| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| elament |
Posted - 26/01/2010 : 20:35:54
Having had the benefit of two digital thermometers I conducted a little experiment on colins viv this evening. I will leave it up to you to come to some conclusion to the findings...
I attached one digital thermometer probe to the probe on the stat so I could get temp reading at the stat probe position to see how the thermostat behaves. I then set the other thermo with the probe at substrate level (where the snake would be) to see what the difference is.
When I attached the thermostat probe (with thermo probe attached) to the heatmat (as instructed by the manufacturer) I found that the stat turned off the heatmat far more frequently (not suprisingly) and as a result the temprature at substrate level (where snakey would be) plummeted to under 26 degrees whilst the probe at mat level was reading in excess of 34 degrees. Therefore I have concluded that just 1/2" of substrate (aspen) could effect the temprature at substrate level as much as eight degrees.
Lifting the probes that were attached to eachother so they were at substrate level I was able to set the stat so it maintained a steady 27 degrees (at substrate level) whereas with both probes attached to the mat I was not.
Now I am confused.
I have been told the probe for the stat should be attached to the mat but I have found that doing it that way the result at substrate level was temps well below 25.
Personally I have found suspending the probe at substrate level to be most accurate.
So the question is cornys should be kept at a warm end temp of 27-30 degrees. Is that mat temprature or substrate level.
I am a tad confused lol
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| 20 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| SexyBear77 |
Posted - 31/01/2010 : 20:42:23
Tbh I don't think there is any need to put anything on top of a correctly statted heatmat, absolutely no harm can come to your snake by only have substrate over a mat. If you are worried about your snake getting underneath the mat then by all means weigh it down, but not much will stop a determined corn!
Though none of my snakes have EVER been seen underneath their mats. |
| dinner83 |
Posted - 31/01/2010 : 14:38:48
thats great thanks for all the help |
| n/a |
Posted - 31/01/2010 : 01:07:54
Yes lyno is best if inside. If the mat is under the glass as you said I would put the probes on the bottom of the viv i.e. on the glass.
I'd do this because i'd have little to no substrate inside the "hot spot hide". I prefer this as it'll be 27-30*C there. If they want to cool down they can go to the cool end hide. Whereas if you have substrate in there and heat the viv @ substrate level to 30*C, as already mentioned the temperature underneath will be many *C higher- where your corn snake will burrow at some point.
Basically save the substrate for the rest of the viv where she/he can burrow and you know it'll never be too hot. And if she/he needs warming up, they have an accurate warm spot hide of 27-30*C.
Of course there's always bulb heating!! HAHAHAHA! |
| HannahB |
Posted - 31/01/2010 : 00:25:27
in wooden vivs the best way to heat them is with a heat mat inside the viv, you can then put a piece of lino or similar over the top of it, iv got several sheets of newspaper on top of mine in the royals vivs but i will be getting some lino in at some point  |
| dinner83 |
Posted - 30/01/2010 : 23:53:52
ye i have one. i am planing on building a staked wood viv so what would be the best way of setting up heat mats in a wood viv |
| elament |
Posted - 30/01/2010 : 20:58:25
Have you got a thermometer you can use now, even if its a dial one dont trust that dial on the thermostat! |
| dinner83 |
Posted - 30/01/2010 : 20:42:56
thanks for the advice i will get it put in now and i have got a digital thermometer ordered hopefully will be here on mon fingers crossed. thanks again phil |
| elament |
Posted - 30/01/2010 : 20:23:48
ah right well if you have read this thread then you will know the hazzrds of having a heatmat inside the tank. If you do this you MUST make sure the snake cannot get underneath the mat. If you put the probe on top of the glass remember that aspen is a good insulator and the temp at substrate level will be quite a few degrees below what your stat is set for. Therefore your snake will have to burrow to get nearer the heat (which they will do they aint stupid). Whereas if you set the probe for your stat at substrate level I would imagine the heatmat would have to be chucking out quite a bit of heat to penetrate through a plate of glass and the aspen and still maintain a steady 27-30 degrees which is what corns need. Ideally (and I am no expert feel free to correct me guys/girls) the temp should be at 27-30 degrees c where your snake will sit to get warm so if your snake is on the substrate then it should be measured at substrate level.
Personally I would recomend that you get yourself a thermometer with a probe also and rubber band the two probes together so you can measure the temprature at the exact point where the probe for the stat is. Above all else to echo what has already been said on this thread NEVER trust the dial on your thermostat they very rarely do what you set em for. Whatever you do get that thermostat set up as soon as you can heating a viv with just a mat (unregulated) is not recommended |
| dinner83 |
Posted - 30/01/2010 : 19:08:21
i have just bought it because when i got the snakes of my sis there was just a heat mat, so havent put it in yet |
| elament |
Posted - 30/01/2010 : 18:55:37
where have you got it now dinner? |
| dinner83 |
Posted - 30/01/2010 : 13:37:34
i have a glass viv and my heat mat is under it not in it so where should i have my therm and stat probe, directly on the glass or on top of the aspen? or would it be better to move the mat inside the viv? |
| elament |
Posted - 30/01/2010 : 09:36:30
Thas a flippin brilliant idea GP why didnt i think of that? |
| gingerpony |
Posted - 30/01/2010 : 08:11:19
or an alternative is to rubber-band the probes together like i do.................. |
| n/a |
Posted - 28/01/2010 : 12:27:07
quote:
Originally posted by elament
I stand corrected gaz that is a good point some tapes can be harmful to snakes I used cable ties to attach the two probes together
Yes thats the best way.
EDIT: If you're intending to use cable ties ensure that when you cut off the waste end you round the edges. We wouldn't want to scratch poor snakey! |
| elament |
Posted - 27/01/2010 : 18:10:28
I stand corrected gaz that is a good point some tapes can be harmful to snakes I used cable ties to attach the two probes together |
| Gaz_1989 |
Posted - 27/01/2010 : 17:24:23
As far as i can gather, you have to be very careful using tape or adhesive of any type in the viv/faun.
Snakes can cause themselves alot of injury on it.
I think the best thing is to get a piece of standard vinyl flooring and use aquarium silicone.
Thanks
Gaz
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| elament |
Posted - 27/01/2010 : 16:45:19
I agree totally Gaz I have mine set up exactly like that now and I have been able to maintain a steady 28.5 all day. Colin is not a burrower so whats the sence in providing 28 degrees at the mat if he has to burrow for it? I am intending to adopt the vinyl tile method next week when I am in town but for now i am sticking with 28 at substrate level. One thing I would say is those of you that dont already have a digital thermometer with a probe...go get one. I previously relied on those round dial types (they were supplied with the vivs and I have found them to be up to two degrees inaccurate)) and a boots digital thermometer (which turned out to be fairly accurate although it read "air temp" and not substrate temp)
I have found (and its only my personal opinion) that by taping the thermometer and stat probs together you can attain far more accurate temp readings at the exact place your snake hides to thermoregulate. Its just my opinion I am sure we all do it a manner of ways but it works for me although I am going to tweak that a little when I get some vinyl tiles.
Incidently can you use vinyl on a roll the type that has a spongy underlay (worried it may burn or give off some kinda gas)as I have some of that already I can pinch. If not which type of tile is best to use?
Cheers
Steve
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| Gaz_1989 |
Posted - 27/01/2010 : 11:55:25
Also, as bengy says above, you could use a piece of vinyl flooring on top of the mat and then little or no substrate in the hide.
Then put your probe in the hide, on top of the matting.
And you are guaranteed to be reading from where the snake is lying.
Gaz |
| Gaz_1989 |
Posted - 27/01/2010 : 11:54:03
What you are basically saying is (if im correct) Is that the temp of the mat is higher than the temp of the substrate (1/2" higher).
This is pretty standard i would of thought, Aspen is a good insulator and will stop the heat coming through.
If your snake spends most of its time on the substrate in the hide then this is where your stat probe should be.
So its useles having the mat 30c if the snake is sitting 0.5 inch above it where it is 22c for example.
In answer to your last question (where should the 27c-30c be read from), i would suggest its taken from wherever your snake spends most of its time when in the hot end. My corn doesnt burrow so i put the probes on top of the substrate, which is where she will be lying.
Hope this helps
Gaz |
| elament |
Posted - 27/01/2010 : 11:09:02
yep ben its an on off stat I am intending to get pulse stats when I can afford them (need 2) The vinyl tile thing is a good idea i intend to do nexi week when i go down town to find some
cheers
steve
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