Enclosure heating - getting the temperatures right

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I-Snake_2.0

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Hi guys,
we have recently purchased two lovely enclosures for our two jungle pythons, and had the idea to heat the enclosure using a reptile radiator, suspended under a shelf around two thirds up the 1200mm enclosure. Our intention was that this meant that the heater would direct most heat downwards, but with the melamine shelf above it, then there would be a lovely heated shelf for the snake to lie on. It was expected that this would be the "hot spot" in the enclosure, so we have been trying to keep this around the 30 degree mark. The thermostat is set on the back wall lower down, and is set to 24 degrees.

So far so good ...

However, what we are finding is that the temperature on the shelf is fluctuating wildly and we can't get it to settle down. When the ambient temperature is high (say 22 - 24 degrees), the hot spot isn't much hotter (as obviously the thermostat is stopping the heater), but when it is cooler outside (say 18 - 20 degrees), the heater kicks in to bring the enclosure up to temp, and the temperature on the hot spot can move up to 42 or so.

I am wondering - do folks out there have any good ideas / thoughts on how we could be more successful in the regulation of the heat on the shelf - it would be great if we could get that to be a bit more constant.

Here is a picture of our enclosure - so you can see what we are trying to do
Enclosure.jpg
Cheers

Wes
 
u could allways mount the thermostat probe on the shelf your trying to heat ?
with my heat matt thermostat probe i put it on/under the heat source , and with a temp gauge on the floor of the click clack i can messure the temp and adjust the thermostat .
when i build my new enclosures i will be making a tiled heat pad , and put the thermostat probe under the tile . then adjust the thermostat to suit the temp i want.
 
Hi Jas,

so I guess if put the thermostat on the shelf then we will be able to control the temps more accurately ... and the rest of the enclosure would be then be heated appropriately. I guess 30 degrees on the shelf is the go, and we will see how it works.

Cheers

Wes
 
Hi Jas,

so I guess if put the thermostat on the shelf then we will be able to control the temps more accurately ... and the rest of the enclosure would be then be heated appropriately. I guess 30 degrees on the shelf is the go, and we will see how it works.

Cheers

Wes
well the rest of the enclosure would be at room temp , so really your not trying to heat the whole enclosure just the shelf and a small part of the surounding area . [ kinda like what happends with click clacks] and snakes do fine in them .
 
yep. As long as your hot spot is the desired temp then the snake will do the rest in regards to regulating its body temps. Don't worry if other parts of the enclosure are cool this is fine your snake will position himself/herself where she needs to be.
 
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