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 Heat Mat in Wooden Viv
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Gaz_1989
Yearling

United Kingdom
931 Posts

Posted - 18/01/2010 :  12:59:04  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
At the moment Stella is in a faun so heat mat is under the plastic faunarium.

Im getting her a viv next month and ive read loads of different ways to hold the heat mat down, as im aware its dangerous if the corn gets under the heat mat.

Using a piece of lino the size of the viv and silicone it down.

Use a 12" x 12" Lino Tile and silicone that over the mat.

Use a piece of slate to hold the heat mat down.

Just use the hide to keep the mat down.

Silicone the mat straight down to the wood.

What is the best method and what does everyone else do?

Thanks

Gaz

0.0.1 CB15 Amel Corn - Billy
1.0.0 CB16 Brazilian Rainbow Boa - Hunter

DannyBrown91
Fully Grown Corn

United Kingdom
3070 Posts

Posted - 18/01/2010 :  13:10:04  Show Profile  Click to see DannyBrown91's MSN Messenger address  Reply with Quote
I personally havn't got a viv yet but i believe the best/ easiest way is to probably to lino the who bottom of the viv with the heat mat under and put a bit of sealant around the edge. I certainly wouldnt just secure it down with the hide as the snake could still get under the heat mat and be ontop of the heat mat, and as for slate where have you heard that? Surely this dosn't work...

0.0.1 Ghost Corn - Casper
0.0.1 Diffused Corn - Reggie
0.0.1 Amel Corn - Candy A.K.A Baby
1.0 Commom BCI - Rocky

0.1 Japanese Akita - Sasha

Location: Liverpool
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Gaz_1989
Yearling

United Kingdom
931 Posts

Posted - 18/01/2010 :  13:15:56  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
I read it on here somehwere, putting a slate over the heatmat, the slate would absorb the heat and become a warm surface.

Im not sure that they all work, they are just options that i have read.

Thanks

Gaz

0.0.1 CB15 Amel Corn - Billy
1.0.0 CB16 Brazilian Rainbow Boa - Hunter
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Gaz_1989
Yearling

United Kingdom
931 Posts

Posted - 18/01/2010 :  14:18:43  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
If the general idea is Lino, is it best to cover the whole bottom of the viv? So 36" x 18" with slicone around the edge?

Where can you get lino from? Is it the same as vinyl flooring?

Thanks

Gaz

0.0.1 CB15 Amel Corn - Billy
1.0.0 CB16 Brazilian Rainbow Boa - Hunter
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n/a
deleted

915 Posts

Posted - 18/01/2010 :  14:24:12  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
i am really not sure about best way to secure heat matts as i don't use one but, why not give a ceramic heat bulb a try, all you have to worry about then is getting a guard to put over it, then there is no way Stella can hurt herself

0.1.0 Snow Corn Snake - Tof
1.0.0 Stripe Cali King - Su'tey
1.0.0 Staffordshire Bull Terrier x Rottweiler - Twix
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Gaz_1989
Yearling

United Kingdom
931 Posts

Posted - 18/01/2010 :  14:26:50  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Corn snakes absorb heat from there underneaths though?

From a hot surface? Not from basking or from ambient temp, so ive never considered a bulb for heating.

Is this what you use?

Thanks

Gaz

0.0.1 CB15 Amel Corn - Billy
1.0.0 CB16 Brazilian Rainbow Boa - Hunter
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devilsmistress
Yearling

United Kingdom
829 Posts

Posted - 18/01/2010 :  14:27:50  Show Profile  Click to see devilsmistress's MSN Messenger address  Send devilsmistress a Yahoo! Message  Reply with Quote
Corns really are better off on a heat mat as they absorb heat through there bellys. Any of the above methods would work, silcone is the best stuff to use but make sure it is aquarium selent, the other stuff I have heard can me toxic to snakes.

I think when i go up to wodden viv's Im going to use the lino method, easy to wipe clean!!
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DannyBrown91
Fully Grown Corn

United Kingdom
3070 Posts

Posted - 18/01/2010 :  14:35:26  Show Profile  Click to see DannyBrown91's MSN Messenger address  Reply with Quote
quote:
Originally posted by DannyBrown91

quote:
Originally posted by Gaz_1989

Corn snakes absorb heat from there underneaths though?

From a hot surface? Not from basking or from ambient temp, so ive never considered a bulb for heating.

Is this what you use?

Thanks

Gaz



I wouldn't use a bulb as i read that snakes conduct their heat from the surfaces they touch and not the ambient temperature.

As for the lino, it is basically what you might use on your kitchen or bathroom floor me thinks. Fairly thin so the heat comes through it nice and its also waterproof.

Actually second thoughts is i would just get a square big enough to cover the heat mat itself. if you use a 11" x 11" heat mat and your viv is 36 x 18 i would probably get a cut off which is 12 x 18, so you can silicone it around the sides of the viv. You cna pick lino up pretty cheap i think especially a piece that sort of size. I imagine it would only cost a few pound from a supplier.

Do you know if places such as B&Q and Homebase sell Lino?


0.0.1 Ghost Corn - Casper
0.0.1 Diffused Corn - Reggie
0.0.1 Amel Corn - Candy A.K.A Baby
1.0 Commom BCI - Rocky

0.1 Japanese Akita - Sasha

Location: Liverpool
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Gaz_1989
Yearling

United Kingdom
931 Posts

Posted - 18/01/2010 :  14:36:51  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Thanks for the replies.

Would an 11" x 11" heat mat be okay for a 36" x 18" viv?

And i think thats what i will do yes, just put lino over the heat mat, obviously with a few inches overlapping and silicone down.

Thanks

Gaz

0.0.1 CB15 Amel Corn - Billy
1.0.0 CB16 Brazilian Rainbow Boa - Hunter
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n/a
deleted

915 Posts

Posted - 18/01/2010 :  14:59:43  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Gaz_1989

Corn snakes absorb heat from there underneaths though?

From a hot surface? Not from basking or from ambient temp, so ive never considered a bulb for heating.

Is this what you use?

Thanks

Gaz



yes i use a ceramic, my snake seems to pick up heat pefectly this way

0.1.0 Snow Corn Snake - Tof
1.0.0 Stripe Cali King - Su'tey
1.0.0 Staffordshire Bull Terrier x Rottweiler - Twix
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n/a
deleted

37 Posts

Posted - 18/01/2010 :  15:21:45  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
think the lino sounds the best idea, but why a few inches over lappiing? and do u mean so it would make likea step pattern, am looking to get a stackable viv for when my 2 are out of their fauns and didnt know u needed to secure the mat down x
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reptiledanny
Sub Adult

United Kingdom
1809 Posts

Posted - 18/01/2010 :  15:58:49  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Gaz_1989

Thanks for the replies.

Would an 11" x 11" heat mat be okay for a 36" x 18" viv?

And i think thats what i will do yes, just put lino over the heat mat, obviously with a few inches overlapping and silicone down.

Thanks

Gaz



either the 11x11 or 17x11, either of those would be fine,

i new that you had to cover a mat but would it not be easier to just lino the whole of the tank, so that the heat can travel through the lino to the cool end just to make it ever so slitghly warmer that the outside, then put a thin layer of substrate down, thats wat i was gunna do, also would you have to silicone the edges, that way you could take the lino up wen you wanted to clean the viv out making it easier to take the sunstrate out?


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matty18714
The Count of Corniness

United Kingdom
4428 Posts

Posted - 18/01/2010 :  16:01:54  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
quote:
Originally posted by reptiledanny

quote:
Originally posted by Gaz_1989

Thanks for the replies.

Would an 11" x 11" heat mat be okay for a 36" x 18" viv?

And i think thats what i will do yes, just put lino over the heat mat, obviously with a few inches overlapping and silicone down.

Thanks

Gaz



either the 11x11 or 17x11, either of those would be fine,

i new that you had to cover a mat but would it not be easier to just lino the whole of the tank, so that the heat can travel through the lino to the cool end just to make it ever so slitghly warmer that the outside, then put a thin layer of substrate down, thats wat i was gunna do, also would you have to silicone the edges, that way you could take the lino up wen you wanted to clean the viv out making it easier to take the sunstrate out?



The heat wont move across the lino at all.

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matty18714
The Count of Corniness

United Kingdom
4428 Posts

Posted - 18/01/2010 :  16:04:07  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
I have lino stuck ontop of my mat with aquarium selant sticking it down and sealed around the edges. For me its definatly the best option. You can also stick probes directly to the lino giving you an accurate reading and a lot of control.

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Gaz_1989
Yearling

United Kingdom
931 Posts

Posted - 18/01/2010 :  16:07:58  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
This is deffinitely the one im going to go for.

I dont think theres much difference wether its just covering the mat or covering the whole bottom of the viv to be honest.

I will go with whatever size i can get an off-cut of.

Thanks

Gaz

0.0.1 CB15 Amel Corn - Billy
1.0.0 CB16 Brazilian Rainbow Boa - Hunter
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matty18714
The Count of Corniness

United Kingdom
4428 Posts

Posted - 18/01/2010 :  16:09:22  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
I would just cover the mat. If for any reason you needed to remove it, it may be akward to lift it if its covering the whole floor.

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Gaz_1989
Yearling

United Kingdom
931 Posts

Posted - 18/01/2010 :  16:16:56  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Okay, good thinking, Cheers.

0.0.1 CB15 Amel Corn - Billy
1.0.0 CB16 Brazilian Rainbow Boa - Hunter
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Gaz_1989
Yearling

United Kingdom
931 Posts

Posted - 20/01/2010 :  11:47:08  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Ive been the reptile shop this morning to price up my new set up,

They have got 11" x 11" and 17" x 11" Mats at virtually the same price.

Danny said either of these would be fine in a 36" x 18" Viv.

Is there any advantage to going bigger? Or should i just stick with 11" x 11"?

Thanks

Gaz

0.0.1 CB15 Amel Corn - Billy
1.0.0 CB16 Brazilian Rainbow Boa - Hunter
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Gaz_1989
Yearling

United Kingdom
931 Posts

Posted - 20/01/2010 :  12:06:33  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Also is it best to stick the temp and stat probes to the lino? And then put substrate on top?

Or just let the probes rest on top of the substrate?

Cheers,

Gaz

0.0.1 CB15 Amel Corn - Billy
1.0.0 CB16 Brazilian Rainbow Boa - Hunter

Edited by - Gaz_1989 on 20/01/2010 14:41:54
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SexyBear77
Fully Grown Corn

United Kingdom
3796 Posts

Posted - 20/01/2010 :  14:43:52  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
I have the probes lying on top of the substrate with the cables weighed down by the hot end hide. My mats arent covered by anything other than a little substrate.

9.11 Cornsnakes
1.1 Hogg island boas
1.0 Dwarf Burmese python

Location: Watford
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Gaz_1989
Yearling

United Kingdom
931 Posts

Posted - 20/01/2010 :  15:12:20  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Thanks.

I didnt know where to put them, at the moment they are in between layers of kitchen roll as that is my substrate and that is where stella lies when she is hiding.

Gaz

0.0.1 CB15 Amel Corn - Billy
1.0.0 CB16 Brazilian Rainbow Boa - Hunter
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