ok another newbie question. got a 4ft wooden tank, was planning to heat it with a bulb with a dimmer stat. My pet shop tells me I need a UTH. the woman i'm getting my snake off says a bulb will be fine. a friend who has lota of snakes says a heat mat on the inside side of the tank would be good. Some of the advice on this forum says put a heat mat under the tank on the outside, but my tank doesn't have any legs so is in direct contact with the trable it is resting on. HELP me I'm rather confused.
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conflicting advice
- Thread starter baddy13
- Start date
wjohnson18
New member
baddy13 said:
A heat lamp will indeed heat the ambient air inside the tank, but it will also lower the humidity inside the tank and possibly lead to future shedding problems - therefore making a uth the better choice.
If you purchase a heat mat, it should come with little adhesive plastic legs (or bumps) that elevate the tank to allow any excess heat to escape.
oldhand
New member
UTH = under tank heater.
As to the main question, a cornsnake needs belly heat more than i does ambient temps, so a uth is the way to go, you will need 1 thats approx 1/3 of the floor space (4ft long, get a 17" by 11" or 23" by 11" model, depending on your locations temps).
Light wise, most people use a low 25 watt normal bulb to help show off the snakes Viv decor (me included), and not for the heating.
As to the main question, a cornsnake needs belly heat more than i does ambient temps, so a uth is the way to go, you will need 1 thats approx 1/3 of the floor space (4ft long, get a 17" by 11" or 23" by 11" model, depending on your locations temps).
Light wise, most people use a low 25 watt normal bulb to help show off the snakes Viv decor (me included), and not for the heating.
jazzgeek
The Rule Of Thirds.
I'm in agreement with wjohnson18, with a qualifier. While the heat lamp will dissipate ambient humidity, and is therefore the "lesser of two evils", a UTH is really designed to be used with a glass tank. You've stated that you'll be using a wooden tank. The wood won't provide the thermal conductivity needed to adequately heat the environment for the snake, and you're introducing a potential fire hazard with a "misapplication" of a UTH on wood.baddy13 said:
Is the entire enclosure made of wood, or are you using glass with a wooden frame?
regards,
jazz
pcar
PCar's Reptiles
baddy13 said:
There are specific heat mats that you can get that advertise they are safe to put inside the viv. But, you will want to be careful because if the snake is in direct contact with the heat mat, and it reaches critical temps, then you have a cooked snake.
Cobra heat mats are one such brand that can be placed inside the viv. If you do this, make sure that you have something to control the heat output.
Blue Apple Herps
aka Matthew, PhD
I've heard of people attatching the uth to a ceramic tile and then placing that in the tank. The pad heats up the tile. This way the snake doesn't come in contact directly with the heat pad. Either way make sure you use a therometer to keep the temps from getting too high.
Energi2er
New member
Rheostat
I would suggestusind either an inside the tank uth, or a lamp would be fine, if you use a lamp, get a hygrometer to measure humidity and if it drops below 50% then mist the viv with a spray bottle one or twice a day. Whatever heat source you use you definately need a rheostat or thermostat to control the temps. and you also need a thermometer measuring the temp at the substrate level. The cheapest way to control temps is to build your own rheostat, Here is a link to a thread with step by step instructions, It will work with a UTH or Lamp. I have actually built one of these with 2 dimmers to control 2 different things. If you need help there are several of us that have built them, and we would be glad to help you.
Heres the link.
http://www.cornsnakes.com/forums/showthread.php?t=19168&page=1&pp=10
I would suggestusind either an inside the tank uth, or a lamp would be fine, if you use a lamp, get a hygrometer to measure humidity and if it drops below 50% then mist the viv with a spray bottle one or twice a day. Whatever heat source you use you definately need a rheostat or thermostat to control the temps. and you also need a thermometer measuring the temp at the substrate level. The cheapest way to control temps is to build your own rheostat, Here is a link to a thread with step by step instructions, It will work with a UTH or Lamp. I have actually built one of these with 2 dimmers to control 2 different things. If you need help there are several of us that have built them, and we would be glad to help you.
Heres the link.
http://www.cornsnakes.com/forums/showthread.php?t=19168&page=1&pp=10
SnakeLuvrs
New member
baddy13 said:
as far as any other questions you may have, keep in mind that you will hear twenty different things from twenty different people.. sometimes you may get differeing advice here... although it is all good advice sometimes you just have to do what you feel is the best way to go after hearing all differing sides.. as far as your question here went you got good advice and found a conclusion... good luck with the process... you will get addicted...