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Concerned about my heatmat! (Too hot.)

A

Aivre

New member
Alright, so I just bought UTH today as well as a digital thermometer. With the two other herps I've owned (a Sunglow corn and a Jungle Carpet python) I'd never measured the temperatures of their mats and they seemed to do just fine. However, I've also never really used a thermometer in this sort of situation before, so I'm not exactly sure where to put it to get an accurate reading. I tried the probe at first taped to the underside of the tank, not on the inside, and it was reading at about 88 or so. It's now under the substrate, taped to the bottom on the inside and it's reading 92.7 I'm very concerned about my corn overheating himself, but at the same time, I have no way to control the temp of the mat. Should I revert to using the heat lamps until I can figure this situation out? He just ate and he'll need to be warm in order to digest, but I don't want to fry him...Please help!
 
An unregulated UTH can get over 120 degrees. They're designed for use with a range of reptiles and Corns need the lower end of their range.

You need a controller for the UTH. A thermostat is something you can set up and walk away from. A rheostat or dimmer will do a similar job but you'll have to keep monitoring the temp and turning it up/down as the ambient temps fluctuate. A thermostat will do that automatically.
 
Sarah1228 said:
Fatman helped me out before with this, buy a $11 dimmer from Home Depot...here's the link! It works perfectly for me.

http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc...splay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053
Click to expand...

Thanks for the link, Sarah. How do you get this set up to regulate the heat mat?

bitsy said:
An unregulated UTH can get over 120 degrees. They're designed for use with a range of reptiles and Corns need the lower end of their range.

You need a controller for the UTH. A thermostat is something you can set up and walk away from. A rheostat or dimmer will do a similar job but you'll have to keep monitoring the temp and turning it up/down as the ambient temps fluctuate. A thermostat will do that automatically.
Click to expand...

Alright. So for the time being will he be warm enough with his heat lamps? I unplugged the UTH for now, and the temp is at 88.7

I haven't yet got to see what the temperature is with just the heat lamp, but I'm guessing it's somewhere around 82-83.
 
AIVRE...

if you choose to go the Rheostat route may I make a suggestion? Please DO NOT buy the ZooMed double outlet 150W. Many of us have, and even at it's lowest setting it gets extremely hot! Fatman is on to something.
 
Alright. So for the time being will he be warm enough with his heat lamps? I unplugged the UTH for now, and the temp is at 88.7

I haven't yet got to see what the temperature is with just the heat lamp, but I'm guessing it's somewhere around 82-83.
Click to expand...
If you can confirm that, then yes, low 80s will be absolutely fine.

It's certainly a lot safer temp than you'll get from an unregulated UTH.
 
this is the black one

100_5602.jpg
 
Thanks for all the help guys. I really appreciate it :] The UV bulb seems to be working just fine for now, so I might not even use the UTH. It's fluctuating between 84-86 which is fine with me.

I have one more question though. The Night Glo bulb that I turn on at night, will that give off enough heat? I haven't monitored the temp yet, about to go do that now, and I don't mind having to leave his Day Glo bulb on if it's not enough. I was just curious; it's a rather misleading bulb since it doesn't put out a lot of light :p
 
The UV bulb seems to be working just fine for now, so I might not even use the UTH. It's fluctuating between 84-86 which is fine with me.
Click to expand...
UV is a different thing than an "ordinary" heat lamp. Corns don't need UV and it's possible (anecdotal evidence only - don't believe there have been formal studies) that it can be harmful to lighter morphs, lacking black pigment.

If you can do without the UV, you might even see your Corn more often as they tend to be less active during times of bright daylight. Logically, they will interpret the UV as daylight and stay quiet.

I really would recommend a UTH+thermostat combo if you can afford it. You just set it up, tweak until the temp is right and walk away.
 
AIVRE...

Aivre said:
Thanks for all the help guys. I really appreciate it :] The UV bulb seems to be working just fine for now, so I might not even use the UTH. It's fluctuating between 84-86 which is fine with me.

I have one more question though. The Night Glo bulb that I turn on at night, will that give off enough heat? I haven't monitored the temp yet, about to go do that now, and I don't mind having to leave his Day Glo bulb on if it's not enough. I was just curious; it's a rather misleading bulb since it doesn't put out a lot of light :p
Click to expand...

You really do need to use a UTH, as that's how your Corn is going to warm up (from the belly); and that's important to digestion!

Here's a little story...I was told by the shop where I bought my "Evie", that all she needed was a 75W Moonlight bulb to keep her warm. Of course they also told me she was only one year old (she's 5-7 years old and 4'5" long)!

I Am SO Thankful I Found This Forum! The majority of people here are very, very concerned about their pet and yours as well. Combined they have LOTS of experience and knowledge!

Please take the time to do some advanced searches and read the threads. You'll learn so much in a short time if you do that. I certainly did.
 
Definately Use the UTH...I heard too many horror stories about the lights. They need belly heat to digest anyways. I agree with Bitsy 100%. When I have the room light on my guy always hides, when its off he comes out more. All u need is the UTH, digital thermometer w/ probe, & the light dimmer from home depot (if u wanna save a few bucks).
 
OkeeteeMom said:
if you choose to go the Rheostat route may I make a suggestion? Please DO NOT buy the ZooMed double outlet 150W. Many of us have, and even at it's lowest setting it gets extremely hot! Fatman is on to something.
Click to expand...

I just purchased two of these ZooMed rheostats. :(
So even on the lowest setting, it's still too hot for the corns? I'm very frustrated. ZooMed's UTH's get above 120 on the glass, and now that I buy another of their products to regulate it, it won't regulate enough?! Do corns just not eat in nature after the temps drop below 70*F? Because I have a hard time thinking that a corn will intentionally sit on a spot that is way too hot. And I have yet to hear from someone who is sure that a 70*F temp is what caused a regurge in their corn.
 
If you want the rheostat route then get this dimmer, it works a thousand times better than a ZooMed Rheostat and is only $10 and comes in black or white. It says $11 on the web site but i went there to pick one up on Monday and it was $10 and not on sale.
 
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