kipchack
New member
So I got a new thermostat for my UTH that was going a few degrees above healthy, it's a Zoo Med one that I got off of Amazon. I paid more than the price of the thermostat to have it shipped next day but figured it'd be worth it.
I put Asha in his feeder bin and installed the thermostat, and since there's no actual number or way of setting it aside from a dial, I turned the dial down to the low end and gave it some time.
When I inspected it later it had JUMPED to over 96 degrees!! I unplugged the heater and waited for it to cool down, then tried plugging it in again with the thermostat on to see if it could at least keep it at 80-85 degrees. When I checked it again (this involved waking up every two hours overnight and Asha sleeping in his bin) it was up to 97 degrees. It NEVER went higher than 93 degrees without the thermostat. I tried fussing with the dial and I could make it even hotter but I could not cool it down.
I've had it unplugged now for a while and I've been cranking the heat in my house as well as leaving a space heater on in the snake room and the temperature has been maintained between 75-82 degrees consistently, but I can't afford to keep doing this. Has anyone else experienced similar issues with a thermostat and know how to fix it? I hate thinking I just blew 50 bucks on a broken thermostat and I can only get half of it back if I return it.
I'm also really worried because Asha was due to be fed last night but with the heating problems I didn't want to risk a regurge due to the heat fluctuations and I know snakes like a warm spot for digestion... Is it safe to feed him with the temperature as it is right now? Should I hold off for a few days until I sort this mess out?
I put Asha in his feeder bin and installed the thermostat, and since there's no actual number or way of setting it aside from a dial, I turned the dial down to the low end and gave it some time.
When I inspected it later it had JUMPED to over 96 degrees!! I unplugged the heater and waited for it to cool down, then tried plugging it in again with the thermostat on to see if it could at least keep it at 80-85 degrees. When I checked it again (this involved waking up every two hours overnight and Asha sleeping in his bin) it was up to 97 degrees. It NEVER went higher than 93 degrees without the thermostat. I tried fussing with the dial and I could make it even hotter but I could not cool it down.
I've had it unplugged now for a while and I've been cranking the heat in my house as well as leaving a space heater on in the snake room and the temperature has been maintained between 75-82 degrees consistently, but I can't afford to keep doing this. Has anyone else experienced similar issues with a thermostat and know how to fix it? I hate thinking I just blew 50 bucks on a broken thermostat and I can only get half of it back if I return it.
I'm also really worried because Asha was due to be fed last night but with the heating problems I didn't want to risk a regurge due to the heat fluctuations and I know snakes like a warm spot for digestion... Is it safe to feed him with the temperature as it is right now? Should I hold off for a few days until I sort this mess out?