Ambient heat and belly heat question?

[larryd23]

My BP has an UTH on a thermostat. The thermostat is set to 95f to compensate for the few degrees lost through the glass and substrate (the probe is sandwiched between the glass and UTH). Temp gun on hot side reads about 90f.

My problem is that my thermometer reads an ambient temp of around 82-83f on the hot side, sometimes a bit more, but all in all usually the same temp as the cold side. I know that UTHs aren't for upping ambient temps, but is this okay? I have a lamp I could use if it's that much of a problem, but I think that might kill my humidity.

Technically I have a hotspot of 90f, but it's belly heat. Is belly heat sufficient enough? What do you guys think?

I keep my ambient at 80 and my belly heat at 90, so your temps seem fine to me. I would bring the ambient down a few degrees but I don't know that it's necessary.

I am concerned when you say that you set your UTH thermostat to 95 to compensate for heat loss through the substrate. You should be measuring your belly heat directly on the bottom glass inside the viv, not on top of the substrate. Your BP will eventually move whatever substrate you have and come in direct contact with the bottom glass. The temperature of the bottom glass should be set at 90.

Don't worry if the substrate lowers the temp a few degrees. If your BP wants more heat, he'll dig down to the glass.