Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I just got my second rack from AP last week and I'm noticing a familiar problem with the very top shelf being about 10 degrees cooler than the rest. I'm assuming it's because the heat cable only covers the floor and doesn't go up the side like it does throughout the rest of the rack. This is pretty inconvenient though. It wasn't a very big deal with my other rack that has 7 shelves. I just didn't use that slot unless I had to. But the new one I got is only 4 and I need all the slots. Has anyone else who's noticed this figured out a way to get the top shelf up to the same temp as the others? My cinny's chilly and I'm sure he'd appreciate some ideas. Thanks. Ryan.

what is too cold?

what is cage floor temp? air temp? temp on that heat tape on top shelf?

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JYReptiles

Scales-N-Tails Reptiles ltd........Pa

Well, the top shelf is only getting to 80 at the warmest spot. The others are only getting to 88. The cable is reading 104. I'm using old thermostats that can only be set to 100 at the highest, which could be the problem and would be fixed by getting better thermos. But there is still definitely an obvious difference between the top shelf and all the lower ones. But even if I do fix it, just because of the lesser amount of cable in the top shelf, you always have a 10 degree difference. Just doesn't makes sense and basically makes the top shelf sort of unusable or at least not able to function as well as the others.

hhhmmmmmmmm

my room is heated and I didn't even get heat tapes in my top section of racks......the bottom sections are set at 89 right now........they were at 94 but the balls seemed like they wanted it cooler.......

.....all I can say......set a piece of styrofoam on top and see if it helps.....

IF the box feels warm to your touch it will be warm enough..

put a less valuable snake up top........

I have snakes in racks with no heat tape at 3 foot off floor at around 78 degree usual temps........they do ok....
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JYReptiles

Scales-N-Tails Reptiles ltd........Pa

Really? 78 and they do OK? I'd be paranoid about an RI popping up. I always make sure the hot side stays between 89 and 91 and about 80-83 in the cool side. I just disconnected the thermostat and I'm gonna see how high it gets then put in more bedding on top of the hot spot to insulate the heat and try to regulate it that way. I figure even if they move the bedding around and it gets too hot, they can just move to the cooler side, cause the ambient temp in the box is just literally cool and I don't like that. I check on them like 5 times a day anyway so it should be manageable. It only gets to about 110 without the thermo so I think piling on a couple extra inches of aspen should do the trick. Trial and error I guess. Thanks for the interest/concern/advice man. Ryan.

One of the coolest things about my new vision racks is the ability to customize the heating on each individual level of the rack.

It took me a while to get it perfect, but I finally have all my tub levels the same temp while running off a single thermostat.

Sure has made things easier for me.