|
12-08-2009, 10:09 PM
|
|||
|
|||
Yes Yes and Yes!
I had 3 vivs that fhen set up ran a perfect teperature with the thermostat permanently on in the winter with the central heating on and the summer in my cool basement flat they ran great for years like that (had adjustable vents wide open in summer and restricted in winter). All tanks had (still do) both recording digital and stick on thermometers. any how, cofession time! I had a stat go down so i "borrowed" the control for these three viv, we had an unusually still muggy and very hot evening, as i was checking the temps they were rising and rising to an excessive heat!! I turned the heating off before I baked them, god only knows what would have happened had I been out or not had all the thermometers or not checked them! I felt so stupid and guilty! As you may have guesed a new dimmer stat was fitted as soon as the shops opened! It just goes to show that even if all seems well and good without one day you WILL get caught out!!!!! I am not a stupid person, I know what I am doing but I made a stupid mistake, once. I add these were proper vivs (not plastic tubs). I know "Ithought I could get away with it" and I was proven wrong! Please dont bully me for this, I am confesing my mistake so others dont make it!  
|
|
23-08-2009, 04:17 PM
|
|||
|
|||
|
i have got a stat after my over half showed me this post. its only a room stat from the local diy shop for £6 as stats in the pet shop were £36. after i instaled it and set it to the desired temp 28c. imedietly temps where at 34c. so set it to 24c and temps where at 26-29. wich i fort would hae to do for the time. then i noticed the snake under the substrat and checked the temp on top ove the heat mat 34c. so i put a larg tile on top ov the heat mat n turned up the stat a tad. and hay presto temps are naw at 29c on the tile, 27c ontop ov the substrat and 23c in the cooler end and temps dont differ no more
and all for £6 this is a wooden viv not a rub
|
|
11-10-2009, 10:04 PM
|
||||
|
||||
|
I use pulse proportionals, but don't trust to luck even then. I watch where the snakes are laying and check temps regularly, specially the snakes in tubs. I've noticed that even with new heat mats, some can be liable to heat up more than others too. I don't think you can be too careful.
|
|
20-10-2009, 10:49 AM
|
|||
|
|||
|
Hi
First post incoming so please be gentle =) I have had a corn for about 3-4 years now and have never used a stat. When i bought the snake I was never told to use one and the book and care sheet that was provided never said anything about it, as far as I can remember. My snake is currently in a 4'x1'x1' viv, he is about 4' so i would say this is ok? anyway its full glass viv (old fish tank) with a heatmat on one side of the tank. I use woodchip for a base with a hide in the warm and cold side with fresh water in the cold side. The snake always seems to be in his cold hide and when I handle him he always feels cold. Saying this he is pretty active and is often out moving round the tank. Obviously I want whats best for my snake and i have no problems with buying whats needed, but it's more the logistics of it. with a full glass viv with no holes apart from the ones in the wooden top that i made how would i get a stat into the viv to make sure it's not too hot? Or should I be putting it between the heatmat and the tank? If this tank isn't suitable for him I have no problems changing it (I have planned to do this anyway) . Thanks for any help.
|
|
20-10-2009, 11:46 AM
|
||||
|
||||
|
Because heat mats aren't very effective at heating the air, he will always feel cold - the mat is mostly heating the glass on the side and the rest of the heat is dissipating.
Ideally the mat goes under the tank (which needs to be propped up on drinks coasters or similar to ensure that there is no thermal blocking and that the terminal block isn't crushed) and you would then thread the thermostat probe into the tank to sit right on the bottom directly above the heat mat.
__________________
- Ssthisto "My bum has been a bum for a very long time, but that doesn't mean I have to listen to what it says." - Terry Pratchett, Fifth Elephant  Member 1603 | Buyer Beware ....
|
|
20-10-2009, 12:17 PM
|
|||
|
|||
|
Quote:
Thanks for the reply, but I have a few questions. You said he will always feel cold because the mat isn't very efficient, is this bad for him? like I said he seems to be pretty active and always eats well, but I would hate to think that I am not looking after him properly. I take it if I got a wooden vivarium the heat mat would go inside. or would it be best to heat the tank a different way ? Thanks
|
|
20-10-2009, 12:36 PM
|
||||
|
||||
|
I prefer ceramic heaters inside wooden vivariums, but with a corn (fairly light-bodied snake) a heat mat can work too.
Your snake shouldn't ever feel "warm" to you (that indicates he's too hot - your body temperature is higher than his basking temperature) but feeling ice-cold isn't great. He won't feel *as* cold if you get the heat mat underneath the cage - it will then be heating what he lies on, rather than heating a glass surface he can't actually press himself against very effectively.
__________________
- Ssthisto "My bum has been a bum for a very long time, but that doesn't mean I have to listen to what it says." - Terry Pratchett, Fifth Elephant Member 1603 | Buyer Beware ....
|
|
26-10-2009, 03:13 PM
|
|||
|
|||
I'm not very clued up on thermostats and i've had my royal in a viv without one for all of his 17 years thus far. I was recently told its now law to have a thermostat if you own a snake.
My 3 foot long viv currently has a both a yellow 100 watt bulb and a heatmat on the hot side of the enclosure. I was just wondering what type of thermostat i'm to buy (should I be looking at one with a dimmer option what with there being a light bulb?)
|
|
26-10-2009, 03:18 PM
|
||||
|
||||
|
Quote:
It's more a case of not wanting to burn your reps or burn down your house! A dimmer is fine for the light, I use mat stats for all my mats.
__________________
http://www.shellshack.co.uk
|
 |
| Thread Tools | |
| Display Modes | |
|
|
Linear Mode
