"Heat Mats". What can happen when you don't bother reading the Manufacturers advise

[Caz]

Originally Posted by royalpython

i will agree that a heat Matt isn't needed, but, if i told everyone how my oldest has survived, i would say this is sceptical for royals. I've a 15 year old royal now... for 6 of those years she had nothing but a UV bulb and heat Matt, not regulated... all she had was newspaper, and a water bowl. she was fed one medium mouse for 6 years.

This does sound cruel, and i would never do this, and I'd totally kick up a fuss with someone buying from me, without a thermostat.

i dont believe this big heat build up is correct for corns or royals though, and it's a total shame for the bigger snakes... what i don't get is how a regulated stat with boa's/burms/retics sitting on them, doesn't do the same thing.

Originally Posted by royalpython

like someone on here said, gaboon... i believe in science in this case.

is there any scientific evidence this was not caused by an unregulated stat? i don't believe in someones word, and i have good reason not to

Sorry - I don't really follow what you're saying?
Are you saying that you don't believe heat mats cause thses types of injuries?

[matty73]

This is apalling, maureen your so good for doing what you do this made a tear roll down my cheek, i feel so sympathetic for this snake i so do. i love burms although i don't own any as i dont have the space and long term commitment and experience, i love them, oh my oh my oh my, why does this world posess such heartless idiots... Good job on what you did anyway mo hats off to you.. Matty

[matty73]

Sorry i posted twice but i don'tthink i emphasized how upset this made me to see a snake looking this worn down... burms are strong warriors, he looks like he is on his last breaths, it made me sick... and very upset.. good job still mo... but jeez .. sickening

[royalpython]

Originally Posted by Caz

Sorry - I don't really follow what you're saying?
Are you saying that you don't believe heat mats cause thses types of injuries?

I'm going to ignore what i said last night, i'd had a few drinks.

Yes i believe heat matt's can cause these injuries, but i have doubts about them causing injuries to royals, when a thermostat has been used, that's all.

[Maureen Collinson]

Originally Posted by royalpython

I'm going to ignore what i said last night, i'd had a few drinks.

Yes i believe heat matt's can cause these injuries, but i have doubts about them causing injuries to royals, when a thermostat has been used, that's all.

Hi royalpython.

Run your own test with your hand by placing it on the heat mat and keeping it there. You will find that the temperature will continue to rise under your hand until it becomes very hot indeed. You can run a test with a low wattage light bulb too, by holding it, and at first it will be okay, but the heat will again build up until you have to let go. When running the test yourself, please remember that whilst a temperature of 40c can kill a snake, our body temps are just over 37c, so 40c would feel very cool to us, but above boiling to a snake.
Royals are heavy bodied snakes. No two ways about it, and they tend to remain on a mat for longer because it takes them longer to acquire the body heat they desire. With a corn, there is less thickness to heat through and they can cope with less heat in general, so they tend to usually only stay on the mats for very short bouts at a time.

When this Rescue Centre was at it's busiest, more royals than any other species came through here with burns caused from stated heat mats, unstated mats, and unguarded light bulbs and ceramics, but come in flocks they did sadly.

Even if you wish to continue to dispute the fact that royals can burn on a stated heat mat, what about the other risk which is in some ways far worse, and that of course is that the amount of fluid from body waste that a royal passes is more than enough to short the mat out, and cause electric currents to run through the poor snake, or to cause a fire which could be a major disaster. That can and does occur regardless of whether or not a stat is being used, so surely that alone should make the mat on the inside floor a big NO NO.

Knowing the risks that are talked about, and shown from time to time, would we put our Children, or ourselves at risk in the way we do our snakes? I somehow don't think we would, yet some of us continue to put defenseless creatures lives at risk. Hmmmmmmm. I feel a big question coming on, but will refrain from asking it.

Mo.

[ricky5042]

Originally Posted by Maureen Collinson

Hi royalpython.

Run your own test with your hand by placing it on the heat mat and keeping it there. You will find that the temperature will continue to rise under your hand until it becomes very hot indeed. You can run a test with a low wattage light bulb too, by holding it, and at first it will be okay, but the heat will again build up until you have to let go. When running the test yourself, please remember that whilst a temperature of 40c can kill a snake, our body temps are just over 37c, so 40c would feel very cool to us, but above boiling to a snake.
Royals are heavy bodied snakes. No two ways about it, and they tend to remain on a mat for longer because it takes them longer to acquire the body heat they desire. With a corn, there is less thickness to heat through and they can cope with less heat in general, so they tend to usually only stay on the mats for very short bouts at a time.

When this Rescue Centre was at it's busiest, more royals than any other species came through here with burns caused from stated heat mats, unstated mats, and unguarded light bulbs and ceramics, but come in flocks they did sadly.

Even if you wish to continue to dispute the fact that royals can burn on a stated heat mat, what about the other risk which is in some ways far worse, and that of course is that the amount of fluid from body waste that a royal passes is more than enough to short the mat out, and cause electric currents to run through the poor snake, or to cause a fire which could be a major disaster. That can and does occur regardless of whether or not a stat is being used, so surely that alone should make the mat on the inside floor a big NO NO.

Knowing the risks that are talked about, and shown from time to time, would we put our Children, or ourselves at risk in the way we do our snakes? I somehow don't think we would, yet some of us continue to put defenseless creatures lives at risk. Hmmmmmmm. I feel a big question coming on, but will refrain from asking it.

Mo.

Well Said Mo as mine grow out of their rubs they will all have ceramics in the vivs as their heat source it may cost more but far safer

Ricky

[royalpython]

I just don't understand why it would logically heat up with a thermostat probe controlling the temperature. If the probe warms up, the stat will cut out... just doesn't make sense to me. Going by this theory, using racks with tubs directly on the heat strip/matt, will creeate a thermal block between tub and matt, and the probe for the stat is usually placed at the side of the tub, rather than in the tub... if a thermal block is created between tub and matt, then the tub itself would be extremely high in temperature, and passing this heat onto the snake sitting there.

I'd hazard a guess the thermostats haven't been used correctly, with probe placement, for this thermal block.

Our bodies are warmer than 32 degree's, but you still feel the temperature. Put a thermostat probe between hand and heat matt, and the heat matt/thermostat will cut out, i don't need to test this, i know it will happen.

[Lionheart]

You did everything you could mo, i say well done to you. Out of however many reptiles are sold daily, there's only a hand full of us that care for them properly. Just think of all the reptiles that suffer and cant get help. I'm glad i'm not a captive reptile. Its very sad indeed.

[arthur cooke]

Hi Maureen, sorry didn't see your post. Yes I'm back in London for a while, when I go back this time it will be for good, our village has wii fi now so I'l still be able to post.
Also I am really looking forward to the North Italian Reptile show.
cheers arthur

[scarlettdecourcier]

God, that's horrible