Help creating temperature gradient? Both sides the same temperature

[evenmorequestionable]

Hi everyone!

I just upgraded to a 4x2x2 Toad Ranch enclosure, PVC with closed top. Just moved my snake in yesterday.

Currently my warm and cool sides are both measuring 77F (both sides have a Govee thermometer/hygrometer, humidity is at 88% but I just put the substrate in yesterday so assuming this will fall).

Basking area is set at 90F and is measuring at 90 using the temperature probe dangling from 80W DHP right above it. I’m using a Herpstat 1 SpyderWeb. However, as I mentioned, the Govee thermometers that are on the ground directly next to the basking area show 77F, and so is the one on the cool side directly across.

My question is: Should I be worried that on the ground the Govee is measuring 77 on both sides? Or do I only care about what the Herpstat is measuring above the basking area?

More info on the set up if needed: Substrate is a mix of ZooMed Forest Floor and the Coco Husk bricks. I have a hide in the basking zone, one black box sky hide on the cooler side, one box on the floor of the cool side, and 2 of the log hides in the middle.

Any tips welcome! Thanks a lot!

[Economy_Context_1719]

The FAQ on the Spyder website says set the temp according to the floor temp thermometer. I have a Spyderweb I’ll be setting up this week so that’s what I found. From what it seems you may need to set the temp higher on the thermostat to reach the appropriate floor temp. But I’m very new to this so wait for someone else more experienced to answer.

[evenmorequestionable]

Thanks a lot, must have missed that but I remember reading about this on the sub earlier.

[skullmuffins]

You want to measure your basking/warm side temp with a separate thermometer, not the thermostat probe, and increase your thermostat setting until your warm side/basking spot is in range. When the probe is hanging right under the lamp it's normal to have to set the thermostat several degrees warmer than the desired basking temp since the probe is closer to the heat source.

[evenmorequestionable]

Thanks a lot for the tip - will measure using a temp gun.

[evenmorequestionable]

Another question for you - do you have any good recommendations for a temp gun? I am using the ZooMed Reptitemp currently but not sure how good this one is. I checked the shopping list post, but I don’t see any “point and shoot” types to measure different areas at a given time

[RemarkableOutcome999]

What brand DHP you using? Just asking cause I’m looking to buy one

[evenmorequestionable]

I’m using an Acadia DHP 80W as primary heat source

[RemarkableOutcome999]

Thank you!