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The importance of using a thermostat or rheostat with your under tank heater (UTH).

Hi All, I am new to this site, and just got my first corn 2 days ago!!
Unsexed Albino - he/she is awesome :)

From reading thru, I see the importance of a rheostat or thermostat, but my question is how to I keep my tank "escape proof" if I run the thermostat probe into the tank to get it right on top of the UTH? - My wife would kill me if my new friend got out, or at least put both of out on the street!!

I currently have a 10 gallon with a slide in screen top leaving no room for a cord to run thru, any advise would be awesome, and thanks in advance!- Jaybonez
 
There should be a little tab or scored piece of plastic on the top of the tank that you "knock out" to run the wire through. What brand 10 gallon do you have?
 
I do not know what make it is, I bought it used, quite a while ago at a yard sale. Almost looks like a kit type screen lid that some put onto the tank.
not sure how to upload an image?
 
Here is a picture of a 10 gallon critter cage "wire channel". The notch might already be there.
 

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Nope, the lid slides into the back all the way :(
no notches for me to run a cord, perhaps I can make my own notch. Seems like there may be enough room.

There is a hole in the bottom of the tank, not sure what that was for but I currently have a piece of slate over it to keep him from getting out that way,
 
How big a hole? Can your temp probe fit through it? If so you could run probe through there then use some hot glue to seal around the hole. If you're using an UTH it probably came with little plastic feet so you should have room for the wire.
 
what about taping the thermostat probe on bottom of tank right next to where the heat pad is?
do you think that would give a good enough reading to not over heat my snake?

Or even in-between the UTH and glass bottom?

or would that damage the probe?
 
if I went thru the hole, and used duct tape to seal it up, would that create a fire hazard you think?
would the snake chew, or borrow thru it?
he is little enough right now that if he got out the bottom, the feet for the UTH would allow him to get out from under the tank as well....
 
Do not use duct tape anywhere near the snake. Snakes can easily get caught on it and it's so sticky that it may rip some scales off while you get it off.
 
Got it! No duct tape. Thanks for the heads up. What about the probe under the tank next to the heat mat? Any ideas on that?
 
Jaybonez said:
Got it! No duct tape. Thanks for the heads up. What about the probe under the tank next to the heat mat? Any ideas on that?
Click to expand...

You want the probe in the tank as it will give you the most accurate reading of your "warm" spot.

What I would do, mind you I have lots of experience fabricating with wood, metal, pvc and acrylic and have all the necessary tools, would be take a piece of acrylic (plexi glass) as close to the same thickness as the glass in your tank and using my fine tooth hole saw bit with an inner diameter that comes closest to filling the the hole. Drill out a piece of acrylic to fit the hole. Then I'd take some emery cloth and smooth the edges of the acrylic and the glass very carefully so as not to get cut. I'd then use my hot glue gun and glue the "plug" you just made into the hole. While the glue is still hot, I'd take a clean 1" putty knife wet it and smooth out the glue, doing this you can get a repair that is very smooth and poses no danger to the snake. Also the plug would have center hole left from the hole saw and you could run your probe through that and use the hot glue or some Elmer's tack to fill in around the wire.

It is very important when working with acrylic to go very slow and use no pressure just the weight of the tool will do or it will crack.
 
Thanks for all the help Greg, one more question and I will leave you alone for the night.
:)

the "repairs/mods" are going to have to be done tomorrow after work.
to be on the safe side, will my corn be ok if I turn off his heat mat for the night?
the room he is has my other pets as well, pacman frog & beardie, so it never gets lower than 70 degrees, will he be ok with no warm side for the night/day tomorrow?

he did eat today so I do not want to mess up his digestion either.

Thanks again!
 
Jaybonez said:
Thanks for all the help Greg, one more question and I will leave you alone for the night.
:)

the "repairs/mods" are going to have to be done tomorrow after work.
to be on the safe side, will my corn be ok if I turn off his heat mat for the night?
the room he is has my other pets as well, pacman frog & beardie, so it never gets lower than 70 degrees, will he be ok with no warm side for the night/day tomorrow?

he did eat today so I do not want to mess up his digestion either.

Thanks again!
Click to expand...

Sorry didn't see this until now. Don't turn off the heat, he needs it for digestion. Wait 3 to 4 days before making the mods.
 
Jay how is it going? I know you turned the heat off because it was up to 114° and your corn was right on the glass and you were worried about it. Did you follow any of my advice I sent you via PM?
 
Hey Greg!! All is going well, i ended up getting a thermostat and running it while my snake was chilling on the cool side. I set the temp for the heat mat to 87*. Thanks again for all your help durning this rocky start!
 
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