UTH Help Please!

[Hock3yMonk3y]

I just bought a "Nature's Heat" UTH from the reptile store. It says with one inch of bedding it will reach tempatures of 90-100 degrees Farenheit. I'm pretty sure this will be too hot for my 11 month old candy cane corn snake. Right? Please help.

Hock3yMonk3y
:crazy01:

 

[ciara]

Yes, definitely too hot. Get a thermostat with a probe, or a dimmer switch used in conjunction with a thermometer with a probe that goes directly over the UTH.

 

[alan]

It says with one inch of bedding it will reach tempatures of 90-100 degrees Farenheit.

The other problem with that is the snake can get under that 1" of substrate. When I set up my snake's viv I tested the heater's output unregulated. Through the plastic bottom of the viv it measured about 106°F. I'm not sure if that's hot enough to burn a snake's scales and I didn't want to use Cheerio for a test subject.
In my viv when the heater's thermometer reads about 86-87°F that means her warm hide is about 83-84°F. Any warmer and she hangs around outside or in the cooler hides and doesn't really use it (that's just my snake, your results may vary).

 

[Hock3yMonk3y]

Thanks guys I think I will exchange the UTH and get a "Repti Temp 500R" which is a thermometer with a probe. Good Idea?

 

[alan]

Thanks guys I think I will exchange the UTH and get a "Repti Temp 500R" which is a thermometer with a probe. Good Idea?

Nope. Keep the UTH and hook it up to the "Repti Temp 500R". The 500R will regulate the UTH.

 

[Hock3yMonk3y]

Huh? What do you mean?

 

[alan]

The 500R is a thermostat for regulating the temperature of a heating device(UTH). You plug the 500R into the wall. Plug the UTH into the 500R. Place the temperature probe where you want to regulate the temperature, inside the viv above the UTH. There is an adjustment for temp.
The probe "senses" the temp and regulates the power to the heater to keep the probe at the temperature you set.

 

[Hock3yMonk3y]

Ohhh That makes sence now. Thanks.

 

[alan]

Ohhh That makes sence now. Thanks.

No problem. I don't think the 500R has a way for you to see the actual temperature. You should get some kind of thermometer to read the temp at the heater, just so you can make sure the thermostat is working correctly.

 

[Hock3yMonk3y]

Okay I'm going tomorrow to actually pick up the snake and I will check to see if they have any. If not, I know that they have a 500R. It can go between 70-100 degrees. Which means if I keep it in the exact middle it will be perfect. Thanks for all of your help!

 

[MegF.]

I would place the probe on the bottom of the cage over the UTH to keep that temperature at 85. If the snake wants to burrow, then it will only be laying on 85 degree heat. The hide will keep radient heat in and it will be sufficient. I keep my UTH's at 82 and the snakes do quite well.

 

[Hock3yMonk3y]

Okay, thanks.

 

[jpccusa]

Good info on the thermostat, but what about for the UTH? What is an affordable and efficient equipment?
I read somewhere that some heating pads made for human use can be used for vivariums...

 

[MegF.]

I would not use human heating pads. They don't regulate, and they are not designed for continuous use. A UTH is also much cheaper than your average heating pad made for people. Zoo med makes a good one. Or just type in under tank heater for snakes into a search engine and get about a million hits. Most will be the same stuff though.