Under tank heater issues

[RatchelMatchel]

Hey guys!

Im having an issue with my UTH so just a few questions!
Its not sticking to the bottom of the tank anymore, what kind of tape should I use to fix this?

With the thermostat stat I have I have the wire threaded into the top of the cover inside and the probe under the substrate where the UTH is so my BP has his hot spot. I’m constantly having to move his hide, and him to re bury the probe. Do you guys do the same? Or do you have the probe between the UTH and the tank? I felt so bad earlier because while I was moving his hide it slipped and landed on him (it wasn’t high or anything) I hope he’s okay he was acting fine after.

But yeah any help is much appreciated!

[Luvyna]

Hello, welcome to the forum!

I recommend using foil tape to stick the UTH back on.

For the temperature probe, it's highly recommended to tape it outside of the enclosure between the UTH and the bottom of the enclosure. This is so that the probe temperatures stay consistent and don't get messed up by your snake moving it, laying on top of it, or peeing on it, which may cause the UTH to have a temperature spike. That would also solve the problem of you having to re-bury the probe all the time. This is the perfect opportunity to make the switch since your UTH just came off.

[RatchelMatchel]

Awesome thank you so much! I’m not sure but I think my BP is going into shed so I was trying not to move him but had to fix the probe and honked him on the head! Luckily he’s so used to me picking him up he doesn’t seem hostile or anything towards me so I should be fine just scooting him over to get the probe after I get some tape. I’ve never heard of foul tape how do you use it?

[Luvyna]

No problem! And yes sounds like he'll be fine with you moving him a bit to fix up his enclosure.

Foil tape is mostly the same as normal tape, it comes in a roll like this: https://www.amazon.com/Aluminum-Tape...oil+tape&psc=1

The only difference is that the foil tape is actually adhered to a waxy sort of paper (like a sticker) so you need to peel off the paper before you can use it to stick anything. Don't make the same mistake I did—start by cutting off the length of tape you need and only peel a bit at the end, then stick down that part and slowly peel off the rest while sticking down the tape at the same time. Foil tape can be a bit tricky to work with because if you just peel off the entire length you're using at once it will curl and stick to itself which wastes the whole piece!

[RatchelMatchel]

Thanks for the tip? I would have definitely taken it all off lol. So I was just talking to my husband about how I want to move the probe to the outside between the UTH and the tank and he said it wouldn’t be an accurate reading if it’s directly on the power source cuz it would still be lower where the snake is actually laying so I don’t even know what to do now. Time to google I guess lol

[Craiga 01453]

Thanks for the tip? I would have definitely taken it all off lol. So I was just talking to my husband about how I want to move the probe to the outside between the UTH and the tank and he said it wouldn’t be an accurate reading if it’s directly on the power source cuz it would still be lower where the snake is actually laying so I don’t even know what to do now. Time to google I guess lol

The probe goes OUTSIDE the enclosure sandwiched between the UTH and the glass. Then you use a temp gun to read the actual surface temp (not the substrate).
Trial and error with the tstat will get you to a 90 hotspot. My tstats are usually set around 93 or 94 to achieve a 90 hotspot.

[Bogertophis]

Before using foil or other tape, clean the glass well with rubbing alcohol to remove any oils left by fingerprints...that's possibly why the first tape failed.

[RatchelMatchel]

Thank you! I did foil tape the UTH to the bottom and put the probe between the heater and the tank on the bottom! 10 times easier to get him out and mist his cage when needed!

I am having an issue getting the right temp. Instead of moving him around multiple times I just took him out to hang out with me while the UTH is heating up since this morning it was definitely cold. I did think he was about to shed because his eyes were cloudy and his skin was a little dull and he didn’t eat this week which he has every week since I got him but now he looks okay so I’m not sure

[Craiga 01453]

Thank you! I did foil tape the UTH to the bottom and put the probe between the heater and the tank on the bottom! 10 times easier to get him out and mist his cage when needed!

I am having an issue getting the right temp. Instead of moving him around multiple times I just took him out to hang out with me while the UTH is heating up since this morning it was definitely cold. I did think he was about to shed because his eyes were cloudy and his skin was a little dull and he didn’t eat this week which he has every week since I got him but now he looks okay so I’m not sure

When they go into shed they will appear "normal" again for a few days and then shed. It's best to avoid handling while they're in shed. The shedding process takes a lot out of them and the additional stress is best avoided. Your snake will likely shed in about 3 days.

[ballpythonsrock2]

Thanks for the tip? I would have definitely taken it all off lol. So I was just talking to my husband about how I want to move the probe to the outside between the UTH and the tank and he said it wouldn’t be an accurate reading if it’s directly on the power source cuz it would still be lower where the snake is actually laying so I don’t even know what to do now. Time to google I guess lol

Your husband was right, he's a thinker. If you set the thermostat max to 90 it should cut the pad off at 90 then the bottom of the glass/plastic (inside) will be cooler than 90. So you will have to set the thermostat to higher than 90 to get the 87-90 on the inside bottom. And about the only way to measure the temp of the inside bottom is to use an infrared thermometer. Hope you have one or will get one cause you'll need it to get it right. Also it is important that the probe on the outside is always touching securely against the heat pad (which is common sense really.)

Infrared thermometers come in very handy in life in general as well as for keeping BP. I measure the temps inside the enclosure yes but I also can use it to measure the temp of the f/t feeder I warm up. I use it to measure the temp of distilled water I heat up for my netti pot flush. ( Too much information? )
On and on it can be used in life. My wife even borrows it. There is the handy compact type which i really love.
https://www.ebay.com/p/All-Living-Th...9587564&chn=ps

National geographic has one a bit higher, I have the national geographic.

or there's the gun type.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Temp-Meter-...0ej8:rk:2:pf:0
I am not not necessarily recommending ebay these are just examples of what I am talking about I found on line. The guns can be found at Lowe's, Home Depoit, Freight Harbor..... The compact is sold sometimes at Pet Smart.

Just know they don't measure through glass. It must have a direct beam on whatever you are measuring on the inside which is why I like the compact. If you direct it through the tank glass you will be getting the outside glass temp according to the directions that come with the gun anyway.