Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a custom cage that we put the UTH inside the cage. its under that indoor/outdoor carpet and its been there for quite a while and we've not had any problems. its not melting the carpet and it doesnt get too hot for the snakes. I was just wondering if anyone else does this. the cage that i put the UTH inside isnt an aquarium so i cant really stick it under the cage b/c the it wouldnt work very well.
also, i have a RTB in a 120 gal tank. he is always laying over the heat pad. it is plugged in and working, when i touch the glass in the tank, it doesnt feel very warm. should i put it inside the cage and see if he moves around more? it just seems odd that hes the only snake i have that is always on the heater, all the others are in different places... is he just happier on the heater?
beth
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The rescue site: www.freewebs.com/okreptilerescue

what are your air temps inside the 120?? Might be just warm enough for him to want to chill on the pad and then no venture away from it because the air and space around him might bee too chilly... what size UTH are you using?? I've seen a ceramic/UTH combo going on larger tanks, to help heat the one side more efficiently, just my two cents...

They're about where they should be. around 73 or so on one end and around 76-78 on the other. I've got one of those custom length UTH, Its 12 in. wide and i think 24 in. long. covers about 1/3 of the tank. I just thought this was odd b/c I have 5 other cages nearby and I think 4 of the 5 are usually off thier pads unless they eat or at nite when the AC kicks in better and it gets cooler. I did notice that he is on the cooler end today- playing on the logs for the first time but I think its b/c its about feeding time.
Beth
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The rescue site: www.freewebs.com/okreptilerescue

your hotspot temps are what??

What are your temps ON the uth where the snake is laying? Maybe the pad is dying. I really can't imagine that a uth is enough to heat a 120 adequately. I am assuming the temps you gave are ambient. They seem low to me but keep in mind that I don't keep big boa, just smaller species.
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Sonya

I'm not mean. You're just a sissy.
Happy Bunny

ok. first I meant to put 80-85 for the warm end not 70's. AND I was looking at the thermometer wrong today. its the only cage I dont have those nice digital type colored stick on thermoms in. I have 2 of those stupid mercury type ones. In such a big cage I figured it would be ok if he dropped to 73 or so at night on that far end but recently it hasnt been that low b/c of summer and all the other heaters in the room. it is currently at 78 at the cool end (where he is now and has been all last nite and today) on the warm end, it is about 82. ON the pad it is at 86 to 87. (i peeled one of my stiky thermoms off an empty cage and stuck it on the glass under the paper while i went to dinner and the store). I bought 3 new pads. 2 are those ones you buy from the pet store, come in the box, etc. (those are for other cages) the other is a new custom lengh one. I put the new custom length one where the old one was. I'll check the temp in the morning and see if it changes. someone had said they thought the pad might be dying so I'll try that first. well, I just checked it and its gone up 2 degrees (the background temp).....
I'll post again in the morning since everything keeps changing.
beth
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The rescue site: www.freewebs.com/okreptilerescue