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Newbie!!! Part II

S

ssmith_1187

In the land of Cheeeeeese
In my "Newbie!!!" thread Flagg mentioned (thank you by the way) putting a probe down into the substrate and even to the glass on the “warm” side of the enclosure.

While I knew there was going to be a temperature gradient given the thermal transfer properties of Aspen, I was shocked by what I found.

The surface temperature of the "warm" side substrate was a cozy 84.7 degrees while 1 inch down into the substrate it was a blistering 91.5 degrees.

I have my UTH hooked up to a rheostat and have dialed it down again this morning, to see if I can’t get the "burrow" temp down a bit.

How do you go about regulating the surface temperature versus a burrow temperature on the "warm" side of the enclosure? Aspen is not a very forgiving substrate in this regards.

Thank you in advance.

Regards,
Steve
 
Put a couple sheets of newspaper on the glass under the substrate over the heater, that way the snake wont be laying directly on the glass. Turning the rheostat down should help a lot. For corns the temps dont have to be 100% exact all the time, they can go up and down through the day but as long as it doesnt get too hot and they have a place to cool down then its alright. When regulating the temp go by the hottest part, get it down into the upper 80's and you'll give the snake a really nice gradient not only from one end of the cage to the other, but how deep it burrows.
 
Thanks DaemoNox!!! I'll try the newspaper under the substrate tonight.

I kind of figured that as long as things weren't too hot, the snake would find its own happy medium.

Regards,
Steve
 
I'm glad the info helped, I got the same kind of info right here on this forum when I started out.

As for the newspaper, it might help but I have one corn that for some reason loves burrowing down to the glass and he would find his way under whatever I put under the substrate, newspaper, the "reptile carpet" sold in pet stores, it didn't matter what it was he would get under it. That's why I just use aspen and stick the temp and thermostat probes right on the glass so it never gets too hot at the hottest possible point. I also use a lot less aspen on the hot side so it doesn't block too much of the heat.
 
Flagg,

So basically you're not too concerned that the top of the substrate is 80-86 on the "warm" side but rather the hottest place on the "warm" side is 80-86 whether that is on top or under the substrate is immaterial?

Is that correct?

Thanks again,
Steve
 
I would not be concerned about the surface temps of the substrate. What you want to control is the temp at the hottest point the snake can come into contact with. That would be the surface of the glass. If the snake needs more warmth, it can burrow for it.

BTW, I would not bother with newspaper myself. All of my snakes manage to find their way underneath it anyway.
 
I'm having a bit of the same problem at the moment. I have four UTHs hooked up to two rheostats (store bought from Petco. :rolleyes: ) and they have all been settling at 100F at the LOWEST possible setting on the rheostat (any lower and it would be switched off). I can't seem to get the rheostats to work at all, so I wouldn't recommend them. My apartment is kept below 74F at all times and the temps still wouldn't drop. So I've moved on to other options.

I'm sure not everyone is having the same problems, but both rheostats are the same brand (Zoomed, I believe) so it might just be that brand.

Good luck anyhow!

Amy
 
Interesting, i am havign the opposite problem, my UTH isnt heating well at all on the Rheostat, with two on one.. Strange.. I have a sauna zone UTH and the lamp dimmer Rheostat
 
Adui said:
Interesting, i am havign the opposite problem, my UTH isnt heating well at all on the Rheostat, with two on one.. Strange.. I have a sauna zone UTH and the lamp dimmer Rheostat
Click to expand...

Have you tried turning it up? :grin01:
 
OK......I think I have to problem solved, but please let me know your thoughts.

Date Time Temp. Hum. Notes
08/03 4:48pm 85.6 45% Touching the Bottom Glass - "Warm" Side
08/03 8:17pm 72.5 50% Touching the Bottom Glass - "Cool" Side
08/03 10:01pm 73.2 52% Touching the Bottom Glass - "Cool" Side
08/04 5:51am 80.0 50% On top of Substrate - "Warm" Side
08/06 9:45am 74.6 55% On top of Substrate - "Cool" Side

Thanks again for all of the advice.

Regards,
Steve
 
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