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My UTH is acting up? Or my thermostat.

J

josephamor

New member
I've had my snake for a week now, and I've had a UTH installed since day 2. I know that it's been too hot, but Tar (short for Targaryan) has yet to really hang out in the warm side of his tank, so I haven't let it bother me, I've just been keeping an eye on him. He spends most of his time chilling out in his hide, which is in the middle of the cage, so he probably gets a little heat from the UTH without having sit directly above it. That being said, I went today and got a ReptiTemp Rheostat, which was the only thermostat device I could find in Petsmart.

Well I hooked it up to my UTH and set it on it's lowest setting... When I checked the temp about an hour later it was in the high 90's! I turned it off and I've sort of been experimenting with it, seeing if there's any way I can keep it on a stable 85, but so far, it always ends up too hot. What gives? Is the Rheostat a bust? Is the heating pad not compatible with it? Help please? I want to get my little guy's home all comfortable for him asap. He seems content despite the heat on that side of his tank. I have a climbing branch set up for him on the cool side, and when he's not hiding in his log, he is usually exploring his branch or just chilling out outside. I was going to feed him today but I decided to wait until I can get him an 85 degree place to properly digest his food. Any suggestions would be appreciated!!!
 
Your little guy may be avoiding that side of the cage because it is too hot for him right now. Do you have quality thermostats to be measuring these temps with? If they are the cheap little gauge ones, those things are totally unreliable. I would pick up a good thermostat if you don't feel confident in the one you have.

What is the room temp where you are keeping the viv? If for some reason you keep that room on the warm end, then the UTH will read high even if the rheostat is on it's lowest setting.

These are just too initial questions that come to mind, but your rheostat could be a bust as well. I have no experience with that model. BTW - if you do have to get a new one, highly suggest coughing up a little extra money for the thermostat. It's a better investment because you don't have to adjust it as the room temp fluctuates (spring and fall are terrible for this because one day it can be warm, and then the next a cold snap).
 
Thought I would also mention that you can get thermostats at other places besides PetSmart. They are often used for indoor gardening, I would call around to local gardening supply places, home department stores, etc. Or amazon.com and other websites have them, if you can afford the wait.
 
The thermometer I'm using is a pretty decent one I think... cost about 12 bucks, it's digital with a probe. It seems to be reading right I think. When I turn the Rheostat off the temp drops, and when it's on, even on the lowest setting, it jets up slowly.

Do you have a suggestion for a good brand thermostat to get to control my heat pad's temp?
 
Ha, I just saw that I typed thermostat instead of thermometer on the top part. :eek: Sorry!

I have a Zoo Med Repti Temp 500 R, it works great for me. Regulates all the tanks and can handle 500 watts, which is nice if you ever get more tanks and such. It also has a long cord for the sensor probe, which I like. Only thing I dislike about it is that you don't get to see the temp you're setting it at on the thermostat itself. It has a low and hi dial like your rheostat, but it is a thermostat so it shuts itself off when it reaches the set temp.

Here is a link for it on amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Zoo-Med-ReptiTemp-Remote-Thermostat/dp/B0002AQD9A
 
Thanks. I have tried about everything I can think of to get it to work. I have a heating lamp that came with the tank I bought. I know it's not the ideal way to keep the warm side warm, but for money's sake, I'm seeing if it works well enough to heat under the Aspen. If it doesn't (and I think it probably won't), I'll go ahead and order the one you suggest. Do you think he will be ok for a few days without a constant heat source? The "natural" temp of the rest of his tank bedding that is not heated is about 75 degrees.
 
Obviously, it's not ideal, but I'm sure he'll be fine for a short term. I wouldn't feed though, if the temps are too cold and no belly heat he won't be able to digest properly. A heat lamp won't provide that belly heat either, so if I was you I would just get on purchasing a thermostat. You should return that rheostat though, that way purchasing the thermostat shouldn't hit you too hard. Those things are like $20, right?

Good luck with everything. Figuring all this out can be a little frustrating the first time around, but putting the work and money into getting it set up correctly is the best thing you can do for yourself and your little guy long-term.
 
Where do you have the probe for the thermostat? Unless it's on the floor surface immediately on top the UTH, then the UTH will run much hotter than you want.

Remember that a UTH is designed to heat the floor surface and not the air in the tank. If you're measuring and monitoring at anything other than floor level, then the setup won't do what you want.
 
I have my temp probe below the bedding on his warm side, directly on top of the green felt mat I have covering the glass bottom, as low as Tar can possibly get. Because I'm reading the temperature below the substrate where he is likely to be burrowed, is it ok if I can heat that area to 85 with a heating lamp? I know people on here say that generally, UTH's are better, but if you can achieve the same desired effect with a heating lamp, is there really a difference as to which works better? The heat from a UTH might come from underneath, but it's still 85 degrees under his substrate, regardless of whether the heat is coming from above or below.

Also, on a side note, since I've been using the heating lamp (since last night) I've plugged it into the Rheostat and it seems to be working fine with the heat lamp. When I turn the knob on it up and down at least the bulb gets dimmer and brighter, meaning I should be able to adequately control the temp with a heat lamp right?

I will eventually get a better thermostat hooked up to my UTH simply because I think it makes your viv look better if you don't have a big light bulb sitting on top of it, but do I need to rush to switch out my heating system, or can I stick with the lamps for a while as long as I maintain good temps below the bedding on his warm side?
 
I tried that thermostat, too. It's well known for it's low setting keeping the UTH to 80+... just return it and order one online. That's what I did and it worked like a charm.
 
I went today and got a ReptiTemp Rheostat, which was the only thermostat device I could find in Petsmart.
Click to expand...

Be aware that a rheostat isn't the same as a thermostat.

A thermostat is a device which you set up, tweak to get your desired temp, and then leave.

A rheostat will not automatically adjust the temp in the same way and you'll have to keep checking it and manually turning it up and down. That's not so helpful if you have the tank in a room which experiences temperature fluctuations.
 
I just ordered the Zoo Med ReptiTemp 500R Remote Sensor Thermostat on Amazon, so it should be here by Wednesday according to the site. Right now I'm using a heating lamp that keeps his under the bedding temp on the warm side at around 82-84 in the day and 78-80 at night. When the thermostat gets here I'll keep it at 85 all day err'day, but until this, the setup I have right now is ok right?

I fed him yesterday for the first time and he ate without any problem, and he's pretty much been chilling out in his hide on the warm side for last night and today. I'm keeping an eye on him for a regurg but I am really hoping everything goes well considering the temp problems I've been having.

Is there anything I should be doing differently? Do you guys think he's ok? I feel like a worried parent! :(
 
The temps sound OK - if you can keep them around 85 on the warm side all the time that'd be ideal, but whilst your guy is keeping his dinner down, I don't think it's a major issue.

For all that we look for the "ideal" setup, Corns are reasonably tolerant. I think the thermostat on order will make your life a heap easier and less stressful.

If only they knew how much we worry on their behalf!
 
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