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Mack · Joined: 24 Mar 2008 Posts: 9 Location: Media, Pa

Hey all,

I'm setting up my first tank and it is a 20 gallon long. I have a Repti Therm UTH at one end and the tank is lined with reptile carpet. I plugged in the UTH and set the probe from my thermometer on top of the carpet directly over the UTH and my temp is only getting to 69.5 to 70 degrees.

I have a Arizona Hot Lamp. I know I can boost the temp with that but what type of bulb should I use? Should I use a ceramic element instead of a bulb?

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

arlynos · Joined: 10 Mar 2008 Posts: 690 Location: whitney point, ny

well a ceramic bulb will do a better job in heating the tank, but I use a day glo bulb from exoterra myself and a night glow and it keeps it pretty well heated though you may want to put the probe under the carpet to see how hot the pad is getting and what kind of thermometer you using? cause I am getting the same issue and it kicks off the uth without it getting up to 92 like I set it for it would only be 87 on the thermometer.

Mack · Joined: 24 Mar 2008 Posts: 9 Location: Media, Pa

I have a Zilla digital thermometer. It wouldn't really matter what the temp is under the carpet would it? I don't have a t/stat on the UTH yet. I was just testing to see what the temp is with the UTH.

arlynos · Joined: 10 Mar 2008 Posts: 690 Location: whitney point, ny

There is always a possibility that your snake get under the carpet and get burned. It just somthing that you should know cause the one I got gets up to 98 degrees no problem at least at that point I turne down the Rheostat I was using before I got a tstat.

ryancbj22 · Posted: Sat Mar 29, 2008 10:09 am Post subject:

With having the probe for the thermometer on top of the carpet your not getting an accurate temp. The carpet is keeping most of the heat underneath it I bet if you place the probe for the thermometer under the carpet the temps will be a lot higher than you would expect. A single uth can get up to 110 degrees with out a problem.

A T-STAT IS IMPERITIVE TO THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF NOT ONLY YOUR SNAKE BUT YOU AS WELL IT CREATES A FIRE HAZARD DEPENDING ON WHATS UNDER YOUR TANK.......

Mack · Joined: 24 Mar 2008 Posts: 9 Location: Media, Pa

Yes, I am planning on getting a t/stat. I am just testing the temperature now before I get my BP and it seems the UTH alone will not do the job.

So what I am saying is that the temp UNDER the carpet shouldn't really matter, right? I am more concerned with the temp INSIDE of the enclosure where my snake will be. Does that make sense?

ryancbj22 · Posted: Sat Mar 29, 2008 2:56 pm Post subject:

That makes sense but you need to know what the temp of the uth is at the hottest point because if your bp burrows or gets under the carpet he'll lie right on the uth. You can buy a accurite thermometer at home depot for $15 it measure the hot side the cool side and humidity. The probe from this should be taped to the glass over the uth at the hottest point. Also how big is the uth does it cover a third of the tank? You can get a basking light for the top which a lot of people use for larger tanks I would suggest a ceramic bulb but this will only raise ambient temps. You need to know what the temp is of the uth in case your bp comes in contact with it. The only thing I can think of is if the carpet is trapping the heat under it and not letting it through. You may think about switching to a different substrate such as aspen or repti bark.

Mack · Joined: 24 Mar 2008 Posts: 9 Location: Media, Pa

I see what your saying. I just put the probe under the carpet to see what the temp gets up to. I'm thinking the uth may be a bit small. It says on the package that it is for a 10-20 gallon tank. Maybe I should have gotten the next size up?

Mack · Joined: 24 Mar 2008 Posts: 9 Location: Media, Pa

OK, so the temp under the carpet is way too hot. The thermometer read 120 degrees. I just ordered a thermostat and I'm going to try a ceramic heat emitter. If I can't straighten out my heat issues with all that then I'll try changing to a bark substrate instead of the carpet. Any input would help. Does anyone use the repti carpet? How do you control your heat? Thanks

ryancbj22 · Posted: Sun Mar 30, 2008 1:12 pm Post subject:

I don't use it and never have. I use aspen it holds humidity fairly well and is easy to clean plus it's cheap. I have heard of some people who use it but they didn't like it. A lot of people with larger tanks use the repti bark or cypress mulch it holds humidity a lot better. I have a tank that is 4ft long and 2ft high and I use aspen and my humidity stays around 55 or 60 with a diy humidifer. The thing is ball pythons on occasion like to burrow at least mine do anyways and with the carpet they can't. I would have to say that the carpet is trapping the heat underneathe it

Mack · Joined: 24 Mar 2008 Posts: 9 Location: Media, Pa

Yeah, I think the carpet is trapping the heat. With a ceramic element I can get it up to a good temp. But the temp under the carpet is still too hot. I'm going to wait until my t-stat comes in and try a bark substrate...

dragon2285 · Joined: 25 Mar 2008 Posts: 192 Location: N.Virginia

is 90F and 65% humid. ok?

deborahbroadus · Posted: Tue Apr 01, 2008 10:51 am Post subject:

deborahbroadus · Posted: Tue Apr 01, 2008 10:53 am Post subject:

deborahbroadus · Posted: Tue Apr 01, 2008 10:56 am Post subject:

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