| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| rifleman6925 |
Posted - 11/02/2014 : 17:44:24
When I got my snake and viv from the local pet shop they insisted on setting it up as I had told them that this was my first ever reptile. The heat mat was placed on the back of the viv and I was told that there was no requirement for a thermostat. I have no idea if this information is correct, however, I noticed that Boromir was constantly hiding in his hide so I put this down to him being a bit cold. I have bought a thermostat today and placed his heat mat under the substrate which when he was put back in his viv he burrowed under and lay on top of the heat mat. His hide is now placed with it partially over the heat mat. Any info on this matter would be greatly appreciated. |
| 20 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Kellog |
Posted - 23/02/2014 : 08:04:55
Just keep asking questions, both of you. It's what we're here for  and our policy is that the only silly question is the one you don't ask  .
Xxx
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| Jacquie72 |
Posted - 22/02/2014 : 20:51:35
Thanks Kellog! I appreciate any help you can offer!  |
| rifleman6925 |
Posted - 21/02/2014 : 12:12:18
Thank you for your post and I intend to take you up on this kind offer and ask questions when unsure, yes the pet shop has given questionable advice but at the same time I have been given correct advice from you lovely people on this forum. I have just got back from RAF Cranwell and all 5 of my beauties are all snug in there nice warm vivs. Thanks |
| Kellog |
Posted - 20/02/2014 : 23:41:49
You've been given great advice Anthony, unsurprisingly . I'm glad that Boromir is happier and in a better environment now. So many of us have experienced what you did, bad advice from pet shops. It even happens with reptile shops. My local one is adamant that you don't need a thermostat  ! I check anything I'm told on here.
You've been through this too Jacquie72  . I hope that you've switched the mat off if it's unstatted. There is a serious risk of it overheating and burning the base of the viv. Don't worry about your snake being without heat for that time, it'll be fine as long as you don't feed it. It needs heat to digest so don't feed it until you have the heat situation under control.
It's easy enough to put the heatmat in a wooden viv. This thread on setting up a viv shows you how, along with the stat and digital thermometer positioning - http://www.thecornsnake.co.uk/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=10789
Let us know how you get on sorting out the larger viv....and both of you please keep asking questions. We're here to help .
Xxx
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| rifleman6925 |
Posted - 18/02/2014 : 12:34:13
No need for a large hole, remove the plug from the heat mat and feed the cable through a hole the same diameter as your cable. But since your getting a bigger viv no need then |
| Jacquie72 |
Posted - 18/02/2014 : 03:13:21
quote:
Originally posted by Boomslang
quote:
Originally posted by Jacquie72
I was told to put my heat mat under my wooden vivarium. But I've seen some horror stories about that and now I'm scared as I don't have any more money for another week to buy a thermostat and move the mat inside the viv.
common sense would kinda say,that wouldn't really work :P I only use mats on rubs/glass vivs etc.So much better heating options for wooden vivs.
I did think that, but the guy was adamant that this was the best way of doing it. But to put the heat mat under the substrate would mean having to drill a rather large hole into the back of the viv which I am NOT going to do. So next week I'll just have to get a glass viv, as I have to get a bigger viv for Henry anyway, seeing as he sold me a viv that's too flipping small! |
| Boomslang |
Posted - 18/02/2014 : 02:32:42
quote:
Originally posted by Jacquie72
I was told to put my heat mat under my wooden vivarium. But I've seen some horror stories about that and now I'm scared as I don't have any more money for another week to buy a thermostat and move the mat inside the viv.
common sense would kinda say,that wouldn't really work :P I only use mats on rubs/glass vivs etc.So much better heating options for wooden vivs. |
| Jacquie72 |
Posted - 17/02/2014 : 22:46:15
I was told to put my heat mat under my wooden vivarium. But I've seen some horror stories about that and now I'm scared as I don't have any more money for another week to buy a thermostat and move the mat inside the viv. |
| Boomslang |
Posted - 17/02/2014 : 03:09:35
Heat rocks aren't as bad,as they used to be :) But kinda pointless for a snake. |
| rifleman6925 |
Posted - 16/02/2014 : 23:09:21
Yes he is well settled and loving his new 3ft viv. Picked up my 2 new little ones today and they are gorgeous. Will post a couple of pics of them |
| G7ACU |
Posted - 15/02/2014 : 14:50:35
I guess the heat-rocks are still sold as they're useful for other reptiles, but unfortunately there are many pet shops who offer inadequate advice and I don't want to think about how many unsuitable set-ups there could be as a result of poor advice.
As Smart Bunny has mentioned, there are some high powered heat mats, see http://www.eurorep.co.uk/heating/habistat-high-power-heat-mats
Again, it raises the concern about how many folk might try and use these for normal heating and subsequently cause both health and safety problems.
Boromir's obviously seems well settled and happy now :-) |
| rifleman6925 |
Posted - 14/02/2014 : 16:58:25
2 X 17" X 11" heat mats, thermostat and 2 X digital thermometers are ordered and on their way from Swell Reptiles |
| rifleman6925 |
Posted - 13/02/2014 : 22:06:39
Yep defo no heat rocks for me and thanks for the advice |
| herriotfan |
Posted - 13/02/2014 : 22:03:24
My snakes in vivs all have guarded heat lamps.
I simply use the theory that heat comes from above, well when we have sun it does!
The probes are placed under the bulbs, on the viv bottom, and temperature set at 28-30c.
Never had any issues with that setup. 
I must echo the DONT USE HEAT ROCKS!!
Why those things are still sold baffles me.
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| smart bunny |
Posted - 13/02/2014 : 21:36:16
Glad we could help - unfortunately pet shops are well known for giving bad advice. One of our local ones believes thermostats aren't necessary as well :( |
| rifleman6925 |
Posted - 13/02/2014 : 21:20:30
Well it seems that the pet shop has given me bad advice. At the moment Boromir is nice and toasty in his hide as the heat mat is underneath but a larger one will be ordered ASAP, thanks a lot everyone for your invaluable advice |
| smart bunny |
Posted - 13/02/2014 : 21:14:58
Hmmm, well I would say a 6x11 is too small for a viv that size (jeez, he must have been freezing when it was on the wall!!). The heat mat should be between 1/2 and 1/3 the size of the viv - I use a 12x12 in my 3ft. Although thinking about it if I'm being totally honest, I think I also use a 12x12 in my 4ft viv - but it still covers a much bigger area than Corno's pretty large warm hide which she curls up in to digest, so I figure it's OK!! However following that reasoning if Boromir's hide is no bigger than the heat mat he'd probably be OK... but my advice would still be to go for a 12x12.
By the way, it's only the area you have to consider with heat mats - the wattage increases as the size increases. |
| rifleman6925 |
Posted - 13/02/2014 : 19:53:39
quote:
Originally posted by smart bunny
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO the heat rocks are very dangerous for snakes, if you want to raise the temps in general then you may want to think about a ceramic lamp instead of the mat - but NOT a heat rock!
Ha ha ok you have convinced me that a heat rock is not the best option. Its a 3ft wooden vivexotic with glass front. I have one heat mat with the following specs; Prorep 6" x 11", 7 watts, 230v, 50Hz 0.05 amps |
| Boomslang |
Posted - 13/02/2014 : 19:36:40
Is it a wooden viv?If you're worried about it getting to cold in winter.Could always replace the mat with another form of heating :) A heat rock is kinda pointless :) |
| smart bunny |
Posted - 13/02/2014 : 19:36:39
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO the heat rocks are very dangerous for snakes, if you want to raise the temps in general then you may want to think about a ceramic lamp instead of the mat - but NOT a heat rock! |
