Reptile & Amphibian Forums

This is informative for all of us, especially newbies.

This is a brand new ReptiTherm UTH, plugged in for a few hours and allowed to reach maximum temp. That's almost 110 degrees! That's A LOT higher then anything close to what you want.

This is end-all proof that you need to use a thermostat or rheostat on any UTH. Don't trust the labels, people!! These things get HOT!

Joel

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3.6.3 Leopard Geckos (1.4.3 Albino)
~~25 Leo eggs cookin'~~
1.1 Ball Pythons
1.0 African Fat Tail Gecko
0.1 Okeetee Corn Snake
1.0 Blair's Phase Gray Banded Kingsnake

I measured mine yesterday and it hit 100 degrees. I do have a question. I put 5 layers of newspaper on it and checked it again, it is a UTH. The temp got to 93.5 degrees. Is this too hot for a hot spot, please keep in mind it is inside a kitty litter hide box, humidity around 75%?

Basically, 90-95 is acceptable for a basking spot during the day time. I tend to get it to stay around 90 degree. It's weird, though, snakes prefer heat source from the bottom rather than a radiant heat from a lamp. I find that they are most active at temperature of 24-26 degree celcius at night, I think that's about 75-78 degree F. with a basking spot of 80 degree F. That's why it's important to turn off the lamp or the heating pad, or lamp, at night during the summer and let the snake cool down if you don't turn on the AC. I would keep it on during the winter months, though. I also find that if you keep a large water bowl for them at the hot spot, they tend to like the humidity from the evaporating water. I don't mist and close the cage up to keep up the humidity...I heard they need a well ventalated cage and the moisture and humidity can give them blister disease

i saw the pic now do me this , add abiout a 1/2"- 1" of mulch of any kind and put the therm on top of it on the hot spot let me know the temp difference, i am very curious

I don't have any mulch since I don't use it.

Get a thermostat ... best advice I can give ...

Joel
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3.6.3 Leopard Geckos (1.4.3 Albino)
~~25 Leo eggs cookin'~~
1.1 Ball Pythons
1.0 African Fat Tail Gecko
0.1 Okeetee Corn Snake
1.0 Blair's Phase Gray Banded Kingsnake

Yikes! Personally, I don't think that heatpads should be sold without thermostats.
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*~Ginevive~*