Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I set up a glass aquarium enclosure 36x18x12 for a ball python, I used a zoomed undertank heater of correct 12x8 size for the tank, but it just doesn't seem to be warm enough.

I set the thermostat to heat to a temp of 92/93 degrees but looking at the temp gauge its only showing 80 degrees on the warm side.

The temp gauge is set 2 or 3 inches above substrate level, and I have about 2 inches of substrate in the enclosure.

I can feel that the substrate is warm but the warm side of the enclosure feels no where near 92.

I also taped off the screen lid on the warm side, I left the screen lid on the cool side untaped.

The uth has been installed and powered up for about 24 hours now, maybe it takes a long time for the uth to heat to the enclosure to the correct temperature?

Maybe something else is not set up correctly or im just over looking something?

Oh, my reptile room is quit warm, about 75-80 and super high humidity, probably 80%

an undertank heater will not so much increase the ambient temperatures (air), but it will increase the surface it is touching, in this case the bottom of the tank.
I heat lamp will do a better job at heating the air within the tank itself.
I would imagine, if the heater is new, that it is working properly and the temp of the heater is what it says it is.
If you want to know what the temp of the surface is you can by a temperature gun and test the temperature of the bottom of the tank where the heating device is. They are infrared and work real well.
What I am saying is this is why the thermostat you have, which is a couple inches above the bottom I believe you said, is reading so much cooler.
Hope this helps!
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Brian Oakley
Phoenix, Arizona
BrianOakley@qwest.net

I am guessing your temp gauge is the sticker king that sticks to the side of the tank. This is only telling you the air temperature. You need a temp gun. They only cost about $25. Therefore your gauge is telling you 80, when in fact your warm side might be warm enough. Just a suggestion from the facts you gave. good luck

Yes the uth, thermostat and everything is new and seems to be working correctly. I was just thinking the ambient air temp on the warm side would be 92ish and the ambient air temp on the cool side would be 82ish .... when in fact its the ground/substrate level tempatures that I need to really be paying close attention to. I will need to get a temp gun like you have mentioned asap!

Do you think 92 degree's is what I should have the thermostat set at? I have heard some people setting it at a higher setting such as 96 which I guess was giving 92/93 ish substate temps

I have the water bowl in the middle of the enclosure, is this ok or should it be on the warm or cool side?

Having half of the screen lid taped off is ok right? Tapping off the screen helps to hold in the humidity correct? I have read that it is common to tape off 75/80% of the entire lid, but like I said my reptile room has very high humidity so I figured I didnt really even need to tape off the any of the screen lid but decided to go 50% just to be on the safe side.

Thanks again for the help and information, its appreciated.

feels warm? IS warm enough.........

........alot of my balls don't have any heat tape or belly heat at all.....room is 82 / 84......they do fine.....

..........the ones with tape feel warm......they are set at 90 right now on the back sides....

feel your balls......feel warm....they are fine......
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Our skin is 92 degrees. Anything lower than that feels cool to the touch. If your snakes substrate feels warm to you it is probably hot. A temp gun will come in real handy to experiment with your setup. Good luck. Claude

feels warm not real warm or hot.......

.....my rack is at 90 right now.......

and most of my snakes feel cool.........they are anywhere from 80 to 84 all the time......room temp......I have more snakes without heat than with it......they do ok but it takes longer to get eggs and to hatch them later...

.....yes...they need a temp gun.........

I could use one too..........LOL.......but didn't bother yet getting one,.........
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