Where should I measure temperature when using tubs with a lip on the inside ?

[speedycat222]

I'm sure you guys answer enough stupid questions, but bare with me !


I'm using the sterlite 1655 28 tubs, and they have a lip on the bottom, so when I measure the temperature on the inside of the lip it is up to 3-5 degrees higher, so where should I measure the temperature when using these tubs ? I'm scared I'll fry my snakes if I shoot for 90-91 on the part that's higher up.


The temps on my thermometers are as follows : Tub 1: 92(probe in the lip under the substrate) tub 2: 88 (probe on the basking area above the substrate) Temp gun readings on the paper towel are around 86-87, up to 91 if I lift the substrate.


In addition, anyone know of any 28qt tubs that don't have a lip in the bottom ? I'd consider replacing them all.


Thanks !

[Eric Alan]

You should measure the temperature at all places the snake could potentially reach. For tubs, this means measuring the tub itself, not the towels on top of the tub - the snake will inevitably find a way to bury itself under the paper towels and lay directly on the tub. You don't want the temperatures to be higher than safe anywhere.

What are you using for your heat source? Belly heat via a UTH or overhead heat with a bulb of some sort?

[speedycat222]

You should measure the temperature at all places the snake could potentially reach. For tubs, this means measuring the tub itself, not the towels on top of the tub - the snake will inevitably find a way to bury itself under the paper towels and lay directly on the tub. You don't want the temperatures to be higher than safe anywhere.

What are you using for your heat source? Belly heat via a UTH or overhead heat with a bulb of some sort?

I do lift up the towels, it's 90 on the tub outside of the crevice and 96 inside it. The thermometer is reading 98 and the probe is placed inside the crevice on the tub.


Belly heat, heat tape, the korean brand I forget the name, on a herpstat 2. The herpstat probe is directly on the heat tape and is set to 91.


I have two other animals in the rack, the temps I listed are of the little males tub, he's in the tub not at the very top where I keep the probe, but the tub under that. So second to the top.

The herpstat also has the heat tape on around 25% power, if that's worth anything.

[Eric Alan]

As I'm sure you're aware, 98 (even 96) is too warm for your snakes. Where on the heat tape is the thermostat probe placed? It sounds to me like it may not be secure to the hottest part of the tape if you're seeing temps 7 degrees above your set point in a three tub rack. Also, are you sure your thermometers are accurate? What kind are you using?

FWIW, Vision brand tubs are completely flat on the bottom. I don't believe they have a size compatible with the Sterilite 1655s though. Maybe the Iris brand has tubs that are compatible. Which rack do you have?

[speedycat222]

As I'm sure you're aware, 98 (even 96) is too warm for your snakes. Where on the heat tape is the thermostat probe placed? It sounds to me like it may not be secure to the hottest part of the tape if you're seeing temps 7 degrees above your set point in a three tub rack. Also, are you sure your thermometers are accurate? What kind are you using?

FWIW, Vision brand tubs are completely flat on the bottom. I don't believe they have a size compatible with the Sterilite 1655s though. Maybe the Iris brand has tubs that are compatible. Which rack do you have?

Yeah I'm seeing if it will even out. It wasn't gunning anywhere near that high, that's only on the thermometer. One is an exo-terra and the other is a zoo-med. It's under the top tub, near the center of the tape. Where is the hottest place on the tape ?



It's a PVC rack made by a local guy. I'll look at some vision and iris tubs and see if they have any that would fit, thanks.


Edit: Turns out vision v-28 tubs are the same dimensions as the sterilite 28qts, so I'll order one in a few weeks and see if it fits.

[Eric Alan]

Yeah I'm seeing if it will even out. It wasn't gunning anywhere near that high, that's only on the thermometer. One is an exo-terra and the other is a zoo-med. It's under the top tub, near the center of the tape. Where is the hottest place on the tape ?

I secure mine lengthwise across a couple of the black bars using tape (electrical or packing - not foil). You'll want to play with it to see what's best for yours, but this is what works for me. If your tape is snaked between levels, you could also try taping it vertically where the heat tape transitions to the next level instead of under the tub so the tub isn't constantly sliding over the probe. Similarly, and I'm not sure if it'd make much difference in your smallish rack, typically thermostat probes are placed near to the middle tub of the rack to ensure consistency of temperatures from top to bottom.

[speedycat222]

I secure mine lengthwise across a couple of the black bars using tape (electrical or packing - not foil). You'll want to play with it to see what's best for yours, but this is what works for me. If your tape is snaked between levels, you could also try taping it vertically where the heat tape transitions to the next level instead of under the tub so the tub isn't constantly sliding over the probe. Similarly, and I'm not sure if it'd make much difference in your smallish rack, typically thermostat probes are placed near to the middle tub of the rack to ensure consistency of temperatures from top to bottom.

Whoopsie, I've been using foil tape. I'll fix that. It is snaked, I'm going to try it on the outside near the middle.

[speedycat222]

Okay, the spot where the male used to be is the hottest, it was up to 102 when the probe was 91. I've moved the probe to that one, and secured it with packing tape instead of foil tape. I couldn't do the probe on the outside unfortunately, the tape was only around 84 when the other spots where high 90s to 100. Thanks for helping me out.