| Author |
 Topic  |
|
|
nolan1977
Snake Mite
United Kingdom
3 Posts |
 Posted - 20/02/2014 : 15:27:49
|
Hi,
I am moving my corn into her new viv from a small faunarium. I am going to use a heat mat and was wondering if I need to cover the heat mat with a piece of plyboard to avoiding her getting burns.
Do I then cover the heat mat with substrate
Also I have a question about lighting. My other half doesnt really like my spiders or snake so I have to keep them in the unused coat cupboard for now. There is no natural light. Would I need to add a light source in the viv or is this just more for my benefit than the snake
Thanks |
|
|
SilverWings
Yearling
United Kingdom
740 Posts |
Posted - 20/02/2014 : 15:55:30
|
You shouldn't need to cover the heat mat, as the thermostat will stop the mat getting too hot and the snake won't get burnt. Cover it with about a centimeter of substrate.
If there is no natural light I would definitely add a light, maybe consider a full spectrum bulb to mimic the sunlight and have it on a timer to simulate the night/day cycle. |
2.2.3 Corn snakes; Red, Rosie, Liana, Checkers, Luna, Diego, Snowman
1.0 Taiwanese Beauty Snake; Aleron
1.0 Green Anoles; Doug
1.0 Greyhound; Lee |
 |
|
|
Kellog
the nice one
United Kingdom
7308 Posts |
Posted - 20/02/2014 : 23:22:11
|
Silverwings is right, Nolan. You don't need to cover the heatmat except with a sprinkling of substrate. Some of us do, I have vinyl slate tiles over mine but that's a personal choice. What's most important is that the mat is controlled by a thermostat with its probe lying flat on the mat, and monitored by a digital thermometer with its probe lying in the same place.
As for light it is normally for our benefit rather than our snakes but your circumstances are a bit different. If the viv is in a cupboard then I would recommend a light to replicate day/night. Lots of us use the Ikea Dioder LED strip lights - http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/00119419/ My viv lights are on timers. They go on at 7am and off at 10pm.
Hope that helps and you manage to move your snake and spiders out of the cupboard soon  .
Xxx
|
  
   |
|
|
|
nolan1977
Snake Mite
United Kingdom
3 Posts |
Posted - 21/02/2014 : 08:50:35
|
To make up for there being no natural light in the cupboard could I add a full spectrum bulb in the main fitting in the ceiling?
Or would it be better to use the bulb in a lamp with a clip and connect that to a timer?
Should the heat mat cover half the surface area of the viv or not? |
|
|
|
gmac
The Scottish Admin
United Kingdom
5319 Posts |
Posted - 21/02/2014 : 10:15:36
|
| Full spectrum would be useless on the ceiling the uv wouldn't reach the snake. I'm not really a massive fan of keeping snakes in cupboards but normal bulb would do. If it worries you you could use a 2% uv in the viv won't do any harm during the daytime |
 |
|
|
|
smart bunny
Fully Grown Corn
United Kingdom
5091 Posts |
Posted - 21/02/2014 : 17:19:32
|
| Don't forget any bulbs will need to have a guard around them, and you'll also have to consider airflow for the snake if in a cupboard. |
       |
|
|
|
Kellog
the nice one
United Kingdom
7308 Posts |
Posted - 22/02/2014 : 09:44:28
|
Gmac to the rescue . And Smartbunny has made 2 very good points about the bulb needing a guard and ensuring there is enough airflow in the cupboard.
You asked about what surface area of the viv the mat should cover. We advise one-third and no more than half.
Xxx
|
|
|
|
|
nolan1977
Snake Mite
United Kingdom
3 Posts |
Posted - 23/02/2014 : 19:38:07
|
| Thanks you all for the advice |
|
|
|
Kellog
the nice one
United Kingdom
7308 Posts |
Posted - 24/02/2014 : 08:24:09
|
Advice is what we're here for, or I'd be out of a 'job' .
Xxx
|
|
|
|
| |
Topic |
|
heat mat help
