UTH won't stick

[maskedburito]

So I have a zoomed heater, the sticky stuff didn't really stay so I taped the UTH onto the bottom of the glass terrarium (Outside) with aluminum tape VERY WELL, but its like there is air pockets or something, but there are portions that are not fully pushed against the glass, meaning it is not heating those spots.

Is it worth buying a new UTH or possibly flex watt... I heard it is good!

[Eric Alan]

There are many people who don't use the sticky and just tape it on just like you've done. No need to do anything in that regard.

A far better investment would be 1) a thermostat (if your UTH isn't already connected to one, it needs to be), and 2) an infrared thermometer (so you can tell the actual temperature of the glass above the UTH).

Unregulated, a UTH will get the glass hot enough to burn your snake. It even says so right in the Zoo Med manual.

[maskedburito]

I have a thermostat and a infared thermometer. And I can tell using the thermometer certain parts of the uth are not as hot as others


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[Eric Alan]

What kind of temp range are you seeing on the glass?

[PitOnTheProwl]

What kind of temp range are you seeing on the glass?

X2
and where is your thermostat probe?

[maskedburito]

My probe is on top of the glass below the substrate inside the aquarium. It is set for 93. I am seeing 92-93 on the parts of the uth that are properly attached to the glass but you can see where its not stuck well, and those parts around the edges are around 85....

Also the top of the substrate is only about 88 and I have barely any on it, but I don't want to turn up the UTH in case she burrows down to the glass.

[Eric Alan]

My probe is on top of the glass below the substrate inside the aquarium. It is set for 93. I am seeing 92-93 on the parts of the uth that are properly attached to the glass but you can see where its not stuck well, and those parts around the edges are around 85....

Also the top of the substrate is only about 88 and I have barely any on it, but I don't want to turn up the UTH in case she burrows down to the glass.

The thermostat probe should be sandwiched between the bottom of the glass and the UTH (on the outside of the enclosure). You will have significantly more stable temperatures this way. Also, a range of 85-93 is perfectly fine. You just need to make sure it doesn't stray from there by moving the probe to where it needs to be. See the amazing drawing below for reference:

[PitOnTheProwl]

^------ Stole my stuff

Yes, you don't want the probe IN the enclosure.

[Eric Alan]

^------ Stole my stuff

[maskedburito]

I have read many conflicting opinions about the probe being in the enclosure or not...I understand and see great arguments for each side.

It seems to make sense to have the probe on the inside so i know what the temperature is, where the snake would be, why would I want to measure the temperature of the outside. Im assuming there is issues with correct temperature measurements.

But also I just spent 300 dollars on a herpstat and now I would have to go buy another temperature probe for the inside, why not just put it on the inside originally?

I am worried if I put the probe on the outside I will not have the correct temperature on the inside, even if Im checking with the thermometer overtime.