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 I'm worried about the really hot bulb in my viv :(
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Leasha
Hatchling

Netherlands
246 Posts

Posted - 09/11/2012 :  19:11:57  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Helloo!
At the moment I have a bulb that just gives off heat (Forgot the English name sorry!) It gets REALLY REALLY HOT and I've put my hand against it a couple of times and got burnt/blistered quite badly. Today I bought a special vivarium bulb protector but that also gets REALLY hot.. My snake can't reach it at the moment but im really worried that she will get burnt. Some one help me please!

herriotfan
Fully Grown Corn

United Kingdom
5853 Posts

Posted - 09/11/2012 :  19:28:16  Show Profile  Click to see herriotfan's MSN Messenger address  Reply with Quote
Take it out!!
Even if she hasn't got heat until you can get a proper one she'll be ok.
You can wrap her housing in blankets for now or put her near a radiator to keep resonably warm.
What set up do you have regarding heating, thermostats, thermometres etc?
We will try to guide you to a good setup.....


Husband....Very Understanding!!! (Phil)
Son & Daughter (Kevin & Carol)
Granddaughter (Eva)
3.4.0 Cornsnakes Amel (Sidney) Caramel Stripe (Sultan) Amber (Cleo) Carolina (Phoebe) Anery Motley Stripe (Penny) Snow (Lily) Caramel (Holmes)
1.2.0 Royal Pythons(Peeps, Pandora & Pepsi)
1.0.0 Hognose (Hudson)
2.1.0 Dogs (Dillon, Alfie, Ellie)
0.1.0 Senegal Parrot (Peanut)
1.1.0 Bearded Dragons (Bonnie & Clyde)
1.0.0 Crested Geckos (Echo)
0.2.1 Hermanns Tortoises (Ebbie, Rosie & Twiglet)
0.1.0 Guinea Pig (Dolly-Pipsqueak)
0.1.9 Tarantulas (Poppy, Gypsy, Bumble, Insey Winsey, Sonic, Cookie, Raven, Fudge, Titch & Sox)
??? Foster animals
Location: Near Saffron Walden, Essex
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Isoldael
Yearling

Netherlands
999 Posts

Posted - 09/11/2012 :  19:29:36  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
You could get a slightly bigger heat bulb protector so that the mesh isn't as close to the bulb. Personally, I also use heat lamps, but my snakes know to stay away from them. Even when the light's off, they refuse to go near the bulb, so I think they get that it's a "bad" thing :). And yes, I know many people on this forum disagree with that, no need to bring that up again ^^

1.0 anery stripe (Nash)
1.0 hypo pewter (Loki)
1.0 bloodred het amel, charcoal, hypo, stripe 50% phet anery, lavender (Kasumi)
0.1 grey background normal het amel (Saphira)
0.1 tessera het amel, anery, stripe (Lilith)
0.1 amel (Aurora)
0.1 hypo bloodred het anery, charcoal, stripe 50% phet amel, lavender (Mara)
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LarkaDawg
Hatchling

442 Posts

Posted - 09/11/2012 :  20:04:02  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Is it on a thermostat? Being ceramic (I think this is what you mean) it needs either a dimming thermostat or a pulse thermostat. If you have one, then maybe the thermostat is dodgy, you should put it on full heat and check with a thermometer to see when it reaches the desired temperature. Then turn down the thermostat so that the bulb turns off, you can see with the l.e.d lights on the thermostat box. This way, it will maintain the correct temperature, even if it says that you have set it at '10 degrees C' for example.

Luck!
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Leasha
Hatchling

Netherlands
246 Posts

Posted - 09/11/2012 :  20:39:37  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
The temperature has been fine the whole time I've had her in this viv (Since mid august)
It is indeed a ceramic bulb. I cant fit anything bigger around it now and I've started to switch off the bulb at night. She's not tried to reach it at all yet but im just worried to wake up one day and find a melted snake or something :( I'm really stuck on what to do. The viv doesn't have the holes or whatever to fit a heat mat in.
I only have a thermometer at the moment and im not sure what a 'thermostat' is??? I'm thinking about covering the really hot metal part of the safety cap for the lightbulb in non burnable fabrics to stop the heat coming through...
I'm so stuck and getting really low on funds. The cover costed me 30euros today and it doesn't even work properly :( :( :(
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Thorne Walker
Yearling

Canada
642 Posts

Posted - 09/11/2012 :  20:47:09  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
What about sticking a mat on the bottom?

Both of my vivs (converted aquariums) are setup that way.

1.0.0 CB'11 Volcano Corn 'Kitty'
0.0.1 CB'11 Russian Rat Snake 'Monster'
2.0.0 CB'04 Roof Rabbits 'Baka Neko-San' and 'Usagi Neko-San'

My Setup :http://www.thecornsnake.co.uk/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=27228
The Kids: http://www.thecornsnake.co.uk/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=26248
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Leasha
Hatchling

Netherlands
246 Posts

Posted - 09/11/2012 :  21:11:40  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
I don't have any holes to put wires through..... :<
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Leasha
Hatchling

Netherlands
246 Posts

Posted - 09/11/2012 :  21:12:46  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Or you mean actually STANDING a viv on a mat???
I'm a bit nervous about mats.. im worried they get overheated and start a fire... :(
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Criminal Nails
Hatchling

Spain
275 Posts

Posted - 09/11/2012 :  21:22:59  Show Profile  Visit Criminal Nails's Homepage  Reply with Quote
But in this case I think a heat mat is really the best solution. You buy one of those and a thermostat to regulate the temperature and problem solved. It is rare that a heat mat will give you any trouble because they are made for this. Plus you'll have substrate on the "floor" of the viv, so it's very unlikely your snake will get hurt if you check the mat every day.

Criminal Nails .-
0.0.1 Ghost Corn (Discordia)
0.1.0 Vietnamese Blue Beauty (Furia)
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Auld Baldy
Ikea's Pimp

United Kingdom
1619 Posts

Posted - 09/11/2012 :  21:28:19  Show Profile  Visit Auld Baldy's Homepage  Reply with Quote
You must use a Pulse Thermostat and guard with a ceramic lamp. As you have found out both will get very hot.

Even if your snake cannot reach it at the moment, the ambient air temperature is uncontrolled and is probably far too hot for your Corn. The snake needs a temperature gradient (warm end to cool end) and that is not possible if the lamp is un-statted. Over heating can cause stress and put the snake off eating.

As an urgent priority, I would suggest that you fit a heat mat with a proper mat thermostat and a digital thermometer to monitor the temperature.

This is the cheaper option as a Pulse Stat is more expensive than a mat stat. I recommend the Habistat 100 watt model. You can try and get a credit on the guard and put it towards the proper equipment.


1.0.0: Miami Normal: Taggart
0.0.1: Carolina Normal: Wee Woody
0.0.1: Grey Rat Snake: Mirkey
0.0.1: Amel Corn: Blaze
1.0.0: Carpet Python: Vambo
0.0.1: MBK: Fester
0.0.1: Florida King Snake : Rattler (Rattle & Hum)
0.0.1. California King Snake: El Diablo Diego
0.2.0 Tarantulas : Ermintrude & Euphemia.
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Leasha
Hatchling

Netherlands
246 Posts

Posted - 09/11/2012 :  21:40:55  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Please may I have a link to a international online shop where they sell these things???
Are you sure it's ok to place the meat mat underneath and not in the viv?
Also my snake likes to sometimes hide under the substrate is this dangerous if the heat mat is under the viv or will se find it to hot and not go under? :0
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Auld Baldy
Ikea's Pimp

United Kingdom
1619 Posts

Posted - 09/11/2012 :  21:53:11  Show Profile  Visit Auld Baldy's Homepage  Reply with Quote
You could try Surrey Pet Supplies for international orders, but there should be a distributor in the Netherlands.

http://www.surreypetsupplies.co.uk/habistat-mat-stat-thermostat-100w.html

You can get the mat and thermostat here as well. Size will depend on the size of the aquarium base. As a guide the mat should cover about 1/3 of the base area.

I would be more concerned about using a bare ceramic lamp in a glass aquarium. The heat is more likely to crack the glass.

The mat is designed for heating enclosures. There is practically no risk as long as everything is set up properly, whether underneath the tank or inside the vivarium. The snake can lie on top of a statted mat with no fear of injury. The substrate will not be a fire risk either and the snake can burrow in it quite safely.


1.0.0: Miami Normal: Taggart
0.0.1: Carolina Normal: Wee Woody
0.0.1: Grey Rat Snake: Mirkey
0.0.1: Amel Corn: Blaze
1.0.0: Carpet Python: Vambo
0.0.1: MBK: Fester
0.0.1: Florida King Snake : Rattler (Rattle & Hum)
0.0.1. California King Snake: El Diablo Diego
0.2.0 Tarantulas : Ermintrude & Euphemia.

Edited by - Auld Baldy on 09/11/2012 21:56:39
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Auld Baldy
Ikea's Pimp

United Kingdom
1619 Posts

Posted - 09/11/2012 :  22:04:10  Show Profile  Visit Auld Baldy's Homepage  Reply with Quote
Leasha, how is the cable for the ceramic lamp fed into the aquarium? You 'might' be able to put the probes and wiring in the same way.

A photo of how things are set up might help us.


1.0.0: Miami Normal: Taggart
0.0.1: Carolina Normal: Wee Woody
0.0.1: Grey Rat Snake: Mirkey
0.0.1: Amel Corn: Blaze
1.0.0: Carpet Python: Vambo
0.0.1: MBK: Fester
0.0.1: Florida King Snake : Rattler (Rattle & Hum)
0.0.1. California King Snake: El Diablo Diego
0.2.0 Tarantulas : Ermintrude & Euphemia.
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Leasha
Hatchling

Netherlands
246 Posts

Posted - 10/11/2012 :  10:19:29  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Here are some photos... I switched off the viv last night and when I went to check this morning and it was 21*C.. Poor fluffy was all cold nd rolled up in a ball. I emmediatly switched the heating back on and warmed her up in my hands :(


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Leasha
Hatchling

Netherlands
246 Posts

Posted - 10/11/2012 :  10:24:09  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
I'm thinking about buying the ProRep Heat Mat 150x280mm (6x11in) 7W
Will this really warm up the viv to 25*C - 28*C ??
Does anyone have any experience with ProRep Heat mats?
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Thorne Walker
Yearling

Canada
642 Posts

Posted - 10/11/2012 :  14:42:11  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
I don't have any experience with ProRep stuff..

I'm using a set of exoterra mats, one 4w and one 8w.. (rainforest and desert)

The rainforest is under powered it peaks at 28c... the desert I've never let 'max out' but it never has any trouble keeping temp @ 28c.. even with the window open..

1.0.0 CB'11 Volcano Corn 'Kitty'
0.0.1 CB'11 Russian Rat Snake 'Monster'
2.0.0 CB'04 Roof Rabbits 'Baka Neko-San' and 'Usagi Neko-San'

My Setup :http://www.thecornsnake.co.uk/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=27228
The Kids: http://www.thecornsnake.co.uk/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=26248
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Leasha
Hatchling

Netherlands
246 Posts

Posted - 10/11/2012 :  15:30:25  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
I think I will be needing the desert ones because I have woodchip like substrate?
Will look into the Exo Terra mats.
Thanks!
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serena_08
Yearling

United Kingdom
784 Posts

Posted - 10/11/2012 :  15:54:13  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Whatever heat may you get, make sure you get a thermostat also, it will help maintain a temperature (25-29^) without having to worry about it. It may seem slightly expensive at first but they are worth every penny, (or cent, lol)

http://www.surreypetsupplies.co.uk/habistat-mat-stat-thermostat-100w.html

1.0.0 Corn: D-Bo (Amel)
1.0.0 Western Hognose: C*ntyB*ll*cks
0.1.0 MBK: Rosa
0.0.1 Leopard Gecko: Zuko
0.0.1 Bearded Dragon: Kobe
0.0.1 Fire Bellied Toad: Snoop
1.1.0 Cats: Penny and Sheldon
1.0.0 Staffy: MooMoo


I intend to live forever. So far, so good.
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Leasha
Hatchling

Netherlands
246 Posts

Posted - 10/11/2012 :  16:38:39  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Will definitly get the thermo and mat :0
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Thorne Walker
Yearling

Canada
642 Posts

Posted - 10/11/2012 :  16:57:49  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
+1 to the stat.. the rain forest mat I have has never managed to go over 28c so I don't stress about it.. the Desert needs a stat.. otherwise it gets way too hot for a cornsnake

Both of my boys are on Aspen... the stat probe is actually stuck on the outside of the viv taped to the centre of the heat mat on the bottom.

My thermometer is battery operated so I don't have any wires and such going from outside to in.

1.0.0 CB'11 Volcano Corn 'Kitty'
0.0.1 CB'11 Russian Rat Snake 'Monster'
2.0.0 CB'04 Roof Rabbits 'Baka Neko-San' and 'Usagi Neko-San'

My Setup :http://www.thecornsnake.co.uk/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=27228
The Kids: http://www.thecornsnake.co.uk/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=26248
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Leasha
Hatchling

Netherlands
246 Posts

Posted - 11/11/2012 :  07:14:22  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
I have ordered the dessert mat and the stat :)
Does anyone know of a heat bulb that doesnt get REAL hot but still gives off some heat? :0
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