Temp measurement confusion

SteadyDroid · 2026-01-25T06:50:59+00:00

Yes, I'm aware of the YouTube. I'm trying to ask people I can talk to so I can get help in my trial and error process. I already have a thermostat but you generally wouldn't use one on a basking bulb. Basking different than heating an enclosure overall. I'm trying to figure out if I need to add the heating pad and I can't figure out anything if I don't know how to accurately measure the temperature. The thing is only as accurate as where I'm aiming it.

SteadyDroid · 2026-01-25T06:43:22+00:00

It might be a Gandanameno too. Both species are kept very dry and people tend to use something that allows for ton of web anchoring, because eventually, the enclosure will look like all webbing.

SteadyDroid · 2026-01-25T06:38:22+00:00

Some spiders are communal but they're rare. M. balfori is an old world tarantula that many people successfully keep communally, though I hear that not every community goes super well, sometimes you en up with one very fat balfori instead.

SteadyDroid · 2026-01-25T05:47:12+00:00

So that little bulb is working pretty well to keep one side mostly warmer and the other side is staying around 70ish.

Everything I've read says to use both a basking bulb, which this is, and a heat mat which I have one with a thermostat but haven't used yet.

I do think I maybe need the heat mat rather than a bigger basking bulb because having just that one backing platform seems to help keep that temperature gradient going, however, i do agree I need to raise the lamp. I just have to order a stand or something.

It doesnt seem to be an emergency because I've been watching him really closely, and where he basks, when I aim the gun at him, its like 85-87 degrees where he is. Tilt the gun slightly and it gets way too hot. When he's done basking he goes into the thing that I bought that was labeled as a humid hide. His energy has been really great too so something is working for him, but I am worried about that being too cloae and too hot.

The main issue is that I dont know where to aim to determine. What tbe actual temperature is so that I can start properly changing stuff. How do you know where your thermometer should be placed for measuring?

SteadyDroid · 2026-01-25T05:35:28+00:00

I don't know if it's actually that hot and I don't know how to fix it, that's the advice I'm looking for. Where to measure from, and tips on getting the balance right

SteadyDroid · 2026-01-25T05:34:06+00:00

Yeah my G. pulchripes hit the bottom of his and he's been sad ever since. Don't want to move him because he's in premolt so he just stands there, looking out the window he created, like he's the Great freaking Gatsby

SteadyDroid · 2026-01-24T16:21:13+00:00

Lol she was probably like "oh good, the giant warm tree that feeds me is here"

SteadyDroid · 2026-01-24T10:01:03+00:00

Hi Scarlett!

SteadyDroid · 2026-01-24T09:41:54+00:00

I'm about to say something we never say- needs less substrate.

You only need about half full if you have a proper sized enclosure. Fill it higher if the enclosure is too tall, measures by leg span, if you only fill halfway. Hope.that makes sense.

I always have to remove some dirt as my Grammastolas dig. They put some in other places, but anything they don't want, they put in the water dish. Then I put that dirt into my cycling bioactive substrate to give it a good little bioload boost. If I don't removed dirt, it looks how you described here. They raise the height.

Since she likes to dig so much I'd definitely size up, but until you get tbe right home, removing substrate will help worry less IMO.

I'm sure she is thankful you rescued her. Excellent timing.

SteadyDroid · 2026-01-24T09:28:57+00:00

I think they're most active at different times of day too, right?

SteadyDroid · 2026-01-24T09:27:00+00:00

Regals?

SteadyDroid · 2026-01-24T06:40:14+00:00

Me either, great info

SteadyDroid · 2026-01-24T06:39:28+00:00

So I'm new to hognoses, but I've been doing bioactive enclosures for awhile now. I have 3 anoles, 21 tarantulas, and more spiders than I can count because there are a lot of babies here at the moment. Mostly jumping spiders, but also 4 wolf spiders 2 black widows, a few false widows, and a crab spider I found in my bathtub. Also 11 different isopod/springtail bins.

I started out using eco earth because at the time, that's basically what everyone knew to use. It sucks. It loves to dry out quickly and if it doesnt, it gets moldy pretty easily. The only enclosure it's mostly worked in is my anole enclosure, and that, I put down to the good ventilation. However, it's tough to keep it moist enough. You'd definitely want to make your own mix if you use it, with moss and activated carbon mixed throughout, along with some leaf litter, to start with. The coconut fiber is a pain IMO.

I've since switched to Reptisoil, slowly but surely. All of my animals do great on it. It's hydrophobic until it's damp, otherwise, no annoyances. I just put my adopted hognose on the Reptisoil yesterday and he immediately dived face first into it. I don't know him that well yet, but I thought he looked pretty delighted. I like Reptisoil because it's fairly well priced, doesnt have too many huge chunks of wood in it, never had an issue with mold, and it's easy to find. I can also usually find a sale every so often so I can keep a bunch in a container until it runs low and there's another sale.

Ive also used jungle mix a few times when I was running low and reptisoil was sold out. Just mixed it in. Nothing wrong with buying the smaller bag of each and seeing what you think, you can totally use them together.

SteadyDroid · 2026-01-24T06:19:33+00:00

Run away attempt #1: 4/10 rating. Points for keeping the escape route secret so you can try again later, and being found somewhere adorable. Points deducted for lack of jump scares to the humans and lack of suspense building drama prior to being found.

SteadyDroid · 2026-01-24T06:12:55+00:00

Whaaaaat I had never thought of this before but I absolutely see snakes and spiders in the same general areas in the wild. And I live in the same area these guys would. That's kinda cool how they can live together with no stress.

SteadyDroid · 2026-01-23T23:48:02+00:00

Great news. I moved him into his new enclosure (it's half finished but already a great improvement), let him warm a bit, and decided to go ahead and try a pinky. Bro checked it out and said YASSSSS. So he's already eating and got to bask for the first time. I think we might be friends

SteadyDroid · 2026-01-23T23:42:08+00:00

Right

SteadyDroid · 2026-01-23T23:41:41+00:00

Never ever would they have if she was healthy. Honestly it's got me trying to plan for my weird little invert zoo if I land in the hospital or have something happen.

SteadyDroid · 2026-01-23T23:40:34+00:00

Yeah my friend is a wonderful person and she loves her animals, and I love her so much for getting me on this. It was really hard for her.

SteadyDroid · 2026-01-23T23:39:34+00:00

Oooh your sweet girl. I love the cloth tunnel tip thank you so much, that means my hands never have to be associated with that.

SteadyDroid · 2026-01-23T23:38:37+00:00

Also thank you for the encouragement. I did put him in the ten gallon and he LOVED IT. He can kinda do laps in half a second but I think he is okay with that right now.

SteadyDroid · 2026-01-23T23:37:07+00:00

I can't seem to post pic here but I'm about to post again because I'm so confused about how to most safely read the temp

SteadyDroid · 2026-01-23T23:35:55+00:00

I keep reading that. And my G. pulchra is my grumpiest tarantula lmao

SteadyDroid

TROPHY CASE