| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Zoe478 |
Posted - 09/12/2011 : 22:56:59
Hi everyone,
I'm very new to snake keeping and brought my hatchling Scarlet King Snake, Dexter, home on Sunday, but I'm having some problems with heating his vivarium.
I have an Exo Terra 12" x 12" x 12" vivarium, I have the Habistat 11" x 6" heat mat as part of the starter kit, I also have a dial temperature gauge. Since bringing him home, I have been doing LOTS of reading up on the internet. My problem is that I can't seem to get the warmer side of the vivarium to be hot enough. I went back to the shop I bought him from and they gave me a 25w night light, but this didn't seem to make any difference. I've been back yet again and they've given me a 40w red night spot lamp which has helped a little tiny bit. I just can't get the temperature on the warmer side to get above 70?! I've read that the temperature on the warmer side needs to be at least 75. I've been back yet again (first time parent!) and asked about a stat, but he said that the heat mat is already heating to full so a stat wouldn't raise the temperature. The temperature gauge is an inch above the mat (on top of the wood substrate).
What else can I do?
Thank you to anyone who replies in advance  |
| 9 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Gmac |
Posted - 10/12/2011 : 01:27:56
in all honesty its not that unusual for them to do that, your not the first and wont be the last ;) |
| Zoe478 |
Posted - 10/12/2011 : 01:26:32
Okay, thank you so much for the advice again. I'm disappointed that the pet shop have given me the wrong equipment and advice :( |
| Gmac |
Posted - 10/12/2011 : 01:20:58
for Glass tanks always on the outside. Infact turn it off untill you get the stat, the mat will be roasting hot and could potentially burn the snake as it stands. |
| Zoe478 |
Posted - 10/12/2011 : 01:04:26
Thanks again! The pet shop set my vivarium up for me and they put the heat mat on the inside, is that the best, or should it be on the outside? |
| Eight |
Posted - 10/12/2011 : 01:02:53
quote:
Originally posted by Gmac
is best having it below the substrate on the glass as the snake may and probably does burrow so you want to measure from the warmest place.
Glass is a sod to keep the temps but is manageable.
I find this with glass too which is why I use wooden Vivs. Glass ones look nicer but are awkward as hell to heat properly with a mat. I do rate them for species which require higher humidity though, and I saw a fantastic conversion job on an exo terra for arboreal snakes.
As for the temp and future stat I find it best when using a glass tank to place the probe for the stat directly on the mat under the glass tank and place a o
wired thermometer probe under the substrate taped down to the glass on the inside of the tank to get an accurate reading. By the look of your other pics your using an exo terra yourself so the stat probe should fit under the viv quite well. |
| Gmac |
Posted - 10/12/2011 : 00:29:13
is best having it below the substrate on the glass as the snake may and probably does burrow so you want to measure from the warmest place.
Glass is a sod to keep the temps but is manageable. |
| Zoe478 |
Posted - 10/12/2011 : 00:23:09
Thank you both so much for replying!
It's a glass tank, I'm going to get a stat ASAP and a digital thermometer, thank you.
Am I looking to get a temperature reading from the heat mat itself, or from on top on the substrate, using a digital thermometer? |
| Eight |
Posted - 09/12/2011 : 23:45:55
Good advice. Like the above said, measure the temp from the very bottom of the enclosure, under the substrate as dexter will burrow to the bottom of the sub, or at least close too the bottom.
Also keep in mind that pet shops don't always offer the best advice. Dexter looks awesome though :) |
| Gmac |
Posted - 09/12/2011 : 23:27:47
Ok first things first, is this a plastic tank,? also you are correct you need a stat to regulate the temps from the mat, ignore the shop they are wrong and you were correct to ask for one. Likewise all heat lighting must be statted to control the heat.
Secondly, the dial thermometer is only good for one thing a paperweight, it is measuring the ambient temp at the glass and not on the substrate something most shops include in a starter kit but dont tell you they are pretty useless, not your fault, ideally you want to get a digital thermometer and place it n the base of the tank this way you will find out what the actual temps are, it will surprise you the temp change when monitored from the base, Mats are contact heaters and dont add ambient heat.
The temps you should be trying to achieve are hot end of 80-90 so is a bit cool. |
