Click Clack heat gradient

[yellowtamarin]

I'm getting my first python this weekend and so I'm trying to perfect the temps in the enclosure. I have a 7L sistema tub on a 13watt heat mat. Last night I managed to get the temps just right (while I had a radient heater on in the room), but today I can't get it above about 22degrees at the hot end (no heater on in the room right now). The current room temp is 16degrees.

Is there something I am doing wrong? I don't have insulation under the mat yet, it is on a wooden shelf, but surely that doesn't prevent the temp from reaching high 20's?

Thanks to anyone who can help!

[SlothHead]

is the click clack sitting directly on the heat mat, and where is your thermometer sitting that you are measuring the temp at

[yellowtamarin]

The click clack is directly on the mat, and i have a probe situated right at the end of the hot end, near the bottom to get the hottest temp possible...same place i had it yesterday when it got up to 30 degrees no worries.

I've just turned the heater on in the room and it's starting to rise again, but I can't afford to have the heater on when I'm not home so I need to be able to get it right when it's cold in the room.

[SlothHead]

doesnt seem to be putting out a lot of heat,

do you have any substrate in there and if so is it thick ?

[yellowtamarin]

Hmm there's just 2 layers of newspaper in there - less that what would normally be in there.

It is definitely warming up ok now that the room is warmer. Is a 13 watt meat mat enough? I would have thought it was overkill but maybe it's just not doing the job?

[SlothHead]

Yeah it would appear that the room is just too cold.

But still if it is sitting on top of it with nothing in between, then you would think taht it would be plenty, but obviously not.

Might have to go up to a 20w

[MoreliaMatt]

the surface temp that the snake will be sitting on would probably be sufficient! the measurement you are getting is probably the ambient temp just above the surface....

[yellowtamarin]

So if I'm aiming for a temp of 30-32 degrees, should the probe go under the substrate to get the most accurate measurement? Or sitting directly on top of the substrate? The temperatures vary quite a bit depending where I put it, didn't realise it was such a delicate procedure!!

[Aslan]

Tamarin - A few suggestions - firstly, get yourself an IR Temperature Gun - that way you can check surface temperature. I think you will find the floor of your enclosure to be quite a bit warmer than the ambient...

Secondly, drop the heat mat and get yourself some heat cord - 4m @ 15w sells for about $20 - you just place it under one end, if it is too cold loop it back so it has two lengths of cord underneath - you can also adjust the gap between then cord to fine tune your temps...

Thirdly, an easy way to retain more heat is to place a towel over the warm end of the enclosure - it will hold more of the heat in...

[MoreliaMatt]

Originally Posted by Aslan

get yourself some heat cord - 4m @ 15w sells for about $20 - you just place it under one end, if it is too cold loop it back so it has two lengths of cord underneath - you can also adjust the gap between then cord to fine tune your temps...

if you do end up with heat cord make sure you dont let the cord touch itself or you will get a very warm spot! (fire) lol

heat cord/heat mat - its all personal preference

[hornet]

i have my heat cord bunched up and touching itself in many places, been like that for over 6 months and fine, gets my click clack to 35c

[yellowtamarin]

Thanks everyone I think I've got it sorted...now if only my licence would arrive

[Bung-Eye]

Originally Posted by hornet

i have my heat cord bunched up and touching itself in many places, been like that for over 6 months and fine, gets my click clack to 35c

yeah I have mine the same, coiled into S patterns under half of my 50L click clack and it seems fine