Temp problem

[got spots?]

Okay so I have a uth from zoomed or w.e and last night about 12:30am I was checking on my leos and mealworms one last time. I accidently knocked over the water in one leos cage so I had to change it. I touched the heatpad and it was really warm. Soooo I get out a thermometer and it is 101! Not being able to do much about it I just unplugged the pad. My house stays at like 77 so its not too bad...
Any ideas on how to fix this? I have been using this pad for a few months with no problems. It is not hooked up to a thermometer that regulates it. I just have a $10 one that tells me what it is.

 

[phoneguy]

The zoo med pads can get too hot. I plugged one in and measured it with a temp gun at 115. I know of 3 options.
1. Add a thicker layer of substrate, but I dont like this because over time it can compact and get hotter the thinner it gets.(this is assuming you are using paper towels)
2. Get a rheostat. This controlls the power that goes to the pad. Pet shops sell rheostats the are made for heating pads but you can go to a hardware store and get a lamp dimmer for under $10 and it does exactly the same thing. So dont waste your money on the "reptile" lamp dimmer from the pet shop.
3. Get a thermostat. Stats are great but a good one is very expensive. The cheaper ones you get at pet shops are on/off style. It has a probe that sits on top and when it reaches the set temp it turns off, then turns on when it drops below. These can make you pull your hair out trying to keep steady temps. The better stats are proportional like the Herp Stat. and Helix but you cant touch them for under $110. The proprtional stats actually contol how much power is going to the pad like a dimmer but raises and lowers power when needed.

Sorry if this is too much info. I'm just a nut when it comes to temps. and I have experimented with everything. Recently I have switched to Ultratherm heat mats they seem to keep more even heat and do not get as hot as Zoo Med. Ultratherm claims you can use them without a thermostat but I have found them to go over 100 just plugged into the wall.

 

[Taquiq]

I have a Exo-Terra and Zoo-Med heat pad. I have to use a on/off thermostat on the Zoo-Med but I don't have to do anything to the Exo-Terra. My point Exo-Terra gets less hot.

 

[got spots?]

The zoo med pads can get too hot. I plugged one in and measured it with a temp gun at 115. I know of 3 options.
1. Add a thicker layer of substrate, but I dont like this because over time it can compact and get hotter the thinner it gets.(this is assuming you are using paper towels)
2. Get a rheostat. This controlls the power that goes to the pad. Pet shops sell rheostats the are made for heating pads but you can go to a hardware store and get a lamp dimmer for under $10 and it does exactly the same thing. So dont waste your money on the "reptile" lamp dimmer from the pet shop.
3. Get a thermostat. Stats are great but a good one is very expensive. The cheaper ones you get at pet shops are on/off style. It has a probe that sits on top and when it reaches the set temp it turns off, then turns on when it drops below. These can make you pull your hair out trying to keep steady temps. The better stats are proportional like the Herp Stat. and Helix but you cant touch them for under $110. The proprtional stats actually contol how much power is going to the pad like a dimmer but raises and lowers power when needed.

Sorry if this is too much info. I'm just a nut when it comes to temps. and I have experimented with everything. Recently I have switched to Ultratherm heat mats they seem to keep more even heat and do not get as hot as Zoo Med. Ultratherm claims you can use them without a thermostat but I have found them to go over 100 just plugged into the wall.

Thanks for all the advice! It is odd, I plugged it in this morning and it is at 93 again. =s if it gets too hot again ill get a lamp dimmer, Thanks =]

 

[aslchick1]

Do you have the tank lifted slightly off the ground so air can circulate underneath? That could be why it's getting hotter the longer it is on. I went to office depot and got those sticky things (about a cm high) that go on the bottom of furniture to raise it up.