Thermometers and Heating Element questions

[Sonya610]

Okay buying the last few things for the new cage. What types of thermometers should I get? Enclosure is 36x14x18...here is the plan for heating:

Warm side 18" ReptiSun, under tank heating pad with rheostat and an overhead regular light bulb for basking heat.

What types of thermometers for the air and basking temp? I am ordering some of these to monitor the bottom of the tank, can I use another one and run the wire to the basking spot or is something else better?

MODS -- please move this to enclosures! I posted under the wrong section so sorry!
http://s.petco.com/assets/product_images/0/096316002326C.jpg

[guidofatherof5]

You probably don't need both under and over heating. I use all under heating for my enclosure. Flex watt on a rheostat.
This is just what works for me.
Snakes seem content.

[Sonya610]

You probably don't need both under and over heating. I use all under heating for my enclosure. Flex watt on a rheostat.
This is just what works for me.
Snakes seem content.

For these garters I will probably use only overhead during the summer months, and both during the cold winter months (unless they need cooler temps for health/psychological reasons, i won't be breeding).

I am sure they do just fine with just undertank, but with the temps here being 75-85 for the next 6 months I can probably just use overhead.
Since I can easily do it either way might as well mimic nature so they can get cooler in their dark little hidey holes and bask in "the sun" when they want more heat.

Just wondering if those temp probe thermometers are good for measuring basking temps.

[RedSidedSPR]

I think it's your choice as to which one you pick, but you don't need both. I just use a good heat lamp, but a heating pad works too. You just need a good overall temperature of 65-80 degrees (room temperature, really), and a basking area (one side of the tank) of 85-90 degrees. I think a heat lamp is more natural and is a good basking spot. The heat from the lamp, if it's a good lamp, will effect the tanks temperature too. A good heat lamp is all you really need.

[Sonya610]

I think it's your choice as to which one you pick, but you don't need both. I just use a good heat lamp, but a heating pad works too. You just need a good overall temperature of 65-80 degrees (room temperature, really), and a basking area (one side of the tank) of 85-90 degrees. I think a heat lamp is more natural and is a good basking spot. The heat from the lamp, if it's a good lamp, will effect the tanks temperature too. A good heat lamp is all you really need.

Okay thanks. Yeah I already have a basking lamp that is not being used. Bought the heating pads which can server undertank in the winter (my house does not have central heating so I can't keep it at a steady 70 or so all night in the winter, guess I am also used to Ball Python husbandry which says no part of the enclosure should get below 80 whereas Garters are a lot more flexible and won't get sick or stressed as easily if exposed to a wider variety of temps).

Back to my original question...I hope those little digital thermometers with the probes are okay for basking heat cause I just ordered some! They are great for ground temps but was not sure if tasking heat with the lamps needed something different.

[RedSidedSPR]

Garters are a lot more flexible and won't get sick or stressed as easily if exposed to a wider variety of temps).

All of that is true, but you DON"T want to have the whole cage at 80. They need a cool side (not cold) and a warm side (not hot), AKA basking area.

[kibakiba]

My house doesn't have central heating, either. I use just a 50 watt basking lamp during the day and a 25 watt heat(no light) at night. I keep my heater on over night, it shuts off at 75 and turns on when it gets lower than 65. It's just a regular heater, nothing fancy installed to it.

I keep a regular outside thermometer in my room to make sure my room is warm or cool enough, and from what I know, my 50 watt basking lamps keep the warm side 10 degrees (f) hotter in my 20 gallon tank and 15 degrees hotter in my 15 gallon.
I stuck the thermometer in the tank near the bottom for 30 minutes to get the temperature in the tank. It's always10-15 degrees warmer than the rooms temperature.

[Sonya610]

All of that is true, but you DON"T want to have the whole cage at 80. They need a cool side (not cold) and a warm side (not hot), AKA basking area.

I won't artificially keep the whole tank that warm BUT the summer temps are naturally hot here, so yeah even with supplmental heat turned off (just the reptisun on) it will still be 80 degrees often during the summer. AC runs but doesn't keep it a frosty 70 degrees or anything.

They can tolerate that right? Natural heat in the 80ish range, or do I have a problem?

Edit just reread your post Redsided...so 65 to 80 is a good "cool side temp". Missed that the first time when you said don't heat the whole tank to 80+.

[kibakiba]

They should be fine. I don't have an AC and I just keep the basking lamps off and keep the night time lamps on. It's gotten up to 100 degrees in the house, when that happens I put some ice cubes in their water and they like to wrap themselves around them.

[Sonya610]

They should be fine. I don't have an AC and I just keep the basking lamps off and keep the night time lamps on. It's gotten up to 100 degrees in the house, when that happens I put some ice cubes in their water and they like to wrap themselves around them.

Thanks! I do have window unit AC but do not leave it running all night unless it is freaky hot (i.e high 90's, which has never happened). Once again it is a simple "turn it on/off" type of unit so the beasts and I tolerate some temp swings within reason.

kibakiba you might want to look into homemade "swamp coolers" if you rarely get hot temps and can't or do not want to get an AC. Just requires a fan, a towel, and water/ice water. Will cool your snakes and your whole room several degrees in a pinch: How to make a cheap swamp cooler - by Rex Trulove - Helium (http://www.helium.com/items/1096978-how-to-make-a-cheap-swamp-cooler)

[kibakiba]

We've tried that. Unfortunately, we don't have money to just go by things like that. All of our money is tied up, with maybe 5 dollars to spare. Since I got some bulk pinkies we might buy dry ice, we had a tiny little piece in the box and it cooled the living room down pretty quickly. Once I start getting some money in May or June I'll probably invest in some dry ice for my room. Till then, the ice water is free. ;)

[RedSidedSPR]

I won't artificially keep the whole tank that warm BUT the summer temps are naturally hot here, so yeah even with supplmental heat turned off (just the reptisun on) it will still be 80 degrees often during the summer. AC runs but doesn't keep it a frosty 70 degrees or anything.

They can tolerate that right? Natural heat in the 80ish range, or do I have a problem?

Edit just reread your post Redsided...so 65 to 80 is a good "cool side temp". Missed that the first time when you said don't heat the whole tank to 80+.

When I said 80 that was a little too warm. Sorry. But that should be fine. 80 is a warm enough for the warm side. And if thats the case, than you want the cool side cooler than that... But if your gonna have 80 some of the year along with a heat lamp, try not to let it get to hot. Only in the summer probably wont hurt, though.

[ConcinusMan]

I can tell you now that those coralife themometers are total crap. Not in the least bit accurate. I think this might be because they are calibrated to work in water. They suck at taking air temp readings or even substrate surface temps. The one I had is pretty close to accurate at around 75 degrees but it reads higher than real above that, and gets more inaccurate with every degree. Below 75 it reads low. Same thing. The lower the real temp goes, the more innaccurate it gets. Basically, it's off by as much as 8 degrees unless the real temp is around 75 degrees and there's no way that I can see to fix the calibration.

I hear they are all like this. Terribly inaccurate. Too bad you already ordered them. Seriously you're much better off using a home weather station, preferably one that can monitor multiple probes. Springfield makes some nice ones. They are accurate and affordable. They have many models to choose from. Here's one that monitors 3 probes. It's under $60 Springfield Instruments 91586 Wireless Multi-Zone Digital Weather Center - Weather Station (http://www.ambientweather.com/spin912.html)

[Sonya610]

I can tell you now that those coralife themometers are total crap. Not in the least bit accurate.

If only you had told me that a month ago when I first asked! LOL. I will look into that other thermometer, though I also have an accu-rite in one of the tanks and it reads exactly the same as the coralife.

[ConcinusMan]

Maybe I've just had bad luck with the coralife. I wasn't exactly surprised to find that both of them were way off since I paid less than $3 for them online. You'll pay more than that to replace the batteries in them.

[Sonya610]

Maybe I've just had bad luck with the coralife. I wasn't exactly surprised to find that both of them were way off since I paid less than $3 for them online. You'll pay more than that to replace the batteries in them.

Yeah, i ordered 3 new ones had just bought batteries, they were a bit more. Thing is the one I bought 3 years ago was still working so I was pleased with it, this time I got a bad one though.

[Stefan-A]

Thinking about investing in an IR thermometer.