| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Steph |
Posted - 13/02/2013 : 03:46:02
Okay, I've got 2 digital thermometers in with my snake and I got a handheld digital thermometer gun to read across the gradient of the viv floor and across the floor of the shoe box the snake is living in.
With the thermostat where it was set by the breeders at the shop (28C), I was reading the temps on the mat as high as 40-50C and as low at 22C. So I began turning the stat down more and more -- but I'm still reading temps way higher than my thermostat is set to, and I'm getting hot spots that worry me.
Right now, my thermostat is set at 25C and I'm still reading spots on the mat outside the shoe box as high as 40C -- luckily inside the box (set only 1/3 on the mat w/ some subtrate under) I'm reading more reasonable temps from 32 in the far corner down to 21 near the water. Inside the hide where Chakra spends most of his time, and across most of the paper substrate in the box, I'm now reading from 22-25C.
But all this worries me. I'm not happy that there are spots on the mat and on the substrate above the mat that still read at 40, even with a thermostat set to 25C. Sounds like I have a malfunctioning mat to me.... but what do you think?
(and I keep gettind condensation on the shoe box plastic on the cool end where the water is. again seems like a sign that temps are too high even there)
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| 6 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Steph |
Posted - 13/02/2013 : 16:59:07
quote:
Originally posted by Auld Baldy
Glad things are setting down. Is it a new mat and what size/ wattage?
I use Habistat 20 watt mats and Habistat 100 watt MatStats and haven't had any problems. 
It's the mat that came with the viv kit, a ProRep. The 150 x 280 mm, 7 Watt size is my guess (the very small one anyway; I didn't get the packaging, as they kindly set up the whole viv/mat/thermostat/etc for me, and I just picked it up as is).
I'll look into the Habistat brand, thanks. |
| Auld Baldy |
Posted - 13/02/2013 : 14:40:51
Glad things are setting down. Is it a new mat and what size/ wattage?
I use Habistat 20 watt mats and Habistat 100 watt MatStats and haven't had any problems. |
| Steph |
Posted - 13/02/2013 : 14:26:15
quote:
Originally posted by Auld Baldy
Go by the reading you are getting from the thermometer, not the dial setting on the thermostat....
In the case of the viv, you want the warmest area to be that which the snake could possibly come in contact with. IE the mat.
Thank you so much, yes, I'll remember that -- everything's just great inside the shoe box right now, since weighing down the probes; 19-29C across the paper, and he seems quite content under the warm end hide now, which he's avoided up until now. So things are definitley better!
tbh, though, I'm still reading about 4 very hot spots out in the viv. I'm not sure I can trust this mat for the long run, when I let the snake out to roam around freely in the viv. Just for peace of mind, I'll probably get another mat when the time comes. I'll just sleep easier |
| Auld Baldy |
Posted - 13/02/2013 : 12:45:36
Go by the reading you are getting from the thermometer, not the dial setting on the thermostat. It can be set lower but as you have discovered, the temps will vary depending on where the probes are positioned.
Think of it like a radiator in your living room. The actual radiator may be really boiling hot but just comfortably warm sitting back in your armchair.
In the case of the viv, you want the warmest area to be that which the snake could possibly come in contact with. IE the mat. |
| Steph |
Posted - 13/02/2013 : 05:48:24
quote:
Originally posted by Auld Baldy
The probes need to be placed on top of the actual mat....
Great, thanks -- just did that. Makes perfect sense to me for them to be on top of the mat. I'd actually had it touching the substrate in those photos, but it was originally set a couple cm up in the air when I picked up my kit from the store. And I'd gotten conflicting advice over the past week on where to put the probes.
But, okay, now I've got them weighed down on the mat and the temps over the past 20 mins have settled down -- the thermometer readings actually now match the thermostat settings. I'm still reading those same hotter spots on the substrate w/ the gun -- but now they are more like 35C rather than the 40-50. Inside Chakra's box the temps are reading from high to low 20s across the gradient.
The thermostat is still set to 25C at the moment, but if things settle down to consistent readings, I could raise that a bit later today. See how things go.
Thanks again |
| Auld Baldy |
Posted - 13/02/2013 : 04:26:35
The probes need to be placed on top of the actual mat. Not hanging in mid air.
You can either use a hot glue gun to stick them to the mat or use a hide or other method of weighing the probes down.
I use a strap of lath/dowel wedged firmly across the viv and use small zip ties to secure the probes. More or less constant 28C on the digital thermometer and the probes cannot get bumped off the mat.
NOTE: The tacks only clip the edge of the mat. They do not puncture the laminate. Also, the white card is just to show up the probes against the mat.
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