Digital thermometer

Hi

I have a Thermocontrol Pro II thermostat and a 250W dark spot heat emitter.

The hot end is registering at 96°F but the sensor is at the bottom of the enclosure and by touch it feels just as cold as the cool end. Unless you're directly under the heat, the rest of the 'warm end' is cool. Just confused as to how the probe can be registering 96°.

The dragon rarely sits in the warm end or under the heat anyway, just wondering whether I should increase the set temperature or something else?

A couple of questions:

You say the probe is at the bottom of the viv, is the bottowm of the viv where the dragon should be basking (for example, you do not have a basking log, rock or other)?

Are you using the dark spot heat emitter as the basking heat area? (for example, you do not have a light source as a basking area)?

bayoupig5":1vmticrq said:

A couple of questions:

You say the probe is at the bottom of the viv, is the bottowm of the viv where the dragon should be basking (for example, you do not have a basking log, rock or other)?

Are you using the dark spot heat emitter as the basking heat area? (for example, you do not have a light source as a basking area)?

Click to expand...

The probe is placed through the air vent which happens to be at the bottom of the viv. Its about 4cm below and behind the basking log.

The dark spot is for the basking area yes, no light bulb.

NelsonBernard":46xhto30 said:

bayoupig5":46xhto30 said:

A couple of questions:

You say the probe is at the bottom of the viv, is the bottowm of the viv where the dragon should be basking (for example, you do not have a basking log, rock or other)?

Are you using the dark spot heat emitter as the basking heat area? (for example, you do not have a light source as a basking area)?

Click to expand...

The probe is placed through the air vent which happens to be at the bottom of the viv. Its about 4cm below and behind the basking log.

The dark spot is for the basking area yes, no light bulb.

Click to expand...

The probe is registering radiant heat from the CHE mostly , the convection heat (warming of the air is less effective at warming an object.

The air temperature can easily be cooler than expected while an object or animal or hand placed so it receives radiated heat will feel warm and heat up through the following processes
radiation heat transfer
+
convection heat transfer (fluid/air to surface / from surface)
+
some heat gain / loss through conduction of heat surface to surface.

Examples
you go out on a cold but still and sunny winter day , air temperature is chilly but the sun warms you up.
in a cold room some one turns starts a fire in a fireplace , the air is cold but the heat from the fire warms up the part of your nearest it.

You need to install a proper basking globe that emits visible light and heat. The CHE is best for warming the tank at night when you might need a heat source that doesn't "glow" visibly.

I could not say it better than kingofnobbys. I was going to suggest a basking light as well. Also because the probe is not right on the basking area and lower, temperatures will be lower. You want to make sure that probe is right on the basking spot and as close the centre of the basking bulb as possible. Basking area should not be a CHE. I find that the beardies react to the light.

Can you advise on how I go about installing a basking bulb. Do I take out the CHE? The dragon seems fine, he likes to sit under the CHE but tile doesnt seem warm and the wood seems too hot.

I dont know if I'm worrying myself but I'm all new to this and trusted the reptile store. They give out all their vivs with just a CHE.

The basking bulb should replace the CHE. That is for the basking area. The best bulbs I have found to use are halogen, but any incandescent will work. You need to be sure it is an incandescent bulb and not LED or CFL as these will not produce the heat that is needed. I buy my 50 watt halogens from the dollar store, my 75 watt halogens for winter months I get from any hardware store like Home Depot. Amazon has a good selection as well.

Once the light is set up for heat you want to place the probe on the basking area (where the dragon sits) and as close to the middle of the bulb as possible. This should give you the maximum heat output reading.

The CHE can be used in a different area of the viv. Either mid to cool side if needed to bump up temps for times (if and when) the viv is too cool. For instance, mid tank temps not reaching close to 80F and cool tank temps getting below 65F in the evening. Or when the dragon is ill and needs the overall tank heated to give the immune system a boost.

I have attached pics of one of the basking area set ups for my dragon. As you can see the 75 watt spot is the correct distance to achieve a basking area of 100 to 102 F for my adult dragon. The probe is placed on the basking area at the middle of the bulb. Littlefoot, my dragon is sitting on it. The read out is placed on the cool side as the unit reads in and out temps or cool side and basking side with probe.


Different areas, textures, colors and materials will all absorb the heat differently. So you cannot get a good gauge of temp by feel. The tile should feel cool to the touch as it is at the bottom of the viv. Wood may feel warmer as it is closer to the CHE. I personally would not take pet store advice as accurate. Pet stores generally do not always have the best husbandry practices. Even my local reptile shop as good as they are have the reptiles in conditions that are not meant for long term care.

These beardies are daytime desert species. They are active during the day and require mimicked sunlight...light and UVB to thrive. Although your dragon is using his basking area with a CHE it is because it is warm and he will use that area for warmth, but he also needs the light.