Need help with Thermometer probe placement

[ChaosAffect]

I poked around and I couldn't find this specific piece of info so I figured I'd ask before I did something really wrong.

I've got two 10 gallon tanks with juveniles in them, UTH in each. I've currently only got one heat lamp with a ceramic heater, am getting another ASAP along with a thermostat. For the next couple of days, though, this is what I have to work with.

Each tank has a digital thermometer/Hygrometer from Wal-Mart with an outdoor temp probe (http://www.walmart.com/ip/Acu-Rite-I...mometer/896347). I need help placing the outdoor probe. First I affixed it to the hot side of my cage, inside near the base. I was getting a temp about 2-3 degrees warmer than the cool side (Hot 85, cool 82). Then I thought that maybe I should be reading my hot spot above the UTH so I moved it to right above it below my carpet. 109 degrees! That freaked me out since it seems WAY too hot, but then I got to thinking that the carpet's probably insulating it a lot. I know that when I get the Thermostat I'll be placing it underneath the UTH, but for now where should I be measuring from with my two thermometers?

[Raven01]

Honestly, I use thermometers for reference only.
I check temps with an infrared temp-gun and then compare to thermometer readings.
Once the gun displays the temps I want I just keep an eye on the thermometers to ensure everything is working the way it should.
If budget is a concern I would advise a thermostat as the 1st purchase, and a temp gun as a second down the road.

109 is high, but, you need the temp where your snake is which is above the carpet. I expect you will soon get tired of carpet cleaning and want a different substrate.

[ChaosAffect]

Honestly, I use thermometers for reference only.
I check temps with an infrared temp-gun and then compare to thermometer readings.
Once the gun displays the temps I want I just keep an eye on the thermometers to ensure everything is working the way it should.
If budget is a concern I would advise a thermostat as the 1st purchase, and a temp gun as a second down the road.

I'm ordering the thermostat (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...=ATVPDKIKX0DER) today, hopefully will have it by Wednesday. I was freaked out enough that I almost went out and got a ReptiTherm 500R from PetSmart, but from what I've read it'd be a massive wasted of money. I work from home, am always in my office where the cages are, so I'm constantly monitoring them.

Big question is, should I be concerned about the 109 temp on the glass? Obviously I turned the UTH off immediately when I saw that, but is it really that high with carpet over it?

EDIT: You Ninja edited and answered my question. Thanks!

[martin82531]

To me it would be a concern. Hot spots from a UTH are nice but not required. The probe from your thermometer will be placed directly above your UTH on the inside of the enclosure.

Until your thermostat comes in I would unplug the UTH and use your CHE's to provide appropriate temps.


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[Luciferskeeper]

Once your heat pad is controlled and constant with a thermostat I wouldn't worry about a thermometer probe in the tank just use you IR temp gun once or twice a day to verify temps are staying where you need them.

[ChaosAffect]

To me it would be a concern. Hot spots from a UTH are nice but not required. The probe from your thermometer will be placed directly above your UTH on the inside of the enclosure.

Until your thermostat comes in I would unplug the UTH and use your CHE's to provide appropriate temps.


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Ok, I'll run out in a few and pick up another lamp for the second tank. UTHs are off until Wednesday.

Just to clarify, you're saying to attach the hot side probe for my Thermometer directly to the glass above the UTH? If that's the case then what kind of temperature should I be aiming for on that?

[martin82531]

Ok, I'll run out in a few and pick up another lamp for the second tank. UTHs are off until Wednesday.

Just to clarify, you're saying to attach the hot side probe for my Thermometer directly to the glass above the UTH? If that's the case then what kind of temperature should I be aiming for on that?

Correct, I don't use carpet in my glass set up so I measure temps at the glass (surface temps) keeping my substrate about 1/4-1/2 inch thick. Snakes like to burrow so I want to make sure the temp at the glass is appropriate. Temp wise I would say between 88-92 degrees


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[ChaosAffect]

Correct, I don't use carpet in my glass set up so I measure temps at the glass (surface temps) keeping my substrate about 1/4-1/2 inch thick. Snakes like to burrow so I want to make sure the temp at the glass is appropriate. Temp wise I would say between 88-92 degrees


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I'm having a hard time seeing how that temperature is even possible since the probe is basically ON the UTH, which has to get a lot hotter than 92 to heat 10 gallons of air.

[Raven01]

UTH's make poor primary heaters.
Where UTH's shine is in creating a stable hot spot or "basking" area(when regulated) that allow ectothermic creatures to maintain ideal body temps as need dictates.
I find my snakes in the warm hides shortly after feeding otherwise they are more likely to be found in the cool hide. I don't know if others have this same experience or not but, it demonstrates that sometimes the snake will want to be warmer that others.

[ChaosAffect]

UTH's make poor primary heaters.
Where UTH's shine is in creating a stable hot spot or "basking" area(when regulated) that allow ectothermic creatures to maintain ideal body temps as need dictates.
I find my snakes in the warm hides shortly after feeding otherwise they are more likely to be found in the cool hide. I don't know if others have this same experience or not but, it demonstrates that sometimes the snake will want to be warmer that others.

That's really good info to have, and something that I think gets left out of the Beginner's Guides. It seems that there's a lot of focus on UTH's, not so much on overhead radiant heat.

I still need clarification, though. I've got one person saying that I should put the hot side sensor directly on top of the UTH. Considering that I've got a Thermostat coming that'll also be monitoring the UTH does everyone else agree with this? (Not that I'm doubting you, Martin. I just want to get a quorum so I know for sure that I'm doing it right.)