Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Ok so I want to get a thermostat. Right now Im useing a dimmer switch. ALthough things are perfect right now and the warm side is right at 88 to 89 I would feel much safer with a thermostat. Here is my question.... What temp do you guys set your thermostats to achieve the 88 degree mark? Obviously you have to set it higher then that as some of the heat dissipates as it travels to the top?
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Mike & Wendy

2.0.0 Siberian husky, Jackrussel/schitzu
0.0.1 Ball Python
1.0.1 Leopard Gecko
4.0.0 Beta's
3.1.0 Future Herper's

On both of my permanent cages, I put the probe in the cage and set the thermostat to about 89 degrees. I haven't had a problem doing things that way.

Bill
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It's not how many snakes you have. It's how happy and healthy you can keep them.

Do you put the probe on your substrate?? i was thinking what temps if the probe is right on top of the UTH? does anyone do it like that??
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Mike & Wendy

2.0.0 Siberian husky, Jackrussel/schitzu
0.0.1 Ball Python
1.0.1 Leopard Gecko
4.0.0 Beta's
3.1.0 Future Herper's

Yep, I put the probe on the substrate or just under the substrate. I've never tried it with the probe on the heater itself.

Bill
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It's not how many snakes you have. It's how happy and healthy you can keep them.

the setting varies from cage to cage, rack to rack, setup to setup. there are too many variables for a set answer to that question, but that is ok, because it is irrelevant.

the setting of your thermo doesn't matter, the actual temperature that you achieve is what is important. use a Temp Gun to shoot the actual surface temps of the hot spot in the cage, and adjust accordingly.

to set the thermo at "89" and assume it is appropriate in the cage is just asking for trouble, and sick or dead snakes. you have to be more careful than that : )
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robyn@proexotics.com

Pro Exotics Reptiles

the reason i was asking tho is because i was planning on geting a thermostat but the highest temp it goes is like 111 or something like that and i was thinking about putting the probe between my piece of ceramic tile and the UTH. By doing that the thermostat would have to be at a higher setting then say 89 to achieve the desired temps on the substrate as the heat dissapates as it travels up. My question was what is the actual temp of the UTH and if anyone else had theres set up like that. Now that i have had time to think about it tho, I think that my idea was a really bad one. lol
Thanks to all that responded tho!! Sorry for the useless post, shoulda thought out my idea more before hand! Damn NEWBIE!!
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Mike & Wendy

2.0.0 Siberian husky, Jackrussel/schitzu
0.0.1 Ball Python
1.0.1 Leopard Gecko
4.0.0 Beta's
3.1.0 Future Herper's

if you have to set it higher than 110F, you need to reevaluate probe position : )

we typically see actual thermo settings in the high 90's to achieve snake basking spots : )
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robyn@proexotics.com

Pro Exotics Reptiles

Robyn@ProExotics just made a post about the need to check temperatures with a heat gun. I don't think that the TOS allows him to advertise that he is selling these instruments, but I can relate that I bought one from him and like it very much. I have the PE-2 which is slightly more expensive than the PE-1 but has a tighter focus. I can monitor more precise spots from a farther distance with this instrument than I could with the PE-1. If you are on a very tight budget, I've heard many people recommend the PE-1. I wouldn't recommend against it. If you can afford a little more, I can certainly recommend for the PE-2.

I use the temperature guns in addition to my regular digital thermometers. I think some people see them as complete replacements for the digital thermometers, but I wouldn't go that far. In any case, I'm glad that so many people recommended a temperature gun to me, and I'll pass along the recommendation to others. Having a temperature gun has allowed me to catch problem spots before I ran the risk of burning my animals.

Pro-Exotics also sells a neat little case for the PE-2. The only improvement that I'd recommend to the case is a finger groove to help grip the instrument when removing it. Otherwise, I like having the case to keep my gun.

Bill
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It's not how many snakes you have. It's how happy and healthy you can keep them.

I agree totally with you Bill! Temp guns are great and IMO more accurate then the thermometers with the probes. Plus you can see which soda is the coldest and drink that one and put the rest back in the fridge!! lol Seriously tho if you dont have one you should definitly get one!!
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Mike & Wendy

2.0.0 Siberian husky, Jackrussel/schitzu
0.0.1 Ball Python
1.0.1 Leopard Gecko
4.0.0 Beta's
3.1.0 Future Herper's

Plus you can see which soda is the coldest and drink that one and put the rest back in the fridge!! lol

It's nice to know someone is listening. LOL

Bill
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It's not how many snakes you have. It's how happy and healthy you can keep them.

Yea i really liked that one on the thread!!
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Mike & Wendy

2.0.0 Siberian husky, Jackrussel/schitzu
0.0.1 Ball Python
1.0.1 Leopard Gecko
4.0.0 Beta's
3.1.0 Future Herper's

temp guns and digital thermos are complimentary tools, and both are important to have. digital thermos should be of the min/max variety (those retail at $10-$15 at any number of outlets) and that feature really helps you get a handle on ambient temps, especially overnight lows.

we use both throughout our facility. if i only had one tool, it would be the temp gun, because the surface temps are most important, but with the affordability of both tools, it isn't hard to get both and idealize your setups : )

and thanks for the support, we really are working hard over here!
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robyn@proexotics.com

Pro Exotics Reptiles

Its the most helpful thing I have bought for my animals hands down!