to settle an argument - your views.

[C4VEMAN-5AM]

my stat only costed 25 quid.

[loxocemus]

yes and no, for inexperienced keepers, a def yes, but after a few years u learn exactly how temperatures relate to the animals and vice versa.

ed

[Paul_MTS]

Originally Posted by bothrops

If you can't afford a stat then you can not afford to provide the animal you intend to own a safe environment in which to live. With reptiles, a correct heat gradient is as important as food and water.

Shops sell INcomplete (i.e. NOT FULL (if they were they would have a stat)) starter kits in order to get more sales (the stat usually takes the price over the £100 mark which is a physcological barrier to potential purchasers.

It is not 'each to their own', it is all about shops giving out incorrect advice and becasue they can fill in a few forms and purchase things from a stock list (that is the total 'qualifications' needed to own a reptile shop) people ASSUME that they know what they are talking about.

All you need to do is go and get an old fish tank, a piece of polystyrene and a heat mat. Place mat between poly and tank and give it a couple of hours or so. If you can comfortably hold your hand flat on the glass above the mat indefinitely then I will take back the above.....bet you can't!

Stats should be mandatory. full stop.


Cheers

Andy

Do not tar all shops the same please.

It was only yesterday i was arguing with customers about them needing a stat before getting a corn hatchling.

Gave them the usual stuff... "25 quid on a stat or it's potential hundreds on vet bills" then they came out with "should it get that bad the dog can have it" at which point I said "lovely", turned my back on them and walked off.

They then dumped there products they had chosen and walked out.

Job well done I feel.

At the end of the day the simple answer is YES! it's immature of experienced keepers to tell you that you don't just because they don't. They might be able to catch early signs of over heating but a new keeper won't.

I have seen the damage first hand of what a heatmat can do to a snake that was on a wrongly set stat! I dread to think what it would of been like if it wasn't on a stat at all.

[Scarlet_Rain]

Mine don't have stats atm, well they do in the other room but I have turned all my mats off untill it gets cooler anyways.

With the modern heat mats I say you must get a stat, they heat up 50% more than old ones (I have an ancient heat mat that is fine without a stat). But yes most mats these days heat up far too much.

[samroyal2]

Originally Posted by scotty123

simple question - does a heatmatt that is to be used in a snake viv need to be on a stat?

im being told it doesnt, i was pretty sure you need a stat on ANY heat source.

(for the reocrds i use stats on everything of mine)

cheers,

Scott

Any heat source needs a stat god knows how hot a mat, ceramic even a bulb on a dimmer stat would get otherwise its asking for trouble.

People may find it works without a stat but for me personally its better to have some control then none over the temps.

[alcamee]

Originally Posted by scotty123

simple question - does a heatmatt that is to be used in a snake viv need to be on a stat?

im being told it doesnt, i was pretty sure you need a stat on ANY heat source.

(for the reocrds i use stats on everything of mine)

cheers,

Scott

NO! Next question?

[ratboy]

Originally Posted by loxocemus

yes and no, for inexperienced keepers, a def yes, but after a few years u learn exactly how temperatures relate to the animals and vice versa.

ed

After a few years you learn that not having one is what's killing your animals you mean ?

[butterfingersbimbo]

Originally Posted by loxocemus

yes and no, for inexperienced keepers, a def yes, but after a few years u learn exactly how temperatures relate to the animals and vice versa.

ed

So an "experienced" keeper can regulate the heat with the power of their mind?

[blobby]

all heat sources should be on a stat i have 10 vivs and they all got stats on the mats, if you get a good one you can run a few vivs off it, ive only got 15 watt bulbs in my corn vivs but they are still on a stat because i love my snakes bevan

[kerryrep22]

gotta be honest, I did speak up for those not using a stat, said it was ok, but now I have stats on everything! better safe than sorry really, I see now. if money is an issue, forget heat mats, build a rack, one heat cable, one stat, lots of happy, safe snakes, not that expensive.