GRRR!! Bad Advice!!!

[Atreyu]

Just purchased my 1st Royal (Priscilla) and what a beauty she is. About 18 months old and within minutes of being home she was out exploring her new territory ( I thight she would be shy for a few days). The problem I have is the temp. Its reaching 84 hot end and 78 the other. I have a 40w red bulb lighting the viv with a small heat pad on the back of the viv. I was told by the dealer and the viv supplier that the bulb would be more than enough, but I didn't trust this and purchased the pad aswell. Would it be better to buy a 60w bulb or a bigger pad. I only need to bump up the degrees very slightly.

Atreyu

[kingdom reptiles]

hi mate

what size is the viv and heat mat? are both the bulb and mat stated? if so could you not move the probe or turn up the stats? just a few thoughs

[Faith]

Heat mat should be on the floor of the viv not the side.
It should also be on the inside of the viv
We dont need to use bulbs with our royals as the heat mats work well.
Other than that we use ceramics a normal house blub wont do tbh

[essexchondro]

Use a ceramic bulb. I think its best to keep lighting and heating separate, and heat mats aren't great with vivs...they work better in tub/rack set ups and really need to be placed on the floor to have much effect at warming a terrestrial reptile as they don't really boost ambient temps and only really provide contact heat.

A ceramic bulb (probably 60 or 100W), guarded, and attached to a stat is all you need.

Stuart

[sparkle]

please please as others have said use a bulb guard on any exposed bulbs..

we have a royal with aheat mat on floor and it reaches perfect temps under her hot hide... its on a mat stat.. we dont use any bulbs

[Atreyu]

Thanks for advice. I was told to put pad on side so i wouldn't burn the snake if it laid directly on it. iv read so much on net over last few weeks an it all contradicts itself. Its now reachin 86-80. I will probably move the pad underneath, I've felt it an its not hot enough to burn.
Cheers
Atreyu

[Faith]

Is it connected to a thermostat? if not you need one royals are prone to laying on a heat mat and not moving even though its burning through the skin

[sparkle]

i have lino over all my heat mats.. from one end of viv to the other so none of my heat mats are exposed onto the animals skin..

but you must use a mat stat... so your heatmat doesnt overheat.. im not sure.. did you say you had a stat>>>

[Atreyu]

No I am gettin a stat tomorrow, wont move the mat underneath until iv got 1, its on side at the mo, local reptile dealer recommended it. I'm also gonna get a digi therm

[essexchondro]

No I am gettin a stat tomorrow, wont move the mat underneath until iv got 1, its on side at the mo, local reptile dealer recommended it. I'm also gonna get a digi therm

You definitely need a stat regardless of where the heat mat is positioned. An un-statted heat mat will reach temps of well over 100F so all you'll create with an un-statted heat mat at one end of the viv is a hot spot which is far too hot for the reptile.

Stuart