| Author |
 Topic  |
|
m00sifer
Snake Mite
11 Posts |
 Posted - 21/03/2014 : 11:56:06
|
I am thinking about replacing my snake's heat mat with a bulb, also considering adding a light bulb because her vivarium is quite dark. If I did this would I need two separate bulbs, one for heat and one for light? Because I'm assuming the heat one would need to be on all the time like a heat mat, but the light would need to go off at night.
Any advice would be appreciated, I have only ever used heat mats in the past so don't know where to begin! |
|
|
Boomslang
Hatchling
United Kingdom
340 Posts |
Posted - 21/03/2014 : 16:26:40
|
| what type of viv is it?Could use a ceramic bulb for heat.Just use LED's for the lighting :) white python leds are pretty good,or there's other cheaper sets around. |
1.0.0 pinstripe Royal Python
1.0.0 Bumblebee Royal Python
1.0.0 Normal corn
1.0.0 Extreme red Hognose
0.1.0 Extreme red tiger Hognose
1.1.0 yemen chameleons
1.0.0 Piebald yemen
1.0.0 Tamatave panther
1.0.0 Quadricornis
2.1.0 pygmy chameleons
 |
 |
|
|
m00sifer
Snake Mite
11 Posts |
Posted - 21/03/2014 : 16:45:55
|
| It's a 3ft wooden viv, Vivexotic one. The heat mat keeps it warm enough but I think a bulb or ceramic might be safer? |
|
|
|
Donnie
Fully Grown Corn
United Kingdom
3215 Posts |
Posted - 21/03/2014 : 18:49:27
|
| Safer in what way? |
1.1 Corns (Anery Stripe, Amel) 1.0 Rootbeer 0.2 Jungle Carpet Python 1.0 Zebra Jungle Carpet Python 1.0 50% Diamond Zebra Carpet Python |
|
|
|
eeji
The Morph Master
United Kingdom
4335 Posts |
|
|
m00sifer
Snake Mite
11 Posts |
Posted - 22/03/2014 : 06:59:13
|
| Yes the mat is on a thermostat but I've heard a few reports of mats malfunctioning if water/poo gets on them, maybe I'm just worrying too much! It is stuck down with aquarium sealant so hopefully any liquid wouldn't seep into the mat. |
|
|
|
Boomslang
Hatchling
United Kingdom
340 Posts |
Posted - 22/03/2014 : 14:58:51
|
| I prefer overhead heating,but do use mats under my glass tanks.Or for rubs etc,Nothing stopping you from lighting the viv.You can do that cheap :) |
1.0.0 pinstripe Royal Python
1.0.0 Bumblebee Royal Python
1.0.0 Normal corn
1.0.0 Extreme red Hognose
0.1.0 Extreme red tiger Hognose
1.1.0 yemen chameleons
1.0.0 Piebald yemen
1.0.0 Tamatave panther
1.0.0 Quadricornis
2.1.0 pygmy chameleons
|
|
|
|
Kellog
the nice one
United Kingdom
7308 Posts |
Posted - 23/03/2014 : 06:47:29
|
I know there can be issues with mats but that's usually when they aren't controlled by a thermostat. They are my preference and I have them in all my vivs, all monitored by digital thermometers which are vital so you can spot any changes in temp quickly.
As for lighting I use the Ikea Dioder LED strip lights, which are cheap and look really good.
Whether you decide to stick with your mat or change to ceramic is down to you, there's no right or wrong. One of those areas in corn keeping that's down to personal choice  . But, as Eeji has said, if you do go with a bulb make 100% sure that it is well guarded. It's amazing how acrobatic our corns are and it may seem up reachable but that's not a guarantee and not worth the risk.
Xxx
|
  
   |
|
|
|
m00sifer
Snake Mite
11 Posts |
Posted - 23/03/2014 : 09:05:18
|
| Thanks for the advice everyone :-) if I were to use the LED strips would it still be possible to use a timer to switch them off at night? |
|
|
|
Donnie
Fully Grown Corn
United Kingdom
3215 Posts |
Posted - 23/03/2014 : 10:43:15
|
| I don't see any problems using a timer with most LED's but I would double check when you go to buy them just incase they have a fancy switch on them (ikea ones will be fine from what I remember they have a normal switch) |
1.1 Corns (Anery Stripe, Amel) 1.0 Rootbeer 0.2 Jungle Carpet Python 1.0 Zebra Jungle Carpet Python 1.0 50% Diamond Zebra Carpet Python |
|
|
|
Kellog
the nice one
United Kingdom
7308 Posts |
Posted - 24/03/2014 : 06:56:04
|
All my vivs have the Ikea strip lights - http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/00119419/ The 3' vivs have 2 strips each and I was really pleased how 'soft' the light was in comparison to the bulbs they used to have. I have 2 timers, 1 controlling 2 vivs and the other 3 vivs. They come on at 7am and off at 10pm. Works well and looks good .
Xxx
|
|
|
|
|
G7ACU
Snake Mite
United Kingdom
19 Posts |
Posted - 12/04/2014 : 10:23:09
|
I use the strip LED's from Ikea, which are an absolute bargain and great for £11. Fitting is ideal for a 3ft viv, the strip comes in three sections and you can use just one length, two or all three to suit your viv size (so good for 2ft viv and expandable when you upgrade viv too). Practically zero heat output, excellent soft light output.
Works with no problem on time switch.
Link here: http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/90192071/ |
Paul |
|
|
|
Redware
Hatchling
United Kingdom
412 Posts |
Posted - 12/04/2014 : 10:43:52
|
I personally use these for lighting.
http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/70119425/
LEDs again so not to much heat, I attached one to the ceiling of each viv. Each light can be detached from the main junction so you can light 1 to 4 vivs off the unit and add or take off what you do or don't need so there is no waste of elec. Light is good and isn't the harsh light that some LEDs give.
Hope it adds to the ideas! |
    
Corns: 1.2.0 Caramel Tessera Het Stripe ph lots (Oak) Caramel (Willow) Caramel Stripe Het Amel (Juniper)
Royals: 1:1:0 Lesser Pastel (Bismuth) Cinna Spin (Indium) |
|
|
|
Bertie
Egg
United Kingdom
62 Posts |
Posted - 23/06/2014 : 18:29:41
|
| I use a bulb and as yet don't have a guard over it. Please don't shout at me but I assumed the guard would heat up just the same since its made of metal...... |
0.1.0 CB 2013 Carolina c[URL=http://s1258.photobucket.com/user/bertie_beemer/media/7c0543bd-67a1-4dd6-8f7f-d9a22eb143b0_zps7ad92e8d.jpg.html] [/URL]orn (Stanlee) |
|
|
|
mrmagicpants
Snake Mite
United Kingdom
42 Posts |
Posted - 23/06/2014 : 19:57:38
|
Don't think you'll be shouted at Bertie. We all make mistakes, learn from them and pick up tips as we go.
I'll say now before anyone else. Get a guard asap. I've seen some articles with pictures of burnt snakes.
The long and short of it is, your snake is cold blooded so doesn't feel heat the way we do. They wont know that something is too hot and move. |
|
|
|
Moppet
Fully Grown Corn
United Kingdom
3315 Posts |
Posted - 23/06/2014 : 20:23:37
|
Bertie - People on here won't shout at you, it's a place to share information to improve corn snake keeping skills. There's always more to learn.
A guard for a bulb stops a snake being able to wrap itself around the bulb itself (which can be VERY hot). The metal guard may heat up a little but because it is a distance from the bulb it will be a lot less hot than the bulb. A much safer level of heat.
I would strongly recommend getting a guard for your bulb as mrmagicpants is right, snakes can burn themselves quite badly before they'll move. However, as eeji said, there have been cases of people using guards which a snake can get inside, this can be as bad as not having a guard (if not worse) as the snake is then stuck next to the hottest part.
Personally I use a heat mat with stat as I prefer that to the hassle of a bulb and guard (with fittings etc) but lots of people do successfully use bulbs |
2.4.0 Corn snakes
1.0.0 horse
0.1.0 Golden retriever
1.4.0 Guinea pigs |
Edited by - Moppet on 23/06/2014 20:26:01 |
|
|
|
Bertie
Egg
United Kingdom
62 Posts |
Posted - 23/06/2014 : 23:29:13
|
thanks mrmagicpants and moppet, i'll get on it right away ! ( ebay that is ,not the bulb!lol)
Moppet I only have the lamp as that's how my set-up came. Read the posts about gaps at top of guard, i'll get my hubby to secure it tight to the top. I'm besotted with the wee dude and don't want him coming to any harm if its something I could've prevented :)
thanks again :) |
0.1.0 CB 2013 Carolina c[URL=http://s1258.photobucket.com/user/bertie_beemer/media/7c0543bd-67a1-4dd6-8f7f-d9a22eb143b0_zps7ad92e8d.jpg.html][/URL]orn (Stanlee) |
|
|
|
Bertie
Egg
United Kingdom
62 Posts |
Posted - 25/06/2014 : 10:44:00
|
Stanlee wont leave his new light guard alone !
cant get picture to upload!
hope this works  |
0.1.0 CB 2013 Carolina c[URL=http://s1258.photobucket.com/user/bertie_beemer/media/7c0543bd-67a1-4dd6-8f7f-d9a22eb143b0_zps7ad92e8d.jpg.html][/URL]orn (Stanlee) |
Edited by - Kellog on 25/06/2014 11:07:52 |
|
|
|
Bertie
Egg
United Kingdom
62 Posts |
Posted - 25/06/2014 : 10:58:21
|
| WOOP WOOP GO ME !! LOL |
0.1.0 CB 2013 Carolina c[URL=http://s1258.photobucket.com/user/bertie_beemer/media/7c0543bd-67a1-4dd6-8f7f-d9a22eb143b0_zps7ad92e8d.jpg.html][/URL]orn (Stanlee) |
|
|
|
Kellog
the nice one
United Kingdom
7308 Posts |
Posted - 25/06/2014 : 11:12:07
|
It's a new thing for him to explore . Also you'll find that our corn snakes like to worry us  .
I'm so glad that you've got a guard on the bulb now. Can you imagine Stanlee wrapped around the bulb like that  ? Sorry if I've missed this in any of your other posts but I'm assuming that the bulb is connected to a thermostat, with the probe on the floor the viv, and you have a digital thermometer monitoring the temperature?
Xxx
|
|
|
|
|
Bertie
Egg
United Kingdom
62 Posts |
Posted - 25/06/2014 : 11:39:13
|
Digital thermostat and hygrometer has literally just arrived in the post
As for bulb being hooked up to thermostat ...no, not yet. Will get on it right away. Stupidly thought it was ok as I had a thermometer in there already.So what am I looking for now then? a digital thermostat with a probe? This digital thermostat and hygrometer doesn't have a probe.....advice please |
0.1.0 CB 2013 Carolina c[URL=http://s1258.photobucket.com/user/bertie_beemer/media/7c0543bd-67a1-4dd6-8f7f-d9a22eb143b0_zps7ad92e8d.jpg.html][/URL]orn (Stanlee) |
|
|
|
Topic |
|
Heat bulb advice?
