| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| alib |
Posted - 12/04/2013 : 10:07:04
hey all, just wondering what's the best way to keep your heat mat secure in one place? And do people cover it? If so where a good place to get some thing to cover it. I thought you had to leaves an air gap so covering it might cause a problem? Or am I just over thinking it lol I would like to cover it with some thing but not sure what. Thanak |
| 20 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| CharlyCroker |
Posted - 15/04/2013 : 15:10:27
quote:
Originally posted by smart bunny
quote:
Originally posted by CharlyCroker
My heat mat slides under the glass bottom and sits on a polystyrene sheet in a wooden base. It's how the viv was designed.. Two temp probes, one for the stat and one for the thermometer.. Works a treat.
Hmmm, it sounds like you may have a monkfield terranium Charly... in which case I believe the mat is supposed to go in a small gap between 2 sheets of glass, rather than underneath? I may be wrong though...
Yep you were right.. All set up properly now :) |
| serena_08 |
Posted - 15/04/2013 : 08:23:20
When we got mum her snake last year, (from a reptile shop spoken about usually quite highly) he told us 1. Tape the mat to the back wall, and 2. You don't need a stat because a. It doesn't get hot enough and b. he can't lie on it.
I argued with him, but left it as it was cheaper to get a stat elsewhere, and when unstatted the heatmat reached 48*.
As said, you'd think they'd try pushing sales, the habistat stat was over £40 and my mum would have bought one! |
| CharlyCroker |
Posted - 15/04/2013 : 06:18:40
quote:
Originally posted by smart bunny
quote:
Originally posted by CharlyCroker
My heat mat slides under the glass bottom and sits on a polystyrene sheet in a wooden base. It's how the viv was designed.. Two temp probes, one for the stat and one for the thermometer.. Works a treat.
Hmmm, it sounds like you may have a monkfield terranium Charly... in which case I believe the mat is supposed to go in a small gap between 2 sheets of glass, rather than underneath? I may be wrong though...
I'll check that out.. Maybe even get. Pick up.. |
| smart bunny |
Posted - 14/04/2013 : 18:01:37
quote:
Originally posted by CharlyCroker
My heat mat slides under the glass bottom and sits on a polystyrene sheet in a wooden base. It's how the viv was designed.. Two temp probes, one for the stat and one for the thermometer.. Works a treat.
Hmmm, it sounds like you may have a monkfield terranium Charly... in which case I believe the mat is supposed to go in a small gap between 2 sheets of glass, rather than underneath? I may be wrong though... |
| Sta~ple |
Posted - 14/04/2013 : 14:18:27
I don't cover mine, I just put a heavy hide on it and have never had issues with snakes getting under the mat but then again, I do only just sprinkle the mat with bedding and then the robes are banded together and have a suction cup to them and then have stones ontop, of which the snakes love to move lol.
I'm sure someone told me that reptile carpet curls after a few washes so easy for snakes to get under? Wonder if they go hard and crispy and mishapen like socks and bras lol.
A statted mat will not burn a snake unless there is an electrical fault in which case, it may not matter where you mat is something going to get toasted. |
| CharlyCroker |
Posted - 14/04/2013 : 08:21:55
My heat mat slides under the glass bottom and sits on a polystyrene sheet in a wooden base. It's how the viv was designed.. Two temp probes, one for the stat and one for the thermometer.. Works a treat. |
| Lee |
Posted - 14/04/2013 : 00:27:40
I have two digital thermometers, the hot end one reads 29 today and it sits just on the bedding. I'll be changing it around tomorrow. I know what you mean about the stat, I've had two different reptile shops telling me they are not needed, one said the snakes have managed perfectly well without in the wild and they would be able to tolerate the cooler nights and temp changes. Maybe they said to put the mat under the viv so it had no chance of burning the snake? It's a change from shops telling you you need something you don't to make an extra sale! |
| Kellog |
Posted - 13/04/2013 : 19:16:45
I'd certainly be interested to know what temp your heatmat is getting to to heat the viv to 28oC through wood and an air gap!! I know it is done, but personally I wouldn't as the heatmats aren't built to heat that way. Is the temp inside monitored with a digital thermometer?
Unfortunately even reptile shops are known to give dodgy advice, my nearest one is adamant that you don't need a stat and they don't even sell them  ! Glad that you'll be changing it.
Xxx
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| Lee |
Posted - 13/04/2013 : 17:08:26
That's what the reptile shop suggested! I thought it was a bit strange, there is a gap underneath the viv it's not sat directly on it, the warm end does stay at about 28 though. The male spends most of his time in the cool end. The other viv is glass and again has a recess underneath where the mat sits. I'll move it inside the wooden one then, time to get the tools out! |
| smart bunny |
Posted - 13/04/2013 : 14:16:20
Heatmats go underneath for plastic/glass vivs, but should be inside if
wooden - as above it's a fire hazard otherwise, not to mention a waste of electricity! |
| Kellog |
Posted - 13/04/2013 : 12:06:13
quote:
Originally posted by Lee
I have my heatmat underneath the vivs, enough heat seems to get through and there is no chance of contact/soiling.
Underneath wooden vivs Lee? Doesn't that mean that the heatmat must get very hot to heat through the wood and maintain the right temp in the vivs? I must admit I'd be worried about burning the heatmat out.
Xxx
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| Lee |
Posted - 13/04/2013 : 11:56:41
I have my heatmat underneath the vivs, enough heat seems to get through and there is no chance of contact/soiling. |
| Kellog |
Posted - 12/04/2013 : 19:42:22
It's nice to hear how much Smokey likes to hide in the aspen  . My adults love it as well and you'd be surprised, I've looked in Kellog's viv and his hides have been empty and I've not been able to see him.....he's disappeared under the substrate and he's a 5' snake!!
Xxx
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| alib |
Posted - 12/04/2013 : 19:24:51
quote:
Originally posted by Kellog
There are a few people on here who use reptile carpet Alib. If you search for 'carpet' and then look down the topics you'll see people asking about it. It comes up with quite a lot of threads because of carpet being mentioned but I know there are at least 3 with reptile carpet as the name and I think a couple give you links to places you can get it.
Personally I don't, and wouldn't, use it. My snakes love to burrow and I'd hate to take that away from them. Also you need to have at least 2 pieces, so you can have a clean 1 to put in while you wash a dirty 1.
Hope that helps.
Xxx
I have to admit Smokey is always digging in the aspen he hides in it more then his actual hides lol but surely when he getts bigger he will find it harder to dig and hide? Cheers |
| Kellog |
Posted - 12/04/2013 : 18:10:59
There are a few people on here who use reptile carpet Alib. If you search for 'carpet' and then look down the topics you'll see people asking about it. It comes up with quite a lot of threads because of carpet being mentioned but I know there are at least 3 with reptile carpet as the name and I think a couple give you links to places you can get it.
Personally I don't, and wouldn't, use it. My snakes love to burrow and I'd hate to take that away from them. Also you need to have at least 2 pieces, so you can have a clean 1 to put in while you wash a dirty 1.
Hope that helps.
Xxx
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| alib |
Posted - 12/04/2013 : 16:39:59
Thxs for all the feedback guys its good to know what other people do to help me decided what's best for me and my snake... Does any 1 use reptile carpet? I might change to this from aspen now and that would cover the heat mat. How easy are they for cleaning. And where is a good place to get it from? Cheers |
| Isoldael |
Posted - 12/04/2013 : 15:36:19
When I still had my heat mats inside my viv, I never fixed them but just put a ~1-2 cm layer of substrate on top :). My snakes did get under the heatmat, but it doesn't really matter since it doens't get hot enough to cause any harm (statted). |
| Mamma |
Posted - 12/04/2013 : 14:05:29
I too use tiles |
| smart bunny |
Posted - 12/04/2013 : 13:46:34
I don't fix or cover mine, just put a large hide on top to hold them down and a sprinkling of substrate! |
| Kellog |
Posted - 12/04/2013 : 11:25:58
Callazagy is right Alib, a lot of people secure the heatmat down with glue to prevent the snake from going under it. You have to leave it for a certain period before you can put your snake in, because of the fumes, but I'm not sure how long. This thread, Setting up an adult corn snake - My 101 should tell you how to do it and may give you some other ideas for your viv.
I don't have mine sealed down but have them covered with a piece of synthetic slate. The probes for the stat and digital thermometer are bound together and weighed down with heavy rocks. There is then a light sprinkling of substrate on top. I made the decision I didn't want anything to be 'permanently' glued, but that is only my personal opinion.
Hope that helps.
Xxx
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