Thermometer / thermostat difference + bonus questions

[Magic Rat]

Hi all, I'm new here and have a couple questions. I completed my set up yesterday and am trying to get everything fine-tuned before I bring home my first ball python on Saturday - I'm going to a local reptile show to buy from a breeder. To cover the basics, I am using a glass terrarium with a UTH and CHE for heating. The UTH is connected to a Herpstat Basic, and the CHE is on a lamp dimmer. I am tracking temps and humidity via the Accu-rite indoor/outdoor digital thermometer that seems to get a lot of use on this site. I have two identical hides on the way from LLL Reptile, and everything else is in place including a large water bowl. I am using blank newsprint as my substrate (a pro-tip: call your local newspaper and ask for some "butt rolls" of their newsprint. They are the very ends of rolls with I would guess around 20-30 yards of blank newsprint. My local paper gave them to me for free, I just had to pick them up from the plant.) Anyways, here are some questions:

1. My Herpstat's probe is between my UTH and tank, and my thermometer's probe is between my tank and the substrate. I had my Herpstat set to keep my UTH at 91 degrees, but with that my thermometer was only reading at about 85 degrees. I've since cranked the Herpstat up to 99 degrees which brings my thermometer reading up to around 91. Is it normal to have this much temperature loss between the UTH and the inside of the tank? Or is it likely one of my devices is misreading?

2. Kind of a dumb question, but when you do in-depth cleanings do you remove the thermometer probe, and if so how to you re-stick it on to the tank floor? Or do you just clean around it and leave it stuck on?

3. Has anyone found whether using an overhead fan will force them to re-adjust lamp power or thermostat temps or anything? I'm sure I'll figure this out with time, but I was kind of curious, as my tank is in my bedroom and I run the fan sporadically.

4. Last, does anyone have any ideas for rigging my lamp to hang above my tank. I bought one of these lamp holders but my lamp doesn't have the piece that you hook on to the holder, and the holder didn't come with it either. Right now I have it kind of jerry-rigged on the holder, but I'm hoping someone has a DIY remedy for this problem, though it's probably a long-shot.

Thanks in advance for any and all help!

[dr del]

1,

That sounds perfectly normal.

2,

I don't fix mine down but I would suggest a hot glue gun if you decide to - definitely no tape inside the enclosure. I don't fix mine as it allows me to move it around and check different areas like inside the hides etc.

3,

It probably won't affect it much but I would definitely check the first time I had it on.

4,

I've never seen one of those so I can't help I'm afraid.

Maybe use something non-flamable to rest the edges of the lamp shade section above the mesh of the top? You would need to double check it didn't heat any part of it to dangerous temps though to avoid the snake getting burnt.

[bcr229]

1. My Herpstat's probe is between my UTH and tank, and my thermometer's probe is between my tank and the substrate. I had my Herpstat set to keep my UTH at 91 degrees, but with that my thermometer was only reading at about 85 degrees. I've since cranked the Herpstat up to 99 degrees which brings my thermometer reading up to around 91. Is it normal to have this much temperature loss between the UTH and the inside of the tank? Or is it likely one of my devices is misreading?

Glass is not a perfect conductor so there will be a difference between the t-stat probe and the thermometer probe. You want to set the reading on the t-stat so that your thermometer gives a reading of around 90*F on the surface of the tank. It will vary for each setup. For instance, on one of my hatchling racks I have to set the t-stat to 98*F to get the tub hot spot to 90*F, while on one of my adult BP racks a t-stat setting of 85*F yields a 90*F hot spot in the tub. I would also suggest a backup IR thermometer to get a true surface temperature reading, as the air temperature may be affecting the thermometer probe.

2. Kind of a dumb question, but when you do in-depth cleanings do you remove the thermometer probe, and if so how to you re-stick it on to the tank floor? Or do you just clean around it and leave it stuck on?

I take it out. Mine is held in place by the hide. Sometimes the snake moves it, I just put it back.

3. Has anyone found whether using an overhead fan will force them to re-adjust lamp power or thermostat temps or anything? I'm sure I'll figure this out with time, but I was kind of curious, as my tank is in my bedroom and I run the fan sporadically.

I haven't noticed much temperature difference with the fan off versus on. It can hurt your humidity if it ends up forcing more air exchange in the tank though.

Can't help with the lamp, perhaps try rigging a holder from a wire clothes hanger?

[Magic Rat]

Thanks for all the input, very helpful! I managed to jerry-rig my lamp with the lamp holder and have it set up and working. Thanks again.