| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| n/a |
Posted - 24/11/2009 : 12:41:06
Hi All,
I have recently bought a new wooden vivarium (vivexotic) for my corn snake, and I am slightly concerned with the night temperature.
The guy at the local reptile centre told me that a 60w bulb is sufficient for the vivarium and not to bother with any other form of heating.
During the day the temperature goes upto 80 degrees, however, when I check in the morning it is down as low as 60 degrees. The snake is behaving as usual and is eating regularly and doesn't seem to be affected at all. Do you think 60 degrees is too cold or is this ok?
Any advice will be appreciated.
Thanks |
| 19 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| kizzig |
Posted - 03/12/2009 : 12:54:41
Hi and welcome Angel! 
Feel free to introduce yourself in the "Introductions" section!
There's an excellent care sheet on this site which should answer any other questions you may have. The link is http://www.thecornsnake.co.uk/corn_snake_care_sheet.htm
The probe for the stat should go inside the viv, underneath the substrate as you want to measure the temperature of the conditions in which snakey will be living. You're best to have a digital thermometer probe in with your stat probe as well, as the dials on the stats are not 100% accurate. You may find that to get the correct temperature in the viv, your stat may have to be set a little higher. I think our stat is set to 32°C to get a temperature of 28-29°C inside the viv. |
| n/a |
Posted - 03/12/2009 : 10:49:42
hi just wondering if some one can help me i have a glass viv and a heat mat that gos underneath the viv can anyone tell me where the best place is for me to place the thermostat prob which is better on top of the mat on inside the viv on the glass over the mat? |
| hiper2009 |
Posted - 02/12/2009 : 22:51:18
quote:
Originally posted by Prudence
I will post a picture of the viv set up shortly - thanks.
Won't it be dangerous if I just put the heat mat inside the viv because the snake will be able to directly touch it? That's something else they told me at the reptile centre!
I would be more concerned about your snake wrapping its self around the bulb and burning its self with out a bulb guard !!!  |
| gingerpony |
Posted - 02/12/2009 : 20:14:10
personally i'd wait to get the stat before switching your mat on, just to save electricity, but when you get the stat and everything rigged up you'll probably spend a while adjusting the stat to get the temps right in the viv, which takes time............
basically ignore what the dial on the stat is set to, measure your temps with the thermometer (i rubber-band both probes together and put them on top of the substrate above the heatmat) and turn the stat up or down according to the reading on the thermometer.
and with the second hide - he's probably been exploring and investigating it while you're asleep, as long as its an appropriate size, provides cover and secrecy, i'd leave it in for him to use as and when he wants |
| n/a |
Posted - 02/12/2009 : 13:36:51
Thanks for the offer, unfortunately, I bought 1 on the web yesterday!! Is it too dangerous to put my heat mat in the viv and turn on at night, prior to the thermostat arriving? or will it be ok?
I'm also going to get a digital thermometer which will go in alongside the stat, what if they start telling me different temps?
Lastly, I have put a 2nd hide in the viv (half a cereal box as a trial), but the snake hasn't gone near it for 5 days, should I take it back out? (he has been used to just 1 hide until now)
Thanks a million for the help. |
| gingerpony |
Posted - 01/12/2009 : 21:52:53
i use a variety of Habistats and Microclimates, i think i prefer Habistats but i can't really pin down why lol
i currently have a secondhand Habistat temperature stat (300W) for sale for £25 including postage... |
| SexyBear77 |
Posted - 01/12/2009 : 12:10:33
quote:
Originally posted by Prudence
Thanks Eeji,
Which type of micro-climate stat do you recommend? And do you cover your heat mat with anything apart from substrate?
As I stated earlier, some people choose to put a piece of lino over the mat. I use a microclimate 100 for one of my vivs. |
| n/a |
Posted - 01/12/2009 : 12:06:59
Thanks Eeji,
Which type of micro-climate stat do you recommend? And do you cover your heat mat with anything apart from substrate? |
| eeji |
Posted - 27/11/2009 : 23:54:11
i use microclimate stats and never had a single problem with them |
| n/a |
Posted - 27/11/2009 : 21:43:18
Hello all,
I have now moved my thermometer to a lower level in the viv and beneath the bulb, it now goes up as high as 85f in the evening, and down to about 65f through the night (it drops quite quickly once the bulb goes off). I plan on getting another thermometer for the cold end in the next day or so.
I am going to run my old heat mat into the viv shortly. First I need to buy a digital thermostat - can anyone recommend a good thermostat please?
Can I then just plug my current heat mat into the thermostat and set it accordingly? I will then probably change the bulb to a lower watt because it is currently hot enough in the days anyway.
What do you mean by 'lilo', that I can put over the heat mat?
To think that I've had the snake (Colin!) for 6 years and cared for him based solely on the info from the pet shop (I just trusted that they must know what they are on about! In all fairness though,I have never had any cause for concern until I bought the new viv and noticed the night time temp.
Many thanks for all your help x |
| SexyBear77 |
Posted - 25/11/2009 : 12:36:17
I have 3 mats all inside wooden vivs- have never ever had a problem as they are correctly statted and are monitored by digital thermometers. If you are worried I think some people on here put a piece of lino over the top of the mat, but I have nothing but a bit of substrate over mine.x |
| a33272 |
Posted - 25/11/2009 : 12:26:06
also you need ya thermometor at the hot end not in the middle a didgital one is best and ideally one in hot end one in cold but hot end is important |
| a33272 |
Posted - 25/11/2009 : 12:24:12
thats what the stat is for, its common practise to put a heta mat inside a wooden viv as putting it under is well pointless, mine is inside the the stat probe and the thermometor probe directly ontop of the mat i set it so my mat doesnt go over 31c an put a thin layer of substrate over it that way even if she lays on the mat it wont do no harm |
| n/a |
Posted - 25/11/2009 : 12:07:59
I will post a picture of the viv set up shortly - thanks.
Won't it be dangerous if I just put the heat mat inside the viv because the snake will be able to directly touch it? That's something else they told me at the reptile centre! |
| gingerpony |
Posted - 24/11/2009 : 20:45:08
quote:
Originally posted by Prudence
I've got the heater mat that I used with the old viv, but it won't transfer the heat through the new viv.
why on earth not?? just put the heatmat inside the viv...............
i'm assuming you have a light emitting bulb if you're switching it off at night? the poor thing will be very cold overnight with the drop in ambient temps over winter unless your central heating is on permanently. the unstable temps could adversely affect his health with time, he could go off feeding as he doesn;t have the correct temperatures to digest a meal, or he could regurge a meal if it's too hot or too cold for him........ please read the care sheet on here. |
| Tizzy |
Posted - 24/11/2009 : 14:25:45
Snakes can be stupid, they dont always do the commen sense thing,
If you have a heat mat that you used with a plastic or glass viv then it can go inside the wooden viv, just drill a little hole, take the plug off and poke the wire through the back.some people like to put a lino tile over the matt but i personally don't. Heatmats should cover 1/3 to 1/2 of the viv floorspace(i'd use an 11" x 11" mat in a 3ft viv)and run through a thermostat to stop them overheating. You should also really have thermometers at both ends, the hot end being the most important.
Sorry to say it sounds like you were given really shoddy advice at this reptile centre, (feel free to name and shame) If you want to put you mind at ease post a pic of your set up and we can help you get it all sorted. Hope this helps. |
| n/a |
Posted - 24/11/2009 : 13:59:06
Thanks for the reply.
Yes - 60 - 80f!!
The viv is 3ft long by 1.5 to 2 foot deep, and the thermometer is in the middle of the viv.
No - a couple of places that I have been to have never recommended a guard for the bulb.
I've got the heater mat that I used with the old viv, but it won't transfer the heat through the new viv.
I thought 60f was too cold, but when the bulb comes on in the morning, the snake doesn't seem to go straight beneath it which I thought would happen if the temp was too cold for him?! |
| Tizzy |
Posted - 24/11/2009 : 13:47:23
Take a look at the care sheet http://www.thecornsnake.co.uk/corn_snake_care_sheet.htm, this will give you some good info on what temps and set ups that most of us would advise. I'd also be interested to hear what you are using to mesure the temps?? Dial thermomethers and strip style aquarium ones are a bit pants to be honest, especially if they're not on the substrate. |
| Kehhlyr |
Posted - 24/11/2009 : 12:55:04
First off, I'll assume you're saying 60 and 80 degrees and you're measuring in Fahrenheit.
60f is far to cold.
They should have a warm end and a cool end.
Ideally controlled by a heatmat+stat.
The warm end should be about 83-85f (28-30C) and the cool end around 68-71f (20-22c).
I'm sorry but being told that a 60w bulb is sufficient is incredibly poor for a reptile shop.
Did they suggest a guard for the bulb?? Why do I have the feeling they didn't.
Roughly how big is the viv?? |
