about the repti-carpet stuff. Would that transfer heat well?

[The Serpent Merchant]

It does but it is very hard to keep clean. I wouldn't recommend it.

[Pennstater6]

It does but it is very hard to keep clean. I wouldn't recommend it.

OK paper towel seems like the best for me right now. I don't like the look of newspaper.