Results of two AccuVite gauges in Sudan's tank

[Linda]

I set up both gauges in Sudan's tank last night.
It is a 40 gallon breeder glass tank with screen top.
I covered the glass over the under tank heater with some newspaper
and covered with substrate
Water bowl is a small one to keep humidity low.
Probes are in both hides...hot and cold sides.
I have clear contact paper covering the screen on the top of his tank.
I have a 75W red heating lamp on the hot side and there is a hole cut out
for it. Also two corners, about an inch worth, cut out on cold side for air flow. I also have paper covering all three sides on the outside for privacy but it also helps with the temps.

Today at 3:30pm the gauges read as follows:

Gauge on hot side:
83.5 ambient air on hot side
80.8 in hide on COLD side
53% humidity on hot side

Gauge on cold side:
78.1 ambient air on cold side
89.6 in hide on HOT side
63% humidity on cold side

So, if I am to keep the Hot side at at least 90 degrees F then I am just about there in the HOT hide at 89.6
But my ambient air isn't hot enough at 83.5, so that has to be raised.
So I think I am going to put a 100W red heating lamp with a dimmer and
work with it to get the ambient air up to a minimum of 90%.

As to cold side I think 80.8 is ok in the Cold hide.
Ambient air should be another 2 degrees higher but the only way I can see that happening is hoping it will go up from the heat lamp on the Hot side.
But the humidity is 10% higher on the cold side than the hot side.
Is 53 to 63 an ok humidity range?

The water bowl is directly in the middle at the front glass between the two thermostat/humidity gauges. The humidity should be higher on the HOT side, shouldn't it?
Now, this tank is in my bathroom as it is the only place I can quarantine Sudan for awhile away from the other snakes.
It is sitting on my long counter. The cold side is the right side which is next to my sink. Could that make a difference? Can it pick up humidity from water in pipes?
Or the other alternative thought is that the one gauge has a defective digital number as it is exactly 10 off and you know how the gauges form numbers.
5 and 6 are just one line off.

So what do you all think about the temps at 3:30pm and do you agree, disagree, want to comment, whatever on what I "think" I should do?
Or what do you think I should do?
I am working towards 90 degrees F as my goal. Should I go higher?

[SatanicIntention]

I would go higher with the warm side, try for a good 94 degrees or so. It helps me to keep the probes reading the temps on the same side as the gauge itself is on. Definately keeps me from getting confused and thinking that the temp is too low or too high. If the wires are too long, you can run them outside of the tank and then back in. Twist ties or zip ties work great if the cords are too long when ran outside of the tank(and then back in).

Your humidity sounds perfect, and yes, it will be a little higher on the warm side. I don't think it will pick up anything from being in the bathroom, although it will get higher when someone takes a hot shower I doubt it's a defective one, but if you want to test it, blow on the sensor on the unit, if it goes up, all is well . Or you can place both units in the same room right next to each other and see what they read. Mine are always about 5-10% different from each other regardless, and the waterbowl is in the middle of the tub.

I think it sounds like a good plan, and I think the 100w will be of benefit. Just be sure it doesn't dry the air out too much. Hopefully it will help raise the cool side temp to the 82-84 range and the warm side to the 94-95 range. I sure wish my bathroom was that big , but at least bathrooms are pretty stable temp wise, at least ours is. It might make your life a little simpler, though, if you switch the probes to their respective sides, hehe. I KNOW I would get confused... Let us know if you need anything else answered

[kavmon]

humidity is fine 50-60% is good. what kind if thermostat are you using? a ranco,johnsons control, herpstat or helix will do wonders for temp control. i've used all of these and they work fine. what are the temps in the area the tank is kept? if your room temps swing alot this can also cause your tank temps to swing too.


vaughn

[frankykeno]

Becky just to clarify...

If you have ONE Accu-Rite you put the unit itself on the cool side...then run the coord up, out of the tank, then back in and the probe under the warm side hide...correct...so you get cool side ambient, warm side hide temp and humidity overall.

If you have TWO Accu-Rites you put unit #1 on the warm side, run the coord out and back in and the probe under the warm hide....then set up unit #2 the exact same way.....so that unit #1 is reading warm side ambient and hide temps and humidity....unit #2 is reading cool side ambient and hide and humidity.

Is this correct?


~~Joanna~~

[SatanicIntention]

Yep, THAT'S what I was trying to explain... I get on a roll sometimes and type so fast that sometimes it comes out in a jumble, LoL. But yep, that's correct, but you explained it MUCH better.

[frankykeno]

Why thank you LOL comes from being a mother of 4!

Who am I to talk tho with my monster posts LOL!!!!!

~~Jo~~

[SatanicIntention]

Ha! Monster posts I'm the one who writes the darned encyclopedias, and THEN the poor unsuspecting new people have to read it all.

[frankykeno]

Well if nuthin else the long posts give me something to do between running to check the Accu-Rite (I never knew one could develop OCD as a by-product of getting one's first Ball Python....perhaps Jerry Lewis could sponsor some sort of telethon for us poor sufferers!)


~~Jo~~

[SatanicIntention]

LoL, yep. I can honestly say I've checked Amani's temps about 3 times today. I know I shouldn't have to, but that's just how I am. My poor rats probably wonder why Mum is laying on the floor looking in this clear box with a flashlight.

I'll probably get even more obscessive compulsive once I get a crested gecko or twelve(darn you people with your adorable geckos!). I've already started getting stuff for the enclosure for it, but I won't get one until July! LoL.

I agree, I think we need a TV show to help us deal with our "habits". At least a radio station...

[daniel1983]

when I got my first bp, I had 3 digital thermometer(each w/ two temp recordings) in one enclosure. Each one showed different temperatures.

before I built my rack, I bought a raytec temperature gun to get a better way to measure temperature (I just saw that matt has an awesome sale on these right now $50...alway a mgreptiles supporter ) haha...i paid $72. but anyways, now I have one digital thermometer in the closet where i keep my snakes to monitor room temperature. My thermostat runs at about 97 giving me the right temps in the tubs. I check every now an then with the raytec just to be sure. A temp gun is one of the coolest things you could ever buy.

I have kinda outgrown the 24/7 temp check phase. I am really confident in my setup. But i know when I start breeding.....time to worry about incubators