Thermostat probe blocked by snake - Over heating?

[Mikoh4792]

Let's say you place the probe on the wall with overhead heating. If a snake blocks the probe by pressing up against the wall, would the heat source overheat "thinking" it isn't at the set temperature? Or would the snake just became as hot as the desired temperature and transfer the heat from it's body onto the probe?

[Jack C]

I think it just gets a bit warmer maybe and the snake moves to the cool side, I leave my probe just outside the hot hide so that when he hides he doesn't cover the probe.

[Starbuck]

i think the latter. or; the snake would just reach its desired temp, then move away.

[Terranaut]

Snake will get hot and leave. No worries.

[rocknhorse76]

Snake will get hot and leave. No worries.

I tend to agree with this. I think I'd mount the probe just high enough to where the snake can't block it, and then adjust the setpoint of the stat accordingly to achieve the desired hot spot temperature using an IR gun. That's just me though.

[Aaron_S]

I don't have probes in enclosures.

It's placed on the heat tape. I use a temp gun to check temps daily in tubs to ensure all is well.

[rocknhorse76]

I don't have probes in enclosures.

It's placed on the heat tape. I use a temp gun to check temps daily in tubs to ensure all is well.

This is what I do as well, but the OP is using overhead heat as a supplemental heat source and wants to control it independently from his belly heat.

[Aaron_S]

Overhead heating = doing it wrong.

[Amadeus]

Overhead heating = doing it wrong.

But but the sun...

[Terranaut]

Overhead heating = doing it wrong.

Not for carpets or colubrids :) I love mt RHP's.
I firmly believe in using a single heat source on a single thermostat.

[Mikoh4792]

Overhead heating = doing it wrong.

What about arboreal and semi-arboreal snakes? I plan on using Radiant Heat panels for my carpets which rarely hide on the ground.

Even right now I am using belly heat for all my snakes except for my two carpet pythons.

[Mikoh4792]

I firmly believe in using a single heat source on a single thermostat.

Of course.

[Aaron_S]

When people talk "overhead" I presume lights as I'm old and that's all we used to have for overhead.

Personally, I'd stick the probe to the RHP and use a temp gun to get the temp of the surface so as to not have issues with the snake.

[Mikoh4792]

When people talk "overhead" I presume lights as I'm old and that's all we used to have for overhead.

Ah I see. lol.

But even then would you prefer to use belly heat over heat lamps for something like a carpet python? In other words are heat lamps that bad?

Personally, I'd stick the probe to the RHP and use a temp gun to get the temp of the surface so as to not have issues with the snake.

Yeah I thought of doing that, I'm going to test it out.

[Aaron_S]

Ah I see. lol.

But even then would you prefer to use belly heat over heat lamps for something like a carpet python? In other words are heat lamps that bad?



Yeah I thought of doing that, I'm going to test it out.


Lamps dry out enclosures like no tomorrow. Carpets are semi-arboreal so I'd use something on the side.

I use rack systems for almost everything, so they'd have back heat in that case.

[rocknhorse76]

When people talk "overhead" I presume lights as I'm old and that's all we used to have for overhead.

Personally, I'd stick the probe to the RHP and use a temp gun to get the temp of the surface so as to not have issues with the snake.

Wait, 28 is old?? Guess that makes me REALLY old lol.

[Aaron_S]

Wait, 28 is old?? Guess that makes me REALLY old lol.

Notice how long I've been on this forum? That's what I meant. Old in the hobby.

[Mikoh4792]

I forgot how old this site was.

[rocknhorse76]

Notice how long I've been on this forum? That's what I meant. Old in the hobby.

Hell, I had already been keeping snakes for like 10 years when you joined lol. I get what you mean though, man....just giving you crap. Things have changed a lot over the years!!

[Aaron_S]

Hell, I had already been keeping snakes for like 10 years when you joined lol. I get what you mean though, man....just giving you crap. Things have changed a lot over the years!!

I had for about 4 years prior to me joining. I did not know of forums before!

[rocknhorse76]

I had for about 4 years prior to me joining. I did not know of forums before!


Right on man. Yeah, I wish I had actually thought about reptile forums sooner. I was never a forum person at all until about 6 years ago, and that was mostly 4x4 or ATV stuff.