Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a Helix thermostat, and am using a heat pad and a light. I also have about 2.5" of aspen bedding. I want to know if there is a way to keep the temp up to 92 without using a light, because it is drying out my tank and I can't keep the humidity up. I turned the thermostat up to 95 and left the light unplugged, but it wouldn't raise the temp past 81. What tricks can I use?
Jacob
P.S. Russel, I appreciate the help BTW, but the heat trick didn't work.

What are you using to measure the temperature? Maybe the thermometer isn't near enough to the heat source.

Tanks tend to come with screen lids - you can cover 1/2 to 3/4 of the lid with plexiglass or a towel (you get the towel wet when you want to raise humidity!) and that should also help keep the temperature stable.

Someone with more experience with the helix thermostat should be able to help you out more with that.

~jenny
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"The python has, and I fib no fibs,
318 pairs of ribs.
In stating this I place reliance
On a seance with one who died for science
This figure is sworn to and attested,
He counted them while being digested."
~Ogden Nash

jenny.thegreenes.org

"If you're happy and you know it,
Bomb Iraq!
If you cannot find Osama,
Bomb Iraq!
If the terrorists are frisky,
Pakistan is looking shifty,
North Korea is too risky,
Bomb Iraq!

the thermometer probe is right next to the thermostat probe. and they are both about 1/4 above the bedding underneath the warm hide

I have had no luck myself with using thermonter probes. Use a temp gun right over the hot spot. More accurate. They are cheap enough now that you can get one for 20 buck. Point and shot tells you the temp.

I would say move the probe under the bedding. And place the helix probe between the heat tape and the tub/tank. Not touching the heat tape.
Your ball may move the bedding around I know mine did. so the temps might be higher under the bedding
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Brian n Chrissy

www.cb-reptiles.com/
"snakes are kind of like potato chips, you cant have just one"

Ditch the light. The temps should get up there no problem. It may take a little time. Is there a hide over the heat.Inside the hide is were you need to ck it. Cover the screen also about 90% you should be good to go.

You don't need 2 1/2 inches of bedding. You really only need about an inch to maybe an inch and a half. Thin it down a bit.

The thermometer and thermostat probes should be right on top of the substrate -- as in laying right on it underneath the warm side hide that is over the heat pad. This should give you a much more accurate reading of the temp your snake is feeling.

Cover 3/4 of the screen top with tinfoil and overlay it with duct tape to hold it down and seal any open edges. Leave the 1/4 open part over the cool side. This will keep in heat and humidity.
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~* Jen *~

Pink Lady Constrictors

the temp reading on your thermostat has a relation to actual cage temp, but it is not likely the exact temp. raise the thermo temp up, cage temp goes up. drop it and cage temp drops.

but you have to accurately measure the actual surface temp in the cage. use a temp gun and find the exact temp, then adjust your thermo up or down.

thin out your substrate and temps will go higher as well.

but don't guess at the temp, know it.
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robyn@proexotics.com

Pro Exotics Reptiles

Get a temp gun...They are the best device used for herp husbandry ever.Once you have one for a while,you will wonder how you ever got by without it!
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Charles Glaspie

Just some random thoughts....

Ditch the light - shouldn't be used for heat and aren't needed for the snake - if you'd like to see him at night use a moonlight bulb.

If you have a tank with a screen top - go to home depot and pick up some plexiglass (really cheap) to cover the top of the cage with. Seriously cover the whole top except for maybe an inch - that is plenty of air exchange and will help you keep the heat and humidity in.

Make sure you have the correct size heat pad for your size tank. You can use another on the back of the tank as well if you'd like to raise the ambient temperature.

If you need some additional heating or for larger tanks where you don't get a good gradient - run a little heat rope under the substrate.

Be careful that you don't let the heat pad superheat the glass - you'll end up either burning your snake (especially possible if you have a burrowable substrate or breaking the glass. Put your thermostat probe on top of the heat pad and set it on 92*.

Make sure you have a good thermometer and/or temp gun that you are doing your measurements with - measure your temps at snake level. Be sure to adjust as necessary as the room temps fluctuate.

Make sure if there is a hide over or very near the heat pad you measure the temperature inside the hide as well. Especially important if your snake spends a lot of time in there. The hide will collect heat and cook your snake if you are not careful.

Good luck!
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Tosha
JET Pythons

(CJBianco explaining the origins of the BP market.)
"In the beginning Bob created the Ball Python market. And the market was without morph, and wild traits were upon the industry. And Bob said, Let there be morph, and there was morph. And Bob saw the morph, that it was good; and Bob divided the morph from the wild trait. And Bob called the morph Albino, and the wild trait Normal. And the Albino and the Heterozygous Albino were the first investment.
-- Christopher 1:1-1:5"