| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| n/a |
Posted - 10/07/2010 : 19:19:39
Hi all, as the topic says ive got my corn today :)
Ive got a faun with heatmat etc and ive set it all up just like the beginners guide on the sticky s. Everything was ok (and still may be) and then i noticed the light on the ministat 100 is off, also the heatmat is cold.
Does this mean the ministat 100 is broken? or is it suppose to turn off completely and then turn the heatmat back on when temp is too cold? how can i tell if its broken or just off :p
Thanks guys for any answers u may have, just panicking a bit. |
| 8 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Kellog |
Posted - 15/07/2010 : 06:16:24
quote:
Originally posted by mojo0070
One thing though, i heard that you shouldn't handle them for 48 hours after a feed, but yet also heard that you should put the snake in another container to feed. Then i would have to handle him to put him back in the faun after feeding :p is that ok? or am i just worrying too much
You are right about not handling for 48hrs after a feed Mojo but it is ok just to gently pick your snake up and move it back to its faun/viv after it has fed, as long as you wait until the 'bump' is about in the middle of the snake and there is no unnecessary handling.
Some people use kitchen roll in their containers and then pick the kitchen roll up, using it like a hammock, to move their snakes (although obviously you would have to make sure that the kitchen roll was strong enough). Others hold the container near the viv doors or over the faun opening and allow their snake to slide back of its own accord.
I pick mine up, being careful to support if on either side of the 'bump' and gently put them back in their vivs.
Hope that helps.
xxx
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| n/a |
Posted - 11/07/2010 : 15:14:11
I understand now that i should have set the tank up first yeah, ill remember that for the future. I actually think the thermostat is fine, i was just be being paranoid :p
My newly acquired thermometer says 85°F which from what I've researched, is perfect.
The snake (named slinky by my daughter) has just been in the warm end hide the whole time so far pretty much, i hope that's normal :). I am following the 1 week rule and will start a record of length, weight, feed details etc .
One thing though, i heard that you shouldn't handle them for 48 hours after a feed, but yet also heard that you should put the snake in another container to feed. Then i would have to handle him to put him back in the faun after feeding :p is that ok? or am i just worrying too much
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| Kellog |
Posted - 11/07/2010 : 03:55:06
Sorry you are already having problems Mojo. It is why it is good to get your faun all set up before you get your snake, to iron out any problems before bringing it home....but that is easily said with hindsight.
I know a lot of people have used the microclimate on/off stat and I tried to use it but found that it would switch the mat off when it got too hot and then dropped much too low before switching back on. I think it must have been a malfunctioning stat as I know with others it only allows a few degrees difference whereas with mine it was as much as 5oC, which was too much of a temperature variable for my liking. But I knew this because I had a digital thermometer that was monitoring the temps so I knew exactly what was going on.
The fact that the light is coming on is showing that the stat is working, it is just not working correctly. I wouldnt have the stat turned to max as you dont want the heatmat reaching max as it may burn your snake.
The one thing I can think of is whether your stat probe is fitted correctly, horizontally against the heatmat....but I am assuming it is as you followed the beginners guide.
Glad you will be getting the digital thermometer this morning, it really is vital as you are finding out. If it doesnt come maybe you could pop out and get one....just an aquarium one is fine. A lot of us use this one ordered from ebay - it is cheap, works well and comes quickly: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230467620317#ht_2935wt_946. At least this gives you some idea of what you can get.
Bet you cant believe you actually have a real live corn snake  !! It is wonderful and Eeji is right....it will probably be the first of many cos corns are so addictive  .
Do you know about the one- week rule? It is more of a guide than a rule but worth adhering too....no handling or feeding for the first week to allow your snake to get over the stress of the move and for it to get used to the new smells and its new surroundings. This means just putting your hand in to change the water daily and straighten the substrate, so it can get used to your smell and not be threatened by you. You mustnt worry about your corn not feeding for that week, corns are a lot hardier than we realise and going for a week without food will not do them any harm, no matter how small they are. You are rarely advised this in a lot of pet shops  but it is an important way of getting your snake to de-stress and feel safe with you. It is a hard week, very frustrating, but worth it for the snake's sake.
And dont worry about panicking....it is the corns duty in life to keep us worrying about them  ! Why dont you head over to the Introductions section so that we can all say hi officially .
xxx
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| n/a |
Posted - 10/07/2010 : 23:49:02
ok its getting cooler now in the room and the thermo light still hasn't come back on. ive even turned the dial all the way to max which i presume would force the light on. panic back on :( |
| gmac |
Posted - 10/07/2010 : 21:12:30
the matstat is an on/off mat it will switch on whe neaded and off when he correct temps are reached. The light will go off and the mat will cool down ery quickly but so long as the probe is in the correct position it will switch back on when it has to. |
| eeji |
Posted - 10/07/2010 : 21:11:06
congratulations on your first (of many!) cornsnake :) |
| n/a |
Posted - 10/07/2010 : 19:41:21
the one thing that didnt get delivered today is my digital thermometer. Ill be getting that first thing in the morning. however as im typing this sentence, the thermostat has come back on :p worry over :)
thanks anyway mate |
| Sta~ple |
Posted - 10/07/2010 : 19:34:25
What does the thermometer say? That is the only way you are going to be able to tell.
The mat may feel cold to you as your body temperature might be higher than the mat, specially with this weather. The weather being warm may also mean your mat isn't on very long because the weather itself is making things toasty. |
