Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Ok, so I have a UTH set up on one side of the tank, and 2 redlights overhead. The end without the UTH is hovering just below 80 degrees. Here is my question - should the thermometer be placed on the substrate above the UTH to get the high end temp? I have, what I thought, was a good amound of newspaper and reptibark in there, but the thermometer can get read up to 105 degrees at times. When the thermometer is placed on top of the hide (2 inches off the ground) it reads around 82 degrees. Is the 100 the true high end temp, and is this simply a matter of putting more substrate in? Thanks...

btw - there are hides on either end, and the snake chooses the hotter one 99% of the time.

I place small disk shaped thermometers on top of the substrate. If your python burrows down into the substrate, then I would place it further down into substrate.

YES the 100 degree mark is where te snake lies...and the true temp.....he doesn't lay 2 inches above the floor he lays on the floor and in too hot of a temp.........

.....adding more substrate......may or may not help........

.....adding a thermostat//dimmer switch will help.......

........(*$5 dimmer)...and an electrician to put it together....(splice it into the hot wire on the heat pad.)....

.................

.........(80 to 88 )....85 all sides is good with a hide or two........

.........good luck.......JY
.........

105 degrees is way to hot, and if your BP burrows a bit or slides the substrate around, he can possibly get burned since it probably reached over 120 or so below the substrate. Invest in a rheostat. It will control the level of intensity on the UTH. I wouldnt get involved in splicing wires or any electrical work as you dont want to cause any hazard if youre not familiar with electrical work. Get a rheostat and you should be fine. Youll want the hot side in the low to mid 90s. Good luck.