| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| james brady |
Posted - 18/07/2011 : 23:20:24
hi everyone.I have a heat mat with thermostat and a dimmer light with thermostate, When I have the light on I keep having to turn it down because it keeps going up into the 90's and the the mat only seem to get mid 70's. What am I doing wrong. Do I set time some at same temp or what . Help please. |
| 11 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| james brady |
Posted - 19/07/2011 : 21:16:10
Thanks for that mate very helpfully cheers |
| lotabob |
Posted - 19/07/2011 : 20:59:27
MAT SETUP
(vivarium setup only)
Place the mat on the base of the vivarium, The thermostat probe MUST be touching the mat and fixed down (aquarium sealant, hot glue and best) so the snake cant dislodge it. The thermometer probe ideally needs to be secured in the same position as the stat probe. Place a very thin layer of substrate over the mat. You then need to adjust the stat using the thermometer readings to the desired temperature, range, it will dance around wildly at first but as it warms up the items touching the mat the fluctuation will stabilize. During this time (upto 24 hours approx) you will need to be on hand to make the adjustments. Only now is it safe for a snake.
BULB SETUP
The bulb need to be of a suitable wattage, if its too high it will be dimmed by the thermostat constantly and heavily and will buzz like a bee in a milk bottle too low and you'll struggle to get the temps up. I find 40 watt bulbs are perfect for achieving corn snake temperatures. The bulb MUST be guarded, corns climb anything and everything the guard must have holes appropriately sized to stop the snake getting inside (the popular Prorep guard's holes are too big for a hatchling) The stat probe and thermometer probes are best fixed together with a rubber band (I hot glue mine together) and placed underneath the bulb on the substrate. You then need to adjust the stat using the thermometer readings to the desired temperature, range, it will come on at full power at first but as it warms up the dimmer will kick in as it approaches its preset temperature. During this time (upto 5 hours approx) you will need to be on hand to make the adjustments, it should only require very minor adjustments. Only now is it safe for a snake.
I have both a bulb and mat in my Corn snakes vivarium but a mat is a much better idea as it can be left on 24/7, a bulb must be switched off overnight unless its a ceramic heat bulb that doesn't emit light. |
| james brady |
Posted - 19/07/2011 : 20:49:30
what i want to use and get right is actually just the bulb for heat . I've got a dimmer so there won't be too much light. I am using both at moment till i get it right . The reptile shop i use they only use bulbs with dimmers . do you recommend not using a light at all axcept for viewing then. I ve used both for a year now but only just got the dimmer. bulb use to be on a timmer . doesn't seem to work with dimmer.any input would be great . cheers |
| gingerpony |
Posted - 19/07/2011 : 20:34:42
the thermometer isn't measuring the temperature where the snake is/will be or where the heat source is, that's what the main problem is
plus you're using a mat and a bulb when you only need a mat |
| james brady |
Posted - 19/07/2011 : 20:16:55
Hi everyone and thanks for the replies, the stat probs are on the bottom of viv on the heat mat .the therm probe is now lower down than it was last time stuck the the back of viv about three inches from floor. viv is a three foot viv glass front.the bulb is a nocturnal infrared heat lamp 100 w |
| gingerpony |
Posted - 19/07/2011 : 18:11:44
agree with a above^^
what's the set-up like and where are the stat and therm probes? |
| a33272 |
Posted - 19/07/2011 : 12:02:48
think u need to tell use about ya set up abit for eg size of viv, wattage of bulb, type of bulb. mat/bulb timing etc |
| chrisc |
Posted - 19/07/2011 : 05:56:56
i have the microclimate mat stat and as said above i just adjusted it so the thermomiter is reading about 80f |
| Katie.Dublin |
Posted - 19/07/2011 : 01:02:51
Just keep lowering it down until your thermometer reads what you want it to. Mines 29degC. Dunno what the equivilant is in Farenheight |
| james brady |
Posted - 18/07/2011 : 23:52:57
ok thanks but itn't the 90's too high |
| ravensgirl |
Posted - 18/07/2011 : 23:38:56
I always set the thermostats to the temp the thermometers read. |
