Do i REALLY need a thermostat?

[guypettigrew]

Originally Posted by snickers

> Snickers - why <> do you think you have a cool
> end and a warm end if not to allow for thermal self
> regulation? For a different view? Don't be so dozey..

...and yet despite all your (pseudo) science, snakes still get burned.

??What??

Guy

[Ssthisto]

Originally Posted by alsner

Snickers - why the hell do you think you have a cool end and a warm end if not to allow for thermal self regulation? For a different view? Don't be so dozey..

The problem, Alsner, is that snakes have evolved with a heat source that comes from above, gradually warms up the surroundings and the surfaces (peaking some two to three hours after noon) and then goes away for the night.

They're not evolved to deal with a heat source that's always on, they're not evolved to deal with a heat source that, when "shaded" by the body, just keeps getting hotter (with no heat coming from above)...

And heat mats are designed specifically to heat objects ON them, rather than creating air-temperature rises - this can be a problem for heavy-bodied snakes that sit until their BACK feels warm, as they can potentially thermally block the mat (creating "abnormal" conditions) and make the heat mat's temperature spike upwards.

Lastly... what good does it do putting the thermostat probe on top of the substrate when a LOT of snakes will burrow under the substrate (to feel secure and hidden) and this need to feel secure and hidden seems to be much greater than their desire to thermoregulate properly?

The thermostat probe should be under the substrate and maintaining the "nearest place to the heat mat the snake can actually get to" at a temperature that is safe for the snake to be in.

[sameerdragon]

if you are using a light you do but with a heat mat you dont becaus it will roast

[guyz1970]

wouldnt cook a turkey without one on your oven would you.

[James King]

thanks alot I'm a "newbie " with snakes I got a baby corn and it came with a "starter" kit but it didn't have a thermostat when I asked the lady she said it's ok because the heat mat i have is fine i got a thermometer also it says its about 27-28 c but Im 100% gona get a thermostat can anyone reccomend one? cheap and good .

[Joe1507]

Dont forget it depends ofn the type of mat, I did have a thermostat on my leopard geckos cage, but now I dont, his hot side is about 88F and his cool side is about 70, perfect temps given that theres not stat now...

[tokay]

excellent post , just goes to show why t-stats are SO IMPORTANT!

[Ssthisto]

Originally Posted by Joe1507

Dont forget it depends ofn the type of mat, I did have a thermostat on my leopard geckos cage, but now I dont, his hot side is about 88F and his cool side is about 70, perfect temps given that theres not stat now...

Not bad given it's wintertime and ambient room temperatures are lower....

But what happens in summertime?

[James King]

Got my stat through this morning all setup and working "thanks to weelad for the help"

Gotta get another though as i'm looking to get a royal

[SoLiD-sNaKe]

you dont even need 1 lol