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Jacquie72
Egg
United Kingdom
63 Posts |
 Posted - 19/02/2014 : 12:34:06
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My little Lily (Columbian Rainbow Boa) is in 1.5ft viv with moist substrate, heat mat, thermostat, warm hide, cool hide, climbing wood, large bowl of water (on the warm side to encourage humidity) and some plastic vine for her to clamber around in. Now Lily seems fine, is very active and inquisitive. But I'm worried. I am trying really hard to get her temperature from 21 degrees C on the cool side and up to 30 degrees C on the warm side. The thing is the viv just isn't getting anywhere near warm enough, with the temp at the moment running at 17 degrees on BOTH sides of the viv. I know I must be doing something wrong. Can anyone help with this. Henry's enclosure is perfect, as is Rosie's (my Chilean Rose) and even Ella's (my Pokie) and my two tiny slings I got today.
Sorry for the length of the post, but I am worried. I would have posted on the Rainbow forum, but I've yet to be accepted so I can't. Thanks guys! I'm scared she'll get sick. Poor baby!  |
Animals need us to protect them and to love them. |
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smart bunny
Fully Grown Corn
United Kingdom
5091 Posts |
Posted - 19/02/2014 : 19:57:32
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| First off, do NOT feed her until you have got the temp up a bit, she'll be OK for a bit as long as she's not trying to digest. We need more info - what is the viv made of, is the mat inside or outside the viv (I'm assuming outside as otherwise there wouldn't likely be a problem). Have you tested the heat mat separately to make sure it is actually getting warm and isn't faulty? Test the thermostat as well (put a lamp in it and make sure it does turn on/off as you adjust the temperature setting). Where is your thermostat probe positioned? Are you using a digital thermometer and where is that probe? (Hopefully you are not using a dial one, these are rubbish). Also, CRB's want a hot spot of 28, and higher than that can be dangerous to them (care sheets regularly state 30 degs I know!). Both thermometer probe and thermostat probe should be together on top of the heat mat/base of the viv to measure the hottest possible spot. If a glass viv and you have the heat mat attached to the glass underneath, then add a layer of polystyrene under the mat to prevent losing heat that way. |
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Jacquie72
Egg
United Kingdom
63 Posts |
Posted - 19/02/2014 : 22:11:41
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quote:
Originally posted by smart bunny
First off, do NOT feed her until you have got the temp up a bit, she'll be OK for a bit as long as she's not trying to digest. We need more info - what is the viv made of, is the mat inside or outside the viv (I'm assuming outside as otherwise there wouldn't likely be a problem). Have you tested the heat mat separately to make sure it is actually getting warm and isn't faulty? Test the thermostat as well (put a lamp in it and make sure it does turn on/off as you adjust the temperature setting). Where is your thermostat probe positioned? Are you using a digital thermometer and where is that probe? (Hopefully you are not using a dial one, these are rubbish). Also, CRB's want a hot spot of 28, and higher than that can be dangerous to them (care sheets regularly state 30 degs I know!). Both thermometer probe and thermostat probe should be together on top of the heat mat/base of the viv to measure the hottest possible spot. If a glass viv and you have the heat mat attached to the glass underneath, then add a layer of polystyrene under the mat to prevent losing heat that way.
Ok. I wasn't going to feed her, as I know that it's too chilly for her to digest properly. I was sold a dial thermometer, but I bought a digital hygro/thermometer, one for each end. I've tested the mat and thermostat and raised the thermostat to just over the given temp, as it's sat outside the viv and under moist substrate. The viv is plastic, 8 inch high 1.5ft long 1ft across. The probes for the thermo and hygro/thermo are positioned against the substrate above the heat mat. |
Animals need us to protect them and to love them. |
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smart bunny
Fully Grown Corn
United Kingdom
5091 Posts |
Posted - 21/02/2014 : 17:13:49
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| Just read your escape thread so I hope you find her! There should be almost no substrate at all over the heat mat otherwise you could get thermal blocking, and the probes should be on the floor at the bottom of any substrate which is there as that will be the hottest point. What size is the heat mat? |
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Jacquie72
Egg
United Kingdom
63 Posts |
Posted - 22/02/2014 : 12:36:18
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quote:
Originally posted by smart bunny
Just read your escape thread so I hope you find her! There should be almost no substrate at all over the heat mat otherwise you could get thermal blocking, and the probes should be on the floor at the bottom of any substrate which is there as that will be the hottest point. What size is the heat mat?
I found her this morning! She went into a trap I set up for her and was stuffing her face on a fat rat pup I'd put in there. So at least her apetite is fine! I've rearranged the viv, taken out a fair amount of substrate and fixed the holes so she cannot escape again! The heat mat is about 8" x 6", placed up one end of the enclosure, probes are in the substrate and the temp is starting to rise. Once it's perfect, Lily will go back in. For now she's resting (well still trying to escape) in her holding box under my hot desk lamp, to aid her digestion. |
Animals need us to protect them and to love them. |
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smart bunny
Fully Grown Corn
United Kingdom
5091 Posts |
Posted - 22/02/2014 : 14:05:20
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| Awww that's great news :) |
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Jacquie72
Egg
United Kingdom
63 Posts |
Posted - 22/02/2014 : 20:56:09
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| The viv that I was sold I think may not be the best for an animal that requires high humidity and high(ish)temperatures. They sold me on of those tanks that have slits along the sides AND a grid like lid as opposed to a solid lid, so all the heat and humidity is escaping! So until next week I've decided to improvise (and hopefully the foil will also "foil" another escape from my little Lily Luna! I've duct tapes to the outside of the lid some tin foil which is already reaping me some reward in terms of increases in temperature and humidity. Come next week both snakes shall have to be rehoused at unnecessary expense, thanks to the pets shops NOT selling me the right vivs in the first place! Grrrrr! |
Animals need us to protect them and to love them. |
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smart bunny
Fully Grown Corn
United Kingdom
5091 Posts |
Posted - 23/02/2014 : 18:58:26
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| Oh no :( Don't worry, the faun will come in useful for your baby hognose lol!! We actually used a faun for our CRB at the start - but it was only the lid which was a grid, there were no slats in the side. We just used clingfilm to cover 75% of the lid and it kept the humidity in a treat :) |
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Quick question...
