Heating two viv's

Ok, I'm still working out the final details before purchasing my equipment. I'm planning on purchasing two snakes, so two vivs

Is it possible to use 1 larger UTH and 1 thermostat for heating?The viv's would sit next to each other on the mat. Or would it be better to have 2 small UTH's?

Also, it looks possible to use one thermostat/2 UTH's, are there drawbacks to this? And would it be better to have 2 thermostats.

And the last question at least for now Are UTH's safe to use under the acrylic kritter keepers sold for reptiles. They are about $10 cheaper per unit then aquariums and the lids are better locking. Around here (3 cats) an escaped snakie is going to be a dead snakie


Thanks for the help everyone.


Shannon

As long as you have approx one-third of the floor area heated in each viv, then you should be fine with one heat mat. You need to make sure that the setups are the same, as with one mat/stat, you'll be controlling the temperature from one viv. Would be worth running them both for a few days without the snakes, to make sure your temp ranges are OK, but mine are fine.

If you go for two smaller mats, I control two (or even three) mats from one stat and that works well. My only proviso would be that the mats need to be the same size and from the same manufacturer, as stats can give different results at the same settings, with different mats.

viv's would sit next to each other on the mat.

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Just a note that if these are wooden vivs or glass aquarium-type tanks, then they'll need to be raised off the mat slightly. Resting the weight of the vivs on the mat surface could damage it. Also, you need air flow over the surface of the mat to prevent overheating (even with a stat).

Kritter Keepers are idea for using with a mat underneath, as they are designed so they wouldn't rest on the surface of the mat. You'd still need the stat though. However, the largest of these would probably only last you for a year or so, when you'd have to move the Corns into bigger, adult-sized accomodation.

Thanks for the input. Good to know about the same size/model.

My plan is to use these for the next few months and then custom build their display vivs.

You could run 2 identical UTHs in 2 separate identical vivs off 1 thermostat. trying to place 2 vivs over 1 heat mat could be problematic.

Widget said:

Ok, I'm still working out the final details before purchasing my equipment. I'm planning on purchasing two snakes, so two vivs

Is it possible to use 1 larger UTH and 1 thermostat for heating?The viv's would sit next to each other on the mat. Or would it be better to have 2 small UTH's?

Also, it looks possible to use one thermostat/2 UTH's, are there drawbacks to this? And would it be better to have 2 thermostats.

And the last question at least for now Are UTH's safe to use under the acrylic kritter keepers sold for reptiles. They are about $10 cheaper per unit then aquariums and the lids are better locking. Around here (3 cats) an escaped snakie is going to be a dead snakie


Thanks for the help everyone.


Shannon

Click to expand...

Are you talking about this thing...





I dont trust the kritter keepers, not for corns...and I dont think you can use UTH on acrylic. I have 3 cats myself and my snakes are in fish tanks with lids and clips. I go a little crazy with clips cause im paranoid but Im like you...escaped snake is a dead snake. A 10 gallon is 12$, your way better off.......


I know one thing, you cant use a large UTH on a tank because the bottom of tanks arent flat, they have that black pastic lip on the bottom. But you can use the same UTH's all plugged into one thermostat. I do it.

Just a little added bit, if your cats are really interested in what is in the kritter keeper they can move them. Occasionally I use kritter keepers to raise mice to feeder size and have found the cats can move them around and knock them off the table. My cats are equally interested in the snakes, so either the tubs are in cubbies or held down with rocks. good luck, susang

The one's I'm looking at are close, but a little heavier duty. Bottoms are flat (I think) the largest was about $18. Aquarium tanks are about 30 by the time I add the lid. The snakes will be up on a shelf where the kitties can't get to them to knock the cages around. The biggest concern would be the snakes getting out and onto the floor.

I'll have to look at the bottoms/sides of the keepers. I'm leaning to two smaller pads right now, assuming I can find a thermostat that I can plug both into. Don't remember what they had in stock.

Thanks again for all the help.

Shannon

My Repti-Temp 500R has two outlets.

I'd go with two mats with one thermostat. What if you wanted to relocate the vivs away from each other?

I'm having to replace Inez's UTH this week- it's a different, cooler make than Choco's and is running about 10F cooler! I think last winter I didn't have permanent probed thermometers installed- that really gives you a clear picture of what is going on, temp-wise.

Nanci

Even if your thermostat only has one outlet, which I doubt, you can always plug in an extension cord or some kind of tap to make it more outlets. As long as you stay well below the recommended total wattage, it should work fine.

And Nanci, I think you meant "...two mats with one thermostat."

IF you use 2 mats and one thermostat, both mats MUST be from the same manufacturer and of the same wattage. Size isn't as crucial as wattage, because the wattage is what dictates how rapidly your mat heats up. Different wattages, and one mat could get much too hot for your snakes.

I use 1 mat for two tanks all the time at work. I constantly setup 2 tanks side-by-side sharing a heat mat. I find it works quite well. I put the thermostat directly on the mat and set the temp to 88*F instead of 85* to allow for dissipation through the glass. The main reason I put the therm. outside the vivs is in case one snake moves the probe off the mat, or if I am using 2 different tanks and glass thickness could differ.

I currently have 10 different tanks set up using the "1 mat for 2 tanks" scenario described above. It works well if you plan for it...