Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello all,

I have a new baby corn (don't know exact age, but guessing a month and a half tops), and I'm having a bit of difficultly getting the correct temps in his cage. I'm also a bit confused on how and where to take the temp readings. My setup is as follows; a ten gallon tank with a ZooMed U.T.H under half, two hides (one on each side, a water dish on the cool side, and currently using the repti cage carpet for substrate (plan on using either aspen, or reptibark once he's older). I've also added a heat lamp to help with the ambient temp.

My problem is that while the ambient temp seems to be ok (about 83F on hot side, and 79F on cool. If I measure the actual floor temp on the hot side it's pushing 110F. I should add that I'm using a Flukers stick on the tank wall type thermometer with the sticky part removed to take these temps, so I guess that could be part of the problem. Also, aside from the initial exploring of the tank, the corn sticks to the hide on the hot side. So I guess my question is it ok that the floor temp comes in that high, and if not what can I do to prevent that? Should I up the heat lamp, and buy a dimmer switch for the heat pad? And along those lines, what are some good, accurate, but not too spendy thermometers (I know the infrared guns are cool, but I have a feeling they are a tad out of my price range ).

Thanks in advance, and sorry about the length of this post.
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-BH

0.0.1 Corn
1.0 Chinchilla
1.0 Cat

I think you guess right that your thermometer is probably not the best. It's hard to get a good measurment in that situation any way. The temp guns are great but they only measure the temperature of the surface you shoot at. That isn't always the most accurate either. I think the easiest soulution is to get a couple of cheap bulb type thermometers (red liquid in glass tube type). Lay them in the cage at each end. If you want to double check them, lay them side by side and they should both read the same if they are accurate.

If you have a hot and cool end and your snake is happy on the hot end, you are probably fine.
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Wade's Weptiles & Wodents

Cool, thanks Wade. I'll have to get a couple of those thermometers. I'm probably just being anal, but just want to make sure the lil guy has the best possible environment. Thanks for the info.
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-BH

0.0.1 Corn
1.0 Chinchilla
1.0 Cat

however, you can get digital inside/outside thermometer from Radio Shack for about $15.
sue
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sue

but the ones with the red liquid are something else. the old mercury ones had the silver "actual liquid mercury" in them, but now they make the ones with a red liquid and I have no idea what the red stuff is.

I just use the 2$ round ones and set them on the floor of the cage at either end....works great
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Dianne
AKA IcedGoddess
4.5 Cornsnakes
1.3 Cats
0.1 Child
IcedGoddess Creations
Castle Serpents

I want to say that somewhere (the UTH's box maybe) I read that the UTHs don't like to be run over 95*. And since that is a good temp that is what I usually aim for anyway....though they may spike some. You could....and it is easy to do, hook it up to a rheostat (expensive, but presto!) or a dimmer switch (bit of 'work' but cheap) I got 'thoughty' and wired a dimmer to a three outlet extension cord and that way I can control 3 pads/tapes with one switch. The down side is that you have to want them all the same temp. 110 isn't the end of the world but may burn out the pad faster.
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Sonya

Failure is not an option. It comes bundled with the software.