Thermostat temperature probe placement

[Shauna0522]

I just ordered and received a new thermostat for my rainbow boas enclosure, as the one that I previously had was not working properly I'm wondering if I should have the temperature probe in the middle of the warm and cool side so that it can read possibly both temperatures or should I only have it on the warm side? Any help or advice would be appreciated. Thank you

[DJC Reptiles]

I would recommend getting an infrared temperature gun to monitor temperatures on the cold side, they should not reach below 75°F. For now leave the probe on the warm side, it is much more important to provide adequate hot temps then cooler temps. Hot temps should be 80°F-85°F, with a hotspot of 90°F. Also, once the hot temps are set up, some of the time that increases the cool side to a desired temperature as well, just be sure to continually monitor the temps to make sure it doesn't get too warm, or cold.

[Shauna0522]

I would recommend getting an infrared temperature gun to monitor temperatures on the cold side, they should not reach below 75°F. For now leave the probe on the warm side, it is much more important to provide adequate hot temps then cooler temps. Hot temps should be 80°F-85°F, with a hotspot of 90°F. Also, once the hot temps are set up, some of the time that increases the cool side to a desired temperature as well, just be sure to continually monitor the temps to make sure it doesn't get too warm, or cold.

So does that mean if the hot side gets up to 90° for a short period of time it's ok? What about if the cool side gets up to 80° is that a problem?

[DJC Reptiles]

There should be a constant temperature of ~90°F in one hide on the warm side, this will allow your boa to warm up if it so chooses. Overall the temps on the warm side should be anywhere from 80°F-85°F. For the cool side, there should be one hide that has a temperature of ~75°F, this will allow your boa to cool down if it chooses. But otherwise temperatures of 80°F on the cool side should not be a problem, as long as you provide the cool hide. Providing the temperatures inside the hide will help your boa feel more secure, instead of being out in the open.

Hope this helps,
-DJC Reptiles

[Shauna0522]

There should be a constant temperature of ~90°F in one hide on the warm side, this will allow your boa to warm up if it so chooses. Overall the temps on the warm side should be anywhere from 80°F-85°F. For the cool side, there should be one hide that has a temperature of ~75°F, this will allow your boa to cool down if it chooses. But otherwise temperatures of 80°F on the cool side should not be a problem, as long as you provide the cool hide. Providing the temperatures inside the hide will help your boa feel more secure, instead of being out in the open.

Hope this helps,
-DJC Reptiles
Ok thank you

[bigsnakegirl785]

The thermostat probe isn't meant to read temperatures, it's meant to control the heat source, and as such it must always remain on or near the heat source. You must use a temp gun or thermometer to monitor temps, and set the thermostat accordingly. The temperature on the thermostat probe may not read the same as your thermometer/temp gun, but the temperature on the box must be set so that the temp gun or thermometer reads the correct temperature at the peak of performance.

If you are using a UTH or flex watt, the probe must be outside the enclosure in between the pad or tape and the bottom of the enclosure. Hot spot temps can only be read with a temp gun, and any temperatures should be read underneath any bedding not on top of the bedding. They can and will burrow under the bedding or push it aside to get closer to the heat if needed, but could overheat doing this if you are heating the top of the bedding to desired temps. When using ambient heaters such as RHPs or CHEs, the probe should be inside the enclosure directly under the heater as close to the bedding as you can while also keeping it out of reach of any hides or the snake itself. Regular thermometers can be used here to measure the ambient temperatures, and then you set the thermostat accordingly.

Rainbow boas are sensitive to high temperatures, so I would not allow the ambients to get above 78-83F and a hot spot of 84-86F. 90F is a little higher than I'd feel comfortable providing. At the very most I'd have only a hot spot that warm, but the boa should be able to escape the heat easily, and only if the ambients are not too high. Rainbow boas are susceptible to high temperatures, especially as babies, and ambients that are allowed to get too high could result in regurgitation, neurological damage, or death. I do think they should be kept a little warmer than normally advised for proper digestion, but they do still like it cooler than most species. If you keep their bedding damp, that provides them a natural cool spot, but during hot summer months you may need to use an A/C unit or a cold pool to keep them cool.

[Shauna0522]

The thermostat probe isn't meant to read temperatures, it's meant to control the heat source, and as such it must always remain on or near the heat source. You must use a temp gun or thermometer to monitor temps, and set the thermostat accordingly. The temperature on the thermostat probe may not read the same as your thermometer/temp gun, but the temperature on the box must be set so that the temp gun or thermometer reads the correct temperature at the peak of performance.

If you are using a UTH or flex watt, the probe must be outside the enclosure in between the pad or tape and the bottom of the enclosure. Hot spot temps can only be read with a temp gun, and any temperatures should be read underneath any bedding not on top of the bedding. They can and will burrow under the bedding or push it aside to get closer to the heat if needed, but could overheat doing this if you are heating the top of the bedding to desired temps. When using ambient heaters such as RHPs or CHEs, the probe should be inside the enclosure directly under the heater as close to the bedding as you can while also keeping it out of reach of any hides or the snake itself. Regular thermometers can be used here to measure the ambient temperatures, and then you set the thermostat accordingly.

Rainbow boas are sensitive to high temperatures, so I would not allow the ambients to get above 78-83F and a hot spot of 84-86F. 90F is a little higher than I'd feel comfortable providing. At the very most I'd have only a hot spot that warm, but the boa should be able to escape the heat easily, and only if the ambients are not too high. Rainbow boas are susceptible to high temperatures, especially as babies, and ambients that are allowed to get too high could result in regurgitation, neurological damage, or death. I do think they should be kept a little warmer than normally advised for proper digestion, but they do still like it cooler than most species. If you keep their bedding damp, that provides them a natural cool spot, but during hot summer months you may need to use an A/C unit or a cold pool to keep them cool.

Ok thank you for the information I appreciate it

[Shauna0522]

The thermostat probe isn't meant to read temperatures, it's meant to control the heat source, and as such it must always remain on or near the heat source. You must use a temp gun or thermometer to monitor temps, and set the thermostat accordingly. The temperature on the thermostat probe may not read the same as your thermometer/temp gun, but the temperature on the box must be set so that the temp gun or thermometer reads the correct temperature at the peak of performance.

If you are using a UTH or flex watt, the probe must be outside the enclosure in between the pad or tape and the bottom of the enclosure. Hot spot temps can only be read with a temp gun, and any temperatures should be read underneath any bedding not on top of the bedding. They can and will burrow under the bedding or push it aside to get closer to the heat if needed, but could overheat doing this if you are heating the top of the bedding to desired temps. When using ambient heaters such as RHPs or CHEs, the probe should be inside the enclosure directly under the heater as close to the bedding as you can while also keeping it out of reach of any hides or the snake itself. Regular thermometers can be used here to measure the ambient temperatures, and then you set the thermostat accordingly.

Rainbow boas are sensitive to high temperatures, so I would not allow the ambients to get above 78-83F and a hot spot of 84-86F. 90F is a little higher than I'd feel comfortable providing. At the very most I'd have only a hot spot that warm, but the boa should be able to escape the heat easily, and only if the ambients are not too high. Rainbow boas are susceptible to high temperatures, especially as babies, and ambients that are allowed to get too high could result in regurgitation, neurological damage, or death. I do think they should be kept a little warmer than normally advised for proper digestion, but they do still like it cooler than most species. If you keep their bedding damp, that provides them a natural cool spot, but during hot summer months you may need to use an A/C unit or a cold pool to keep them cool.

I have my uth on the back wall versus Under the substrate because the substrates real thick so should I put the probe in between that and the wall or what?

[bigsnakegirl785]

I have my uth on the back wall versus Under the substrate because the substrates real thick so should I put the probe in between that and the wall or what?

The UTH should be outside the enclosure on the bottom of the enclosure, it doesn't matter how thick the substrate is because they can burrow under it to get to the heat. BRBs are well known for this, so it's not outside the norm at all. You're not heating the bedding, you're providing a hot spot.

[Shauna0522]

The UTH should be outside the enclosure on the bottom of the enclosure, it doesn't matter how thick the substrate is because they can burrow under it to get to the heat. BRBs are well known for this, so it's not outside the norm at all. You're not heating the bedding, you're providing a hot spot.

Oh ok thank you