Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a heat pad connected to a temp. controller under my ball python tub and I'm super paranoid about everything, being a new snake owner, and when I touch the heat pad it just doesn't feel warm/hot. Now I know that our body temperature runs about 98 and I have it set to 95, so naturally it wouldn't seem right for it to feel warm. But I just need some opinions to make sure everything is fine. The temp. controller does say the heat source is working. Oh and the ambient temp of the tub is always 78-82 and the humidity is always 50-60%, so I think I'm at least doing something right.

If you don't have one already, get a temp gun.

What's important is not only the temperature of the heat pad, but the temperature of your snake. I like to see my BPs at around 83 to 89 degrees.

If you don't have your probe set in the right position your heat pad may not be at the temperature you desire.

Make sure that the probe is making intimate contact with the pad. This way your thermostat will know when more power is needed to maintian the correct amount of heat for your snake.

Good luck

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Brian Gundy

www.for-goodness-snakes.com

The probe is sitting about two inches away from the heat pad and is buried into the bedding so that it would read almost on direct contact with the tub. What's a good website or place I can get a temp gun from? Thanks for your help!

The probe should be making intimate contact with the pad or the tub directly over the pad. The thing you don't want to happen is for your thermostat to drive too much power to the pad. If your probe is away from the pad it will not be reading the exact temperature of the pad. The thermostat needs to know how warm or cold the pad is to be most effective.

As far as where to get a temp gun, I'd say try Pro-Exotics, they have some available for a reasonable price.

Good luck
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Brian Gundy

www.for-goodness-snakes.com

This has nothing to do with this post i just want to thank brain. Everytime someone has a question or comment or even a cool looking snake to post brian you never have a bad word to say or act like the person is stupid for asking a question. i dub thee "Brian the awesome!" hope your having a great season!
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0.3 double het pied/carmel 1.3.2 normals, 1.3.1 pastels, 0.1 mojave, 0.1 pinstripe, 0.1 albino, 1.0 yellow belly, 1.1 het pied, 1.0 amelanistic corn, 0.1 normal corn, 2.1 miniture dachshunds, 0.1 beautiful fiance
*snakes are like oreos, no one can just have one!*