Difficulting keeping heat up!

[Cinnamon the Snake]

Hey everyone. It's getting realllly cold again (about 50 degrees now!) I've been having a lot of difficulty even getting to 85 degrees to begin with (the vet suggested a 77-88 range (cold to hot)), but I can't even reach that. I came home today, and the warm side is only at 75 degrees WItH the heat lamp on (The cold is around 70). The UTH directions said that i am not supposed to use it at the same time i use the heat lamp, but there is no way i can even bring up the heat. I can't even bring it up to 85 with both on when i tried.

Any suggestions? My poor blister diseased, hungry corn is freezing her butt off. :awcrap:

 

[diamondlil]

Are you using a digital thermometer to get those readings?

 

[TarynAlisha]

Plug in the UTH. use a rheostat or thermostat to adjust the temp to 85 (if you dont have one it will become FAR to hot. so you need one before you can do this.) A rheostat is like a lamp dimmer. It will restrict the amount of electricity going to the UTH so that it stays at a temp that you want. Make sure that the thermometer has a probe and is under the substrate on the glass on top of the UTH. This makes sure it is measuring the hottest temp in the tank.

 

[Cinnamon the Snake]

nope,
i have one of these http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2753946
and then two of those thin flat black stripped ones that stick on the sides (i can't remember what they're called).
The two black strips are placed on either side of the tank, on the warmer side, i have it very close to the bottom, where the UTH is, to get the temp, and the round thermometer, i have up higher in the tank, also on the warm side. They are reading about the same right now.

She has consistently stayed on the warm side since i got her, because i think i've always had problems getting the heat up.

Thanks for your help!

 

[Cinnamon the Snake]

Plug in the UTH. use a rheostat or thermostat to adjust the temp to 85 (if you dont have one it will become FAR to hot. so you need one before you can do this.) A rheostat is like a lamp dimmer. It will restrict the amount of electricity going to the UTH so that it stays at a temp that you want. Make sure that the thermometer has a probe and is under the substrate on the glass on top of the UTH. This makes sure it is measuring the hottest temp in the tank.

I think my UTH may be broken. It never reaches high temp. I have switched to reptile carpets, which made it a little warmer to the touch, but even after i leave it on all night, it's barely warm.

 

[TarynAlisha]

http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2753002

You need to be using one of these. Trust me.

If the UTH is broken, I would say invest in a new one. And one of these:
http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2752611

If you don't want to invest in an UTH, you can also use an electric heating pad (that's what I use). Like this:
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=10264552

But you still have to be super careful with those, even if they have temp settings, I would still reccomend the rheostat.

 

[Lennycorn]

I think my UTH may be broken. It never reaches high temp. I have switched to reptile carpets, which made it a little warmer to the touch, but even after i leave it on all night, it's barely warm.

Do you use a glass tank for a viv???
If so a uth will doyou good. You also need to get a thememoter (indoor/outdoor type) with an probe and place the unit inside of tank with the probe ontop on the uth. With the stuff your using now you are not going to get go reading.
If it feel warm to you now it might be to hot for the snake???

 

[Susielea]

If it feels warm to your touch, then it's probably over 90*F

As previously said, you need to use a digital thermometer with a probe and place the probe directly over the heat mat, under the substrate, under the warm hide, this will give you an accurate reading of the temperature at the hottest place your corn can get to.

Those dial thermometers can be insanely inaccurate and having them stuck on the walls of the tank does no good at all, as that is not where your corn hides

Here's link to some digital thermometers that may be helpful to you, just make sure you get one with a probe

http://www.beanfarm.com/store/agora.cgi?cart_id=8058845.9841&product=Thermometers&xm=on

You'll probably find once you are getting a proper reading that the heat mat is too hot, in which case you'll the need a thermostat or rheostat, to control the heat output of the mat.

Good luck, I hope you get it worked out soon

 

[doortech9]

If you are thinking about going the rheostat route, consider building your own. I have heard mixed reviews about store bought rheostats, and opted to built a few for myself.

If anything fails, it can be replaced cheaply and quickly, and for the price of buying one pre-made rheostat, you can build two and have one for the next snake you buy

Have a look in the DIY section, or do a search on DIY rheostats and you will find step by step instructions...too easy!

 

[measley]

just wanted to add, walmart has probe thermometer's for only about $7-$8 in the pet department.

 

[*salAMANDA88*]

I have a question:............
I have one of those glass reptile tanks that have a sliding locking lid....how will I get the tank closed with the probe cord in the way?....I really do not want to loose another snake...:awcrap:

 

[tom e]

I concur on the suggested thermometer.. I have a feeling you're probably warmer than you think inside. Anyway, till you're measuring the right area, you won't really know what the best first move really is. It's really good that you're ready to do whatever you need to help the snake, but you need to arm yourself first with the right information..

 

[TarynAlisha]

I have the same tank.....I just run the wire to the corner. and then shut the lid anyways.

 

[Lennycorn]

A probe on the thermometer stays in the tank.

 

[*salAMANDA88*]

ok cool..so I should have no problem sliding the lid shut with the cord in the way?....thanks for the answer..I was worried..

 

[TarynAlisha]

it might be a little more difficult, but just push a bit harder.