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LarkaDawg
Hatchling
442 Posts |
 Posted - 05/12/2011 : 22:01:45
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Really freaked out.
Pan's set up is this:
With a heat mat (1/2 faun) and thermostat which is a microclimate brand, on/off heat mat stat. I've had it since August and it's always been dodgy. Fluxuating by up to 10F either way (usually up)! I've only had it happen once before and it reached 91F as a pose to the set 85F.
Over on RFUK, there was a thread on stats and I mentioned mine, someone told me that I should get it replaced/that it was bad. Due to this, yesterday and today I've been nervously checking the temp on my digital thermometer and it's been okay- as it is most of the time.
HOWEVER, just now I checked it and saw this:
Now I'm not sure at what temps corns can live at (I've heard rumors on down to 2 degrees celcius) but as this is just slightly above 85, I pulled the stat out of the wall and unplugged the heat mat. Checking on my snake, he was hot to touch and not very lively, the base of the plastic faunarius was very hot and the heat mat was hotter. I freaked out, thoughts of the stories of bad temperatures and dead corns are milling around my head.
He is now in his faun, inside my other corn's viv. It's definately not ideal but that was the only spare thermostat I have and because my corn is a chunky monkey, she doesn't use the space often. No excuse, but I really don't have anywhere else to put him 
My mom is going back to PAH tomorrow morning to ask for a replacement, or to buy me a new one.
The offending kit, with temp clearly set at 84-ish F.
And his temperary home:
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adamasrc
Hatchling
United Kingdom
255 Posts |
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scottishbluebird
it is all my fault
United Kingdom
8403 Posts |
Posted - 05/12/2011 : 22:07:27
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| Was your snake ok? |
     
0.1.0 Corn - Kellogs
1.0.0 Hognose - Storm
0.1.0 Staffy - Lyla
1.0.0 Spaffy(staffy x springer)-Spyro
1.0.0 Ferret - Peanut R.I.P
0.1.0 Crestie - Fudge. Wish List - Pygmy hedgehog. Tropiocolotes |
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Simmy_82
Sub Adult
United Kingdom
1272 Posts |
Posted - 05/12/2011 : 22:10:11
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| The thing with stats is they aren't accurate. My stat is set at 26*C but the temp in the faun is 28-29*C. It's probably best to turn the stat down. And use the thermometer to get temp correct. You will always get a couple of degrees fluctuation. Mine fluctuates 1-2*C. |
 
0.1.0 - Cat - Tallulah
0.0.1 - Carolina Corn Snake - Lilith |
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LarkaDawg
Hatchling
442 Posts |
Posted - 05/12/2011 : 22:10:14
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| Pan's okay I think. He was milling around the faun inside the viv, so I assume I caught it in time :S I'll be watching him over the next few days, I hope he'll be okay |
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Casta
Hatchling
United Kingdom
335 Posts |
Posted - 05/12/2011 : 22:20:06
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| you can get a habistat basic mat stat they're very simple but i've yet to have problems. a bit of tweaking later and sorted. got a faun and a rub sharing it at the moment. hope he's ok. |
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nickyff
Yearling
507 Posts |
Posted - 05/12/2011 : 22:49:37
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that's the same stat that i have. - I posted on here a while back, fretting about how much it fluctuates for no apparent reason.. mine still ranges by about 4-5 degrees celcius away from where it should be, but not as much as yours did- its definitely goosed from the looks of things. from what I was told when i was worried about mine, snakey is better off too cool than too hot.. if he/she is dehydrated you can help him/her by putting a bit of an isotonic sports drink in his water bowl.. does exactly the same as reptoboost at a fraction of the price.
I hope Pan hasn't suffered too much- best of luck. nicky |
and you thought there was no such thing as a stupid question....
1.2.0 corns: captain haddock, sharon the tiddler and Darling Debbie. plus 0.2.0 cali kings: spot and Numpty... not forgetting the delightful Miss Lovely-Gonzalez-La-Poop apricot pueblan milk snake, and we all miss the Lodger who thought he was a cobra....
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lotabob
Fully Grown Corn
United Kingdom
4334 Posts |
Posted - 05/12/2011 : 23:16:20
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| Probe placement is probably the reason for weird temperature readings. The stat and thermometer probes should be fastened together and then fastened securely as close to the mat as the snake can get (in a faun on the bottom of the faun, in a viv stuck to the mat), both probes should be flat down to the surface so the thermometer probe doesn't end up holding up the stat probe and vice versa. I use hot glue to stick everything in place, it is non toxic and hardens to plastic once it cools (the heat hat could never re-melt it). Without the snake in, have another go at setting up the faun, temporarily use a bit of masking tape to hold the probes down, cover with substrate to cut out air temp interference and I'm sure that you'll get better results. If its still wildly fluctuating then its faulty but if its just probe placement you'll just have the same problem no matter how many you try. |
Anery Corn snake SPOT. Royal Python, DUKE. Hogg Island Boa, SANKE. Albino House Snake, HAL.
Harlequin Crested Gecko HARLEY
Albino Horned Frog WAKA
Chilean Rose Tarantula TRIXIE. Brazilian Salmon Pink Bird-eating Tarantula SAM. Orange Baboon Tarantula BORIS.
Giant Asian Forest Scorpion, SALLY.
Giant African Land Snails, SHELDON & MICHELLE.
Budwing Mantis, MAIA
Dubia Roach Colony. Silkworm Colony. Mealworm Colony. Waxworm Colony. Fruit Beetle Colony.
MY YOUTUBE CHANNEL http://www.youtube.com/user/alocheeky |
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Laws
Yearling
United Kingdom
935 Posts |
Posted - 06/12/2011 : 01:07:19
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| ive tired both habistat and microclimate and i have to say habistat is my prefered , seems to hold temps without too much fluctuation compared to the microclimate that really did fluctuate by 5 or so degree's . as bob says check ur probe placements as that can have a big difference . hope pans ok |
www.facebook.com/Thehogbox
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a33272
our battery charger
United Kingdom
3063 Posts |
Posted - 06/12/2011 : 01:31:02
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| if ya using a faun i wouldnt even put the stat probe in it id leave it outside the faun but on the mat, then have thermometer probe in faun on bottom that way the stat probe cant be moved by snake so will always be monitoring mat temp, where as if it was inside snake could move it can cause stat to go haywire |
    
0.1.0 creamsicle corn-Marmalade
1.0.0 jungle carpet python-Bumble
1.0.0 corn Casper
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LarkaDawg
Hatchling
442 Posts |
Posted - 06/12/2011 : 07:07:41
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| Thanks for your replies guys. On stat placement, I had it placed on the plastic bottom inside the tank, covered in aspen on the wire and lightly over the end to secure it in place. Should I be placing the probe outside the tank on the mat? And I think we still have warranty on the stat so I'll hopefully get it replaced. If that again is dodgy, then I'll head over to habistats. |
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Simmy_82
Sub Adult
United Kingdom
1272 Posts |
Posted - 06/12/2011 : 07:25:04
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| Try it that way and see what happens. Also try adjusting the stat a little. The temp it's set at isn't always the temp it'll put out. Like I said earlier. Mine is juliet just over 26*C put thermometer is reading 28.2*C. I have both probes in my faun (same as you). Only difference is my mat stat the the Habistat one. |
0.1.0 - Cat - Tallulah
0.0.1 - Carolina Corn Snake - Lilith |
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a33272
our battery charger
United Kingdom
3063 Posts |
Posted - 06/12/2011 : 11:35:33
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with the probe outside on the mat it eliminates any disruption to the probe placement causing the temp issues u have. if with the probe on the mat ya still seeing really bad temp veriations then you got a stat issue.
u still monitor the temp from inside the faun but u need to secure the probe to the base for the best readings as if its moved about by snake u will get mixed readings |
0.1.0 creamsicle corn-Marmalade
1.0.0 jungle carpet python-Bumble
1.0.0 corn Casper
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LarkaDawg
Hatchling
442 Posts |
Posted - 07/12/2011 : 10:53:03
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I've got a new stat now- its the 300 version, apparently recommended by the woman in the store. Not sure on whether its necessary, but its a stat and it works  It's running on its own for a day or two to make sure the temps are correct before I put Pan back with it.
This time the probe will be attached to the mat (outside the faun) with the digital thermometer inside.
Thanks to all posts and advice, I'm glad I've got this sorted out and hope it will never happen again *touch wood*. |
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bricktop
Snake Mite
12 Posts |
Posted - 07/12/2011 : 19:06:01
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| fingers crossed, but i`m sure it will be fine now! |
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a33272
our battery charger
United Kingdom
3063 Posts |
Posted - 07/12/2011 : 21:18:54
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| the 300 is identical in how it works to the 100. just capable of powering more wattage |
0.1.0 creamsicle corn-Marmalade
1.0.0 jungle carpet python-Bumble
1.0.0 corn Casper
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lotabob
Fully Grown Corn
United Kingdom
4334 Posts |
Posted - 08/12/2011 : 00:28:25
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| I just noticed you are using a weather thermometer too, I wouldn't see that been as accurate as required, what sort of probe does it have on the end of that LONG wire. |
Anery Corn snake SPOT. Royal Python, DUKE. Hogg Island Boa, SANKE. Albino House Snake, HAL.
Harlequin Crested Gecko HARLEY
Albino Horned Frog WAKA
Chilean Rose Tarantula TRIXIE. Brazilian Salmon Pink Bird-eating Tarantula SAM. Orange Baboon Tarantula BORIS.
Giant Asian Forest Scorpion, SALLY.
Giant African Land Snails, SHELDON & MICHELLE.
Budwing Mantis, MAIA
Dubia Roach Colony. Silkworm Colony. Mealworm Colony. Waxworm Colony. Fruit Beetle Colony.
MY YOUTUBE CHANNEL http://www.youtube.com/user/alocheeky |
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LarkaDawg
Hatchling
442 Posts |
Posted - 08/12/2011 : 12:53:57
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quote:
Originally posted by lotabob
I just noticed you are using a weather thermometer too, I wouldn't see that been as accurate as required, what sort of probe does it have on the end of that LONG wire.
Hmm it looks like this: 
The end bit, not the actual reading bit. It feels ceramic almost. Is this a big problem? I have two others for my other two vivs, a yellow ZooMed one and a REPTILAND black one with a metal end.
Should I be converting to one similar to my others? |
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a33272
our battery charger
United Kingdom
3063 Posts |
Posted - 08/12/2011 : 14:16:28
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| i cant see it will be that in accurate TBH. even differant makes of these thermometers can give a varied mixture of reading anyways, weve tryed it before an even 2 of the same make can give differant readings |
0.1.0 creamsicle corn-Marmalade
1.0.0 jungle carpet python-Bumble
1.0.0 corn Casper
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Bad thermostat!
