Temperature Question For A RUB & First Time BP Owner

[Seviper]

Hi guys, so as some of you may know, I am getting a baby BP in a few weeks and I am using a 5L RUB. I'm just having a little trouble keeping the RUB's heating up in the morning, where the basking temp is 87.7F and the humidity is 52%. I decided since I am doing tests, I would spray my RUB two times and immediately close the lid which kicked the humidity up to 56%, but dropped the temperature to 87.3F. Every morning, this part is important, my house is really cold, because the central heating always goes off at nights, and we need to turn the heating back on and wait a couple of hours before the house warms up ( and thus, the temperature in the RUB will go to 88F and higher ), will my soon-to-be snake be alright? I know you should have 88F but it's not really possible in the mornings until the house is heated up...

EDIT :: 1 hour after turning the heating on, the temperature in the RUB has hit 88.2F and is at 55% humidity ( after the spray ), though I can never be sure when the temperature drops below 88F while we are all sleeping and I just want to know if my little snake will be alright, I want him to be happy. I know I am probably overthinking this but I really want him to be healthy, happy, and feeding.

[chrid16371]

Are you using a thermostat to regulate your hearing device? What kind of heating device are you using? Where are you checking your temp bottom of tub or top of substrate?

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[Seviper]

Thermostat and a digital thermometer and hydrometer. Using a heating pad that goes beneath the RUB. The probe from the thermostat is stuck using heat insulation tape close to the edge of the heat mat. This is driving me mad. The humidity dropped to 52% so I decided to just spray it a couple of times, and the humidity shot up to 80%! So I opened the lid to let some of the air out, briefly, and it's dropped to 65% humidity, I've left the lid locked and the temperature is dropping to 84.6F! Why?! It's only getting colder. I never thought this would be so blasted annoying.

20 minutes later, it's still dropping, now at 83.8F............................... I just don't understand...

[crooner1981]

My personal experience with rubs has never been good and was never able to maintain correct temps without the room it was housed in having the correct ambient itself. I felt exactly what you are.For all the messing about that went with it I went with a viv and a ceramic as it was a pet and felt it looked better on display anyway. Not what you wanted to hear and someone may give you better news but that was my experience.

Jack of all trades, master of none.

[Seviper]

I can't go with a viv because not only does my current home not have enough room for it ( though I am moving out in 1 year ), I am the absolute worst when it comes to DIY. I live with my grandmother and she can't help me with DIY either, nobody can. So the RUB is the best option I have. This morning, the temperature was completely normal, after putting the heating on, though the humidity was only at 52% so I sprayed it a couple of times and... hello 80% humidity? So I opened the tub to let some of that excessively humid air out then locked the lid back on and now I cannot get the temperature to rise - I am really annoyed.

[bcr229]

First, do you have a water bowl in the rub yet or not? If not put one in for the testing.

Second, is the temperature you're measuring ambient temp or is it the surface temp over the heat pad?

I've found with a hatchling-sized tub that putting a small hide over the heat and the water dish on the cool side works well and I really don't have to spray much at all. The cool side "hide" is either the top of the warm side hide, or it's a tight corner of the tub closest to the water bowl.

[Seviper]

First, do you have a water bowl in the rub yet or not? If not put one in for the testing.

Second, is the temperature you're measuring ambient temp or is it the surface temp over the heat pad?

I've found with a hatchling-sized tub that putting a small hide over the heat and the water dish on the cool side works well and I really don't have to spray much at all. The cool side "hide" is either the top of the warm side hide, or it's a tight corner of the tub closest to the water bowl.

Hey, yeah I did put some water inside the tiny water bowl I bought for my soon to be snake, and put it in the bottom right corner of the RUB which is in the cool end. The thermometer square probe end is inside the RUB on the hot side just behind the hide that is in the hot end. I feel like maybe I've buggered my 5L RUB by adding too many holes, I don't know, but all I have in place of it is a 9L RUB and I think that might be way too big for a baby BP which will probably be a little under a month old when I get him. When I spoke with the breeder he said the 5L would be better than a 9L RUB because if the 9L is too big then he might not eat. I would try using a new 5L RUB except they are sold out absolutely everywhere & staples website always refuses to accept payments...

EDIT :: I've taken two pictures so you can see what I have. http://imgur.com/a/B8DTD

[crooner1981]

Covering excess holes will work just wont look as pretty but will let you experiment.

Jack of all trades, master of none.

[Seviper]

Covering excess holes will work just wont look as pretty but will let you experiment.

Jack of all trades, master of none.

I've already covered holes, didn't make a difference, so I just ripped them off. I could just use my 9L RUB like I said but I worry it's going to be far too big for my snake.

[chrid16371]

What brand and model thermostat are you using? Your thermostat probe should be in the center of your heating mat bc it can be cooler toward the edge. Don't put tape directly on probe bc it can give inaccurate readings which means it won't heat right. Only tape the wire not the probe itself to the heat mat. Move your thermometer probe to the bottom of substrate to the middle of the heat mat and check temp there after you make the change to you thermostat probe. Once you make those changes adjust your thermostat until the middle of the heat mat under the substrate is 93-94 and after you get it set to that move the thermometer probe back to top of substrate and place it where your snake lays and see if its around 88-90. You may have to thin out your substrate a little or use paper towels if your not getting the temps of 88-90 on top of substrate. Once you have it set right put the thermometer probe back under substrate near where your snake lays and as long as that temp stays where you have to set it for the top of substrate to be 88-90 then you will know the temps are good. I wouldn't set thermostat any higher then 94.