Questions about UTH/thermostat setting

[frostgfx]

I am just getting my viv setup done. I have read a bunch and watched all sorts of starter videos along the way.
I set up my UTH under the tank as directed... Plugged it into my Hydrofarm Jump Start thermostat and plugged that into the wall outlet.
I have a thermo/Hygro/Clock unit mounted to the glass in the center of the UTH in the tank. I mounted the probe for the Hydrofarm Thermostat just above the bottom of the tank at the hot end. I set the Thermostat for 87F degrees. I am a bit concerned about getting the 2" of Aspen shavings as a substrate in the hot hide area to be 87 degrees, but I noticed that the thermo/hygro unit mounted in the center of the UTH hot zone is over 96F degrees. I certainly don't want to burn my soon to be acquired first corn snake.

My major concern is that the UTH temp s around 10F degrees higher (just shy of 97F) and the hot hide area therm is set for 87F. The Hydrofarm thermostat cycles up to 90F before dropping back to 85F.

I have reset the system for 85F on the thermostat probe... and will check back in a few hours about what the UTH thermo/hygro is reading.

Any suggestions appreciated. I am planning to get my first snake in the next few weeks and want to have thing ironed out before then.
Namaste,:nyah::nyah::nyah:

 

[DollysMom]

I measure the temp with my thermometer probe on the glass under 1 inch of aspen substrate in the middle of the warm hide which is centered over the heat mat. It stays between 86 and 88F.

Because I have no openings to pass the thermostat probe through the lid or tank rim, and don't want to make any for fear of weakening them or breaking glass, I have my Hydrofarm thermostat probe taped to the center of the heat mat on the outside. This is one of many alternate set ups that work with a little initial close monitoring. So the temps don't match. I actually have my thermostat set to 90F and it keeps the interior glass temp at safe temps as noted. I leave the exact thermoregulation beyond that to my snake.

My point is that it is the temp at the thermometer probe on the glass that is of the greatest concern.

As to the thermostat, you should see it go on and off with the heating light, and hear it too. Mine which is set at 90F comes on at 88 and goes off at 90F. The numbers you see on the thermostat are the temp at the probe and they may be beyond the actual on off temps.

And last, the temps of 85 to 90 are safe under all that aspen, but if you want to shift it down a couple of degrees, try lowering your thermostat one degree at a time.

 

[Rigby & Marcy]

I have reset the system for 85F on the thermostat probe... and will check back in a few hours about what the UTH thermo/hygro is reading.

I keep mine set at 86 and they cycle up to about 89. Don't worry about temperatures on top of the substrate, the snake will push it out of the way if it wants more heat.

 

[frostgfx]

Thanks for the suggestions. I think I have too much substrate so I am going to remove some and see what effect that has. The cool side ambient temp at the substrate is only 71.4F? Since the cover is metal screen I am going to cover part of the cover with plastic wrap. Humidity is in the range of 40 - 48% so I am not worried about that. The tank fits perfectly on the top of my bureau, so I need to get a step stool to reach over and into the tank for feeding and tending to the animal and its environment.

I received my order of pinkies on Saturday afternoon and all that's left is finding my first corn snake. Checking out my options from a number of vendors and decided I want to get a 2015 hatchling that I can rear from the very beginning. Till then, I will be watching CS.com and some other sites to find my first snake.

Namaste,

 

[Rigby & Marcy]

Honestly I wouldn't worry too much about the cold side temps or the depth of the substrate. Snakes love to burrow around in it anyway, I'm sure it reduces stress for them.