Quick thermostat question

I have done a search but I cant seem to find the answer..?

I use foil heat mats which are made to be inside the tank. Because of this - I have a peice of astro stuck over the top so they cant burn themselves..

Now - do I place the probe of my new thermostat directly ontop of that peice of astro or someplace else? :shrugs:

Sooo confused!

Thanks alot

I would place the t-stat probe directly on the mat, under the astro, and then the probe for your thermometer on top of the astro and adjust the temp accordingly.

Thanks - I will try that now

I put the probe in the basking space as it is were the snake will actually be.

Tom

If you put the thermometer above the turf make sure your snake can't get under the turf.
I use my probe to read the highest temp in the viv(right on the heat). When I set it up I had the probe in the warm hide, when it reached the right temp I moved the probe to on top of the UTH. Now I know that if I set the thermostat at 85-86F her warm area is about 83F(what she likes). This way I always know the hottest place accessible to my snake.

Are you positive the snake can't get down to the mat, under the astro? They can get under any kind of cage liner unless you've done something to it. If it's possible the snake can squeeze under an edge and burrow under, I'd put the two probes together.

I use racks, so I dedicate one of the shelves as a "mock" setup. It has all the same things a regular cage would have, cypress / water / hides, and it also has a probe at the hottest spot in that unit. Its in the basking side for sure, and kinda smack in the middle in the last 1/3 of the cb-70 style tub. And I use a laser thermometer (tempgun) multiple times a day to check the temperature. I use a helix probe, and I have heard good and bad things about this system, but honestly lets say I set the mock cage at 90* ALL of the other cages are 2 degrees lower in temperature, I know this, so I adjust the thermometer accordingly, and keep the tempguns handy to adjust if the temp gets too high or low. Its time consuming (realistically I might change the temps once a week, or 2x a month - because its calibrated well, but I always will check the temp to make sure the helix didnt go out and fry my snakes.

Nanci said:

Are you positive the snake can't get down to the mat, under the astro? They can get under any kind of cage liner unless you've done something to it. If it's possible the snake can squeeze under an edge and burrow under, I'd put the two probes together.

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I'm sure - I have secured it down well.. Though now I am wondering if I should maybe use a tile instead? Would a tile be better? Or a nice peice of astro for more comfort? Both Mia and Levi love to lie on this astro above the heat mat.. I want to just put one peice of astro down - the length and size of the tubs but they seem to like going under the newspaper - they are never in their hides in favour of a complete peice of newspaper covering them. I'd use aspen or something but we dont get it here..

My thermostat is a thermometer too.. Should I still use the thermometer as well?

Taryn7 said:

I want to just put one peice of astro down - the length and size of the tubs but they seem to like going under the newspaper - they are never in their hides in favour of a complete peice of newspaper covering them. I'd use aspen or something but we dont get it here..

My thermostat is a thermometer too.. Should I still use the thermometer as well?

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K, how 'bout this...
You like the astro-turf so use that, they like the newspaper so give 'em some.
Your thermostat/thermometer sounds perfect to keep the temp safe if it reads temp at the same spot it uses to regulate it. If you can keep the temp under the turf safe and still have a "snake comfortable" temp on top that would be great. You could use one of the cheap round thermometers to see the temp on top, they're not the most accurate, but will do.

Thanks!!

Its a pretty good thermostat - it also has a plug to switch the lights on and off.. Which I don't need but its good to have. It cost more than any of my snakes did but its worth it. LOL.. I have had it running for 24 hrs now and its keeping things running perfectly. It sounds an alarm if the temps drop too low or rise too much but the alarm didnt sound all day so its obviously working right.

I do have a round sticky zoo med thermometer in Popcorns tank. I bought it for my beardie before I knew they weren't too accurate. Its basically for decoration but it gives me an indication of the ambient temp on the warm side.. I just check things periodically with the digi thermometer..

Oh yes - and today I replaced the newspaper in Popcorns tank with Astro.. It fits tightly so I know she cant get under it.. I want to put astro in the tubs too but not right now seeing as they like to hide under it.. They are doing well so I dont want to mess with things too much..