heating exo terra stack

revent · 10-09-13, 03:14 PM

Hello.

I recently added a third 36x18x18 exo Terra to my setup. I used to use a heat pad and a light bulb above them to heat them but with the third one I had to move the shelves much closer together and no longer have room for the light fixtures between them. I figured I would just use a bigger Uth with a thermostat to heat the cages and I would be fine, but I was wrong I can get it to be about 84.5 on the hot side and 78 er so on the cool side. And I'm left with no basking spot. Do you think I have to buy a RHP? Or do you think I could add some flexwatt tape to the back and get my temps okay as I was planing on getting some at an expo this weekend anyways. These Viva all have custom kydex tops to help keep heat and humidity in also BTW. Oh and if I do get an RHP what size and wattage should I look for?

These are for a ball python, king snake and JCP.

Thanks

Mikoh4792 · 10-09-13, 05:40 PM

Pics of your set up ?(not just how it looks but showing probe placement, heat mat...etc)

revent · 10-09-13, 11:14 PM

I'll take some pics tomorrow but not sure it would help. The heatmat covers just shy of half the enclosure on the bottom and I took my temps with an I r thermometer. My thermostat is just on full all the time Cuz it can't quite make it up to temp. My thermostats probe is sitting on top of the eco earth substrate just above the heat pad. And my temps are taken in several locations around the viv

Mikoh4792 · 10-09-13, 11:22 PM

How deep is the substrate? If you use a few inches I can't help you there, I could get a 100f hotspot if I wanted to because I use very little substrate(half an inch to an inch at most) or paper(paper towel, kraft paper...etc)

Also what is the ambient temperature in your room(the room the cage is in)

Do you have a hide over the thermostat probe? A hide with one opening, not two like those half logs.

edit: Your uth could also be faulty.

Mikoh4792 · 10-09-13, 11:28 PM

Actually pics can help a great deal. Get those pics and maybe we see what's wrong.

revent · 10-10-13, 06:43 AM

The substrate is kinda thick (about 2 inches). And I do have one of the half log hides in the corner but it up against the wall with the double corner stairs thing in front as an entrance. The thermostat prob is just outside the log his on the from and there are temp/humidity probs inside both hides. Inside the hides it is warmer but still only like 86 at the hottest. My lower cage actually has fairly ideal temps it has lower substrate and I think the heat pad from the middle cage is helping it too. And obviously the top cage hasn't been set up at all yet.
Also the temp in the room fluctuates but its around 70 degrees. Were on the third floor and kinda mooch heat offa the people under us a lot.

Mikoh4792 · 10-10-13, 07:00 AM

Yes I would say by looking at the pictures, the substrate layer is too thick. The heat has to penetrate through all that. Also the probe should be under the hide, controlling the heat where your snake will actually be.

Also how much of the screen top is covered? In a 70F room a screen top will just be letting all the heat and humidity out of the enclosure.

revent · 10-10-13, 07:32 AM

Inside the hide is still only up to about 86ish degrees and the substrate has been dug out in there too so its much lower. The top is like 95% covered I'm drilling more holes to try to lower humidity some without a heat lamp it gets a lot wetter in there.

Mikoh4792 · 10-10-13, 07:38 AM

Why is it wet? Are you misting? Or is the substrate just fresh out of the bag?

Instead of drilling more holes I would let the substrate dry out. Humidity is always high when you put fresh substrate in(cocohusk, cypressmulch...etc)

Well then I don't know what to tell you. I'd get another heat mat because if its only 86F under the hide with full power and low substrate, then it's indicative that the heat mat is faulty

revent · 10-10-13, 07:51 AM

Its fairly new substrate its about two weeks old. So just to clear this up you think I should replace my heat mat instead of adding another on the side or back or getting a rhp? I'll lower the substrate in the rest of the enclosed as well.

Mikoh4792 · 10-10-13, 08:33 AM

Yes if the substrate under the hide is an inch or so and it's only 86F with the heat mat running on full power, I'd say the heat mat is faulty.

revent · 10-10-13, 09:14 AM

Alright thanks. I'll just make a new one out of flexwatt this weekend then. Thanks

revent · 10-14-13, 08:11 PM

Yup new heat pad problem solved.