Where Does The Thermostat Probe Go?

[Caprisaurus]

I searched and I only found a few irrelevant threads.

I finally got everything together for the enclosure and I'm just wondering where to put the thermostat and thermometer probes. Also, what do I secure the probes with? I have a 10 gallon glass Zilla Critter Cage and I used foil tape to secure the UTH to the bottom of the tank. I'm using a 10-20 gallon Zoo Med UTH with a thermostat.

Also, unrelated but ... I set my thermostat to 84 and it is fluctuating between 80 and 86. Is it okay if it goes down to 80 once in a while? I guess it's better to be not warm enough then too hot?

I would really appreciate some help!

[Cmwells90]

I'd say put it in the warm hide, because this is the spot you are trying to effect the most. As for the temp change, if you are not using a proportional thermostat then your thermostat is turning on when the heat is low and off when it's too warm, so you'll get a good 2+/- because of this effect.

[Mikoh4792]

Dude... why do you make the same threads with the same questions that have been already answered?

http://www.ssnakess.com/forums/elaphe-guttata-guttata/101597-need-help-setting-up-tank.html

[Cmwells90]

He probably wanted more than one answer. But when the first answer is right then there's no reason saying it again....

[Caprisaurus]

Dude... why do you make the same threads with the same questions that have been already answered?

http://www.ssnakess.com/forums/elaphe-guttata-guttata/101597-need-help-setting-up-tank.html

Well, no offense but I wanted more then one or two answers. I appreciate your reply but I think you're the only one that replied on that thread.

[Mikoh4792]

Well, no offense but I wanted more then one or two answers. I appreciate your reply but I think you're the only one that replied on that thread.

You can just continue on that thread.

[Caprisaurus]

He probably wanted more than one answer. But when the first answer is right then there's no reason saying it again....

The way I make sure it's right is by having multiple, hopefully experienced people, say the same thing. I've seen tons of conflicting answers and I just want to know what's right and what's wrong once and for all.

Even if I have the thermostat probe on the outside I still want the thermometer probe on the inside to make sure the temps in there are good since that's where my snake will be. Also, you said inside the warm hide, but you didn't specify whether to put it above or under the substrate.

Another concern of mine is that I just checked the cool side of the tank with my thermometer and it's 79 degrees with the uth off! Is that too warm? I don't know what to do if it is. My AC is set to 73 but my room is the warmest in the house. Idk ...

[Caprisaurus]

You can just continue on that thread.

Well, that thread's been going for a while and I've gotten no other replies. Plus I didn't specify the probe in the title and that's really my only concern now. I don't know why everyone else seems to be avoiding the question. It sucks because I want to make sure every little thing is just right. I've been scouring the internet and several forums and there are a lot of FAQs and care sheets but none of them seem to go into detail. I don't want to just guess and put my snake in danger ...

[Mikoh4792]

Even if I have the thermostat probe on the outside I still want the thermometer probe on the inside to make sure the temps in there are good since that's where my snake will be. Also, you said inside the warm hide, but you didn't specify whether to put it above or under the substrate.

If you are going to be using paper towel I would put it directly on the glass, since paper towel gets moved around by the snake and it can burrow underneath. When using loose substrate, as mentioned before in your other thread I like to put it under the hide on top of the substrate.

Another concern of mine is that I just checked the cool side of the tank with my thermometer and it's 79 degrees with the uth off! Is that too warm? I don't know what to do if it is. My AC is set to 73 but my room is the warmest in the house. Idk ...

I would say it's fine, especially for day time temps. You can always choose to give your snake a night drop. Set the UTH to a lower temp at night and you should see your cool side temperature drop as well.

[infernalis]

Dude... why do you make the same threads with the same questions that have been already answered?

Let forum management worry about such things, please.

[Cmwells90]

Also, you said inside the warm hide, but you didn't specify whether to put it above or under the substrate.

If you're using paper towels, on the glass. Once you use a substrate I would say put in on the top of the substrate, because most likely this is where the snake will be basking, and it can move lower if it needs to.

[formica]

yes probe on the warm side, I place mine directly on the glass next to the heat mat, alongside the thermometer probe, underneath the substrate - underneath because allot of reptiles like to burrow and get right next to the heat source, securing it could be as simple as a piece of flat stone on the wire (not on the probe itself), be creative, avoid tape inside the enclosure

use the thermometer to work out the adjustments needed on the thermostat, ignoring the markings on the dial of the thermostat, which are usually not very accurate or calibrated properly

[ErikBush97]

I have four UTH'S. Three are under my enclosures, one is out in the open, unused. I put my probe on the unused one.

[Mikoh4792]

I have four UTH'S. Three are under my enclosures, one is out in the open, unused. I put my probe on the unused one.

You mean you run four UTH's on one probe? That is not a good idea. If the one with the probe fails it will cause the other UTH's to heat up which could end up killing your animals.

[ErikBush97]

You mean you run four UTH's on one probe? That is not a good idea. If the one with the probe fails it will cause the other UTH's to heat up which could end up killing your animals.

It's only temporary. I have a power strip plugged in where the UTH should be on my Thermo, and I have my UTH's plugged into my power strip. It works until the 7th when I can buy a few more Thermostats.

[formica]

It's only temporary. I have a power strip plugged in where the UTH should be on my Thermo, and I have my UTH's plugged into my power strip. It works until the 7th when I can buy a few more Thermostats.

why are you buying more snakes when you dont have the equipment to support them safley??

what makes you think that all heat mats heat up equally?

or that the tempreture of a heat mat out in the open is the same as the tempreture of a heat mat underneath an enclosure?

or that the tempreture of a heat mat with a BCI lying on top if the same as the tempreture of a heat mat with a corn snake on top of it?

[Mikoh4792]

why are you buying more snakes when you dont have the equipment to support them safley??

what makes you think that all heat mats heat up equally?

or that the tempreture of a heat mat out in the open is the same as the tempreture of a heat mat underneath an enclosure?

or that the tempreture of a heat mat with a BCI lying on top if the same as the tempreture of a heat mat with a corn snake on top of it?

Basically this. You need one probe for each heat source.

[Caprisaurus]

Basically this. You need one probe for each heat source.

I've heard of people doing that with flexwatt but idk about mats. I personally wouldn't take the chance.

[Caprisaurus]

I appreciate the replies so far. Luckily my thermostat and thermometer seen to be pretty dead on actually. I let the thermometer just sit and measure air temperature in my house and it was within one degree. The thermostat and thermometer temperatures are also within one degree(fahrenheit).

[Mikoh4792]

I've heard of people doing that with flexwatt but idk about mats. I personally wouldn't take the chance.

It's a bigger risk with flex watt because flex watt gets way hotter on full power.

[Caprisaurus]

Well that's not good. I just ran into another problem ... My thermostat probe cord is too thick to fit through the hole they have in the lid, so now I guess my only option is to secure it to the heat mat directly. I would rather have it on the bottom of the mat, especially since I already foil taped the mat down. Is having it taped on the other die of the heat mat okay? Any help would really be appreciated.

[Mikoh4792]

Well that's not good. I just ran into another problem ... My thermostat probe cord is too thick to fit through the hole they have in the lid, so now I guess my only option is to secure it to the heat mat directly. I would rather have it on the bottom of the mat, especially since I already foil taped the mat down. Is having it taped on the other die of the heat mat okay? Any help would really be appreciated.


I had the same problem with my 10 gallon zillas. What I did was file down the little slit where the wires/probes are suppose to fit. After filing it down a few mm it should fit perfectly. Just have a vacuum cleaner handy as it's going to get messy. I'll post pictures in a second.

[Mikoh4792]

Here is a photo of it before filing down just for comparison. I couldn't even fit my thermometer probes through

http://i43.tinypic.com/2qv8ll1.jpg

After filing it down the wires fit through perfectly

http://i39.tinypic.com/mc97xk.jpg

[Caprisaurus]

Okay cool thanks. I actually panicked and already foil taped the probe onto the bottom of the heat mat. I'm giving it a while to stabilize temps but it seems OK so far. I've heard a lot of people say that I should put it directly on the head source anyways, so hopefully it's fine. I was worried about the snake moving it anyways. I heard that foil tape can give false readings so I was apprehensive about using it, but then someone said they use it because it insulates the probe and gives the mat temp and not the air temp. That makes sense, but I also left around half of the probe exposed just in case.

I know that my thermometer wire can fit, so luckily that's fine. Unfortunately my thermometer and thermostat are a couple degrees off now, but I guess that's normal because glass is an insulator?

[Caprisaurus]

Another thing that gets me nervous, is the probe wire is on the heat mat because I though you're supposed to put the probe on the middle of the mat. It just worries me though that it could be a fire hazard ... What do you guys think? Should I move the probe to the edge of the mat so little to no wire is touching it?

[Mikoh4792]

Another thing that gets me nervous, is the probe wire is on the heat mat because I though you're supposed to put the probe on the middle of the mat. It just worries me though that it could be a fire hazard ... What do you guys think? Should I move the probe to the edge of the mat so little to no wire is touching it?

Unless the cord of the probe or backing of the heat mat is cut I wouldn't worry about it. The heatmat should never get so hot it will burn through the plastic anyways.

[Caprisaurus]

Okay cool thanks.

Another unrelated thing, but what is safe to use as homemade hides? I've heard flower pots are pretty good but are they safe? What else is good as a homemade hide. I was gonna use toilet paper rolls but it seems pretty small and I'm afraid it might roll around or something.

[Cmwells90]

Personally I use empty Greek yogurt containers. We go through them pretty often at my house and the snakes love them. I can't see an issue with it as long as they're cleaned properly. Then I just cut them down if I need a smaller hide or cut a hole in the sides if needed.

[Caprisaurus]

I was thinking that measuring cups would be perfect buy idk if they're safe for snakes. Probably since they're usually microwave and human safe. It wouldn't look very pretty but there's a perfect sized opening where the handle is when it's flipped upside down. I'll probably get a couple of things at the dollar store tomorrow.

[Caprisaurus]

Here's a few pictures of the setup so far:

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/pokaslop3000/DSC00834.jpg (http://s31.photobucket.com/user/pokaslop3000/media/DSC00834.jpg.html)

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/pokaslop3000/DSC00835.jpg (http://s31.photobucket.com/user/pokaslop3000/media/DSC00835.jpg.html)

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c386/pokaslop3000/DSC00836.jpg (http://s31.photobucket.com/user/pokaslop3000/media/DSC00836.jpg.html)

[ErikBush97]

why are you buying more snakes when you dont have the equipment to support them safley??

what makes you think that all heat mats heat up equally?

or that the tempreture of a heat mat out in the open is the same as the tempreture of a heat mat underneath an enclosure?

or that the tempreture of a heat mat with a BCI lying on top if the same as the tempreture of a heat mat with a corn snake on top of it?

I'm buying more snakes? O.o And my thermometers make me think they're all heating up correctly. I use a Lamp for my Corn, btw. I really don't know where this reply came from, or the things said in it, but if you read through all of the replies, you will see that this is my t.e.m.p.o.r.a.r.y setup. I get paid on the 7th. Guess I'll sit here and watch my temps, all paranoid for a week and a half until I can go pick up more thermostats... Hopefully these brand new UTH's or month old Thermostat don't fail before then!

[nyjon]

yes probe on the warm side, I place mine directly on the glass next to the heat mat, alongside the thermometer probe, underneath the substrate - underneath because allot of reptiles like to burrow and get right next to the heat source, securing it could be as simple as a piece of flat stone on the wire (not on the probe itself), be creative, avoid tape inside the enclosure

use the thermometer to work out the adjustments needed on the thermostat, ignoring the markings on the dial of the thermostat, which are usually not very accurate or calibrated properly

great info. i was just able to tune my thermostat after reading this post. i was wondering why the thermostat wouldnt cut the power to my bulbs (i had the dial set to the middle mark) and after moving the dial around i got it to shut off. the arrow was pointing to low but the temp was actually 90 on the high side. :D