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UTH and temps.

nick96ta

New member
I recently got a new corn snake that is a few months old. It is in a 10 gal tank and i am using a UTH with a dimmer to control the heat. My problem is when i measure the temp on the glass i get around 100 degrees and with the prob sitting on top of the substrate i get around 70-75 degrees. The substrate is wood chips about an inch thick. How should i set my temp?
Thanks.
 
Place the probe under the substrate, above the uth. This is the warmest spot your snake will incounter. Known as the warm side, which should be around 80-85%.
 
make sure that the temp of the glass is 80-85*F. If it is 100 it can burn the snake and or kill it if it were to burrow.
 
i have been having the same problem with my undertank heater. I think possibly getting ventilation under the tank would help lower the temp of the glass. I am gathering 4 2 litter pop twist caps to put under each corner of the tank?

any other suggestions?
 
Well my rep kit from ZooMed came with little rubber feet I put under each corner of the tank but Im worried about the glass tank even though I think shes smart enough not to burn herself.
 
Rocky Raccoon said:
Well my rep kit from ZooMed came with little rubber feet I put under each corner of the tank but Im worried about the glass tank even though I think shes smart enough not to burn herself.
Sorry Rocky, but snakes are not smart enough, they will lay on a heat source long enough to cause themselves serious, even fatal, burns
 
Just get a lamp dimmer or thermostat. A lamp dimmer is only about $9. A perfectly serviceable thermostat can be bought for $22.99 plus shipping. Zoo Med 500R at reptiledirect.com
 
The problem is when i lower the temp so the glass is not too hot the top of the substrate is in the mid to low 70s.?
 
Sounds like your substrate above the heat mat might be a little too deep - it's insulating too well. That said, your thermostat probe should always be placed at the absolute closest your snake can get to the heat source because snakes really aren't bright enough to keep themselves from getting burned or brain-damaged if it's not quite warm enough on top of the substrate.
 
Don't worry about what the temp on top of your substrate is. If the snake needs more heat, it will burrow to the warm spot. The one you need to worry about is directly on the glass. Like Janine mentioned, snakes will burn themselves seriously, so you need to make sure the hottest spot your snake can come into contact with is within its acceptable range.
 
Rocky Raccoon said:
what should you do about the hot glass though?

I already answered this. Lamp dimmer or thermostat to regulate the UTH and keep it at 85-86 degrees.

reptilesupply.com has the ZooMed 500R on sale for 19.99 plus shipping.
 
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