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Temperature Gauge

Right now I only have the UTH but know way to control the temperature and the only way I have to tell how hot it is is with a laser temp gun, so I need a way to control the temperature and to tell how hot it is.
 
The best way to tell how hot it is on the UTH is with a thermometer that has a probe you can place under the substrate. Digital indoor/outdoor thermometers are inexpensive, just put the "outdoor" probe over the heater and you can put the unit itself inside the viv and "inside" temp is ambient temp in the viv.
I have a Zilla thermometer/hygrometer I bought on "the auction site" pretty cheap.
For a thermostat I have no practical experience with the ones on the market. I know plenty of people use rheostats(dimmer switches), I think I would go with a proper thermostat. I have seen people recommend the Reptitherm 500R.
 
If your UTH is turned on move the substrate away and check the temp with your heat gun, just curious.
 
alan said:
If your UTH is turned on move the substrate away and check the temp with your heat gun, just curious.
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I have them on paper towel right now because our pet store ran out of bedding so I put a bunch of paper towels over the heat until it was at 85ish. I'm going out today assuming this storm won't blow me away lol.
 
What is the temp under the paper towels? I'm sure your snake can get to it, they like to get under stuff. I don't think I would rely on the snake's ability to sense a high temp quickly and move away, I've seen pics of snakes with burns, it definitely happens.
 
I just got done setting up a Zilla thermometer in each tank and attached the heat pads to a rheostat but as of right now the rheostat doesn't seem to get the temperature low enough.
 
Did you let it cool first? I guess the best way is to start from cold and keep turning it up and waiting for the temp to stabilize each time until it is at the target temp.
 
alan said:
Did you let it cool first? I guess the best way is to start from cold and keep turning it up and waiting for the temp to stabilize each time until it is at the target temp.
Click to expand...

How long would you say it takes to stabilize? I too had to work from Hot down, instead of cold to warmer. I have the dimmer switch rheostat you spoke of, and i have a probe digital thermometer, and an ambient air temp thermometer. Current reading as of this second are: 92.5 probe, and 79 ambient.
 
I'd say it takes a day to stabilize. After you have it in the ballpark by starting low and raising the tiniest amount every hour or so.
 
So I guess that rheostat doesn't have enough resistance even at the lowest setting.
I'm guessing some more, is it a small UTH? I'm thinking maybe it doesn't take much current to get it hot.
I also guess I'm out of answers, I don't think your rheostat will work for that heater in the range you need.
 
I don't think it's going to work either. The UTHs I have are the ones made for 40 gallon tanks they are about 11inches long by 8 inches wide.
 
i have the UTH for 10-20 gallon tanks, and it take me 20-30 minutes to stalize in a ballpark. I finally got my tank between 85-90, but i'm shooting for 88.5,lol i know i'm picky. I do have another question though. If it's 88 degrees under the substrate and my ambient temp is 80 what is the temp directly on top of the aspen? Is it gonna be hot enough for the snake? Will the hide on top of the UTH be 88 or lower possibily lover than 85?
 
When I set up my snake's viv I put the temp probe in the warm side hide and adjusted until it was regulating at about 85°F. I then put the temp probe in it's permanent place over the UTH and found it to be about 89°F. I knew then that if the temp at the UTH was 89° the warm hide was 85°. I adjusted it lower after a while because my snake doesn't care for around 85°. She will use the hide if it stays about 83-ish, my thermostat keeps it near a 3° range(81.5-84.5°).
 
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