Tin Foil on the screen top - will it affect temps?

[honeybee]

So Viago's enclosure has been having humidity issues. Low 40% range. As before I only had some fabric covering the screen, I just switched to tin foil on 3/4's of the lid, plus moved his water bowl over his UTH. Humidity is at 52% now and still rising gradually, so that problem seems to be on it's way out.

I'm wondering though, if the tin foil might bump up the temps? Right now theyre perfect, 80-82 on the cool side, 88-91 on the hot side, with about 84-86 ambient. Measured with a thermostat probe, plus two digital thermometers on each end. But it feels significantly warmer in there. I know our senses aren't the most reliable in this situation, but I can't help but be a paranoid mama, seeing as its 1am and I need to be asleep soon for work. I don't want to leave it unmonitored and wake up seeing a huge spike.

TLDR: the thermostat should do its job and keep the uth at a reasonable temp despite the tin foil, yes? CHE is not currently controlled by a thermostat or dimmer as it's on an adjustable lamp and I simply move it further/closer to the screen to adjust temps. If I unplug it, the enclosure will dip down to the low 70s as I live in a cold basement, so thats not an option this moment. However, if the tin foil can create a spike I'm 100% going to buy a rheostat tomorrow.

EDIT: digital thermometer on the hot side was just reading 93, thermostat probe reading 89. Why. Why lord. Does that even make sense? Digital thermometers are zoomed, thermostat is jumpstart.

[the_rotten1]

It might. My terrarium runs warmer now than it did before I had the top covered, but I also covered and insulated the sides so it was a pretty dramatic difference for me. You may need to adjust the thermostat down a degree or three, but other than that I wouldn't worry about it.

If you have it set up so that the termostat probe is between the glass and the uth and the thermometer probe is in the cage, on the glass over the uth, then it only makes sense that there will be a bit of a temperature discrepancy. The thermostat probe will not be affected by the increased air temp because it's not in the cage. The thermometer probe will. But that's why you need both, because the temps outside the tank are just as important as the temps inside.

[honeybee]

Thank-you! I have set my thermostat down 3 degrees to account for the tin foil after seeing the temps rise a bit, and I'll continue to monitor these as the days go by. I believe Viago is entering his first shed with me so I've also provided a humid hide (basically stuffed a bit of damp moss in one of his three hides) and I really want to make sure his humidity is on point.

The ambient temp/cold temp has not fluctuated too much, which I'm glad for, as the CHE is what I'm a bit more concerned with as it's essentially uncontrolled. Just to be safe I've lifted the lamp a little higher off the enclosure and its gone down to 79 degrees and seems to be staying there. Will mid to high 70s be okay for the night?

[Pezz]

Thank-you! I have set my thermostat down 3 degrees to account for the tin foil after seeing the temps rise a bit, and I'll continue to monitor these as the days go by. I believe Viago is entering his first shed with me so I've also provided a humid hide (basically stuffed a bit of damp moss in one of his three hides) and I really want to make sure his humidity is on point.

The ambient temp/cold temp has not fluctuated too much, which I'm glad for, as the CHE is what I'm a bit more concerned with as it's essentially uncontrolled. Just to be safe I've lifted the lamp a little higher off the enclosure and its gone down to 79 degrees and seems to be staying there. Will mid to high 70s be okay for the night?

I've seen bps do fine with even lower night temps. My enclosures never dip below 78 but even down to 72 I've heard is ok. Really it's about observing the snek. If he feels cold and stiff in the morning raise your temp overnight. If he reacts normally your husbandry is spot on.

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[Rvnhawk]

Where is your thermostat probe? It’s recommended to be between the Uth and glass. If this is where you have it, most of the time you have to set your thermostat higher than the temp you want your hotspot to be inside the tank on top of the glass. I have my thermostat set to 95° to get my hotspot to read with a thermo gun between 88°-91°.


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[honeybee]

Where is your thermostat probe? It’s recommended to be between the Uth and glass. If this is where you have it, most of the time you have to set your thermostat higher than the temp you want your hotspot to be inside the tank on top of the glass. I have my thermostat set to 95° to get my hotspot to read with a thermo gun between 88°-91°.


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Thermostat probe is between UTH and the glass, which is why I was a bit confused as the thermostat was reading lower than the in-tank probe. Today it looks like temps have evened out again. However, I woke up to 30% humidity. Is spraying twice a day alright if I'm not spraying down the entirety of the enclosure, but rather just the third/humid hide and parts of substrate that he doesn't sit on? He's always either in his cold hide or his hot hide, so I leave those unsprayed to avoid scale rot and this seems to bump humidity up to 55% ish for a few hours. Still looking for a better solution if anyone has suggestions. Very much considering switching to the coveted tub enclosure lol.

[Pezz]

Thermostat probe is between UTH and the glass, which is why I was a bit confused as the thermostat was reading lower than the in-tank probe. Today it looks like temps have evened out again. However, I woke up to 30% humidity. Is spraying twice a day alright if I'm not spraying down the entirety of the enclosure, but rather just the third/humid hide and parts of substrate that he doesn't sit on? He's always either in his cold hide or his hot hide, so I leave those unsprayed to avoid scale rot and this seems to bump humidity up to 55% ish for a few hours. Still looking for a better solution if anyone has suggestions. Very much considering switching to the coveted tub enclosure lol.

I use a straw hut (originally designged for rodents) as a moist hide. Stuffed paper towel in it I spray it down well every second day and it keeps humidity up. 7 dollars at my local pet store.

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