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Dimmer or Thermostat?

Under heater mats shouldn't get any hotter than 100*F. Most of them sit somewhere around 90*F. I don't think you need a thermostat or a dimmer. Those temps aren't going cause your snake to overheat, as long as you have a cool side. The danger lies in the temperature of the glass, because the heat mats rely on the glass to radiate it into the air. So the real threat is that your snake could have severe burns from the hot glass. A great solution is to buy reptile carpet (around $7) from a pet store and thoroughly hot glue it to the bottom of the tank so the snake can't crawl under it. Other glues can have toxic fumes. You could also use aquarium silicone to glue the carpet down. The carpet will prevent burns and save you money. My snakes spend most of their time on the hot side, and love the warm temps.
 
I have 5 heat mats (2 different brands) and I can tell you that, unchecked, they will all easily get over 100 degrees. I've even just checked temps above the mat, newspaper, and several inches of substrate (aspen) just to see if cooled things down, but the reading of the substrate was 96-97 degrees. And that's using a very reliable heat gun.
 
Little Miss said:
Under heater mats shouldn't get any hotter than 100*F. Most of them sit somewhere around 90*F. I don't think you need a thermostat or a dimmer. Those temps aren't going cause your snake to overheat, as long as you have a cool side. The danger lies in the temperature of the glass, because the heat mats rely on the glass to radiate it into the air. So the real threat is that your snake could have severe burns from the hot glass. A great solution is to buy reptile carpet (around $7) from a pet store and thoroughly hot glue it to the bottom of the tank so the snake can't crawl under it. Other glues can have toxic fumes. You could also use aquarium silicone to glue the carpet down. The carpet will prevent burns and save you money. My snakes spend most of their time on the hot side, and love the warm temps.
Click to expand...

I respectfully disagree. My undertank heater (using a digi thermometer on the glass) easily hits 120* left alone. Also, reptile carpet is difficult to clean and often darkly colored, making it harder to see poops. Just bought a wall dimmer, already have it at the temps I need. T'stat coming this week as backup if the dimmer fails me.
 
The reptile carpet I use is light tan colored, so you can easily see if it's dirty, and I have aspen bedding on top of it that, so poop almost never reaches the carpet. Its easy then, I just disinfect it with the rest of the tank. But since the carpet prevents the snake from being able to burn itself, is it detrimental for the cage temps to be in the low 90s? I currently use a digital probe thermometer in the substrate. My snakes spend most of their time on hot side anyway, so they seem to enjoy it and are feeding normally. Thanks for your help with these questions :)
 
I've read that the ideal temps for corn snakes are around 85 degrees on the warm side. I think hatchlings are able to handle temperatures slightly above that without any problem. Snakes are a lot like people in that some can handle different temps better or worse than others. :}
 
Little Miss

Snake poop also has urates with it and some clear liquid so not all of it gets soaked up by the aspen you are putting on top of your repti carpet. As well snakes love to burrow, so unless you can guarantee your snake has never and will never slither through its excrement or do it's business when tunneling, then hot gluing down the repti carpet is a very bad idea. As well snakes tend to get in and out of their water dishes therefor spilling water.

All of these things allow for the growth of mold and bacteria in your repti carpet. Even more so because you have covered it with aspen, as you prevent it from drying out quickly and you keep it covered(dark)... just what mold and bacteria love to grow. Some molds and bacterias like warmth and some like cool, your snakes tank will provide both.

By only washing the carpet when you clean out the tank, you are not ensuring it is completely dry and cleaner free when you put your snake back into the tank. It cleaner residue is in the carpet you also risk poisoning your snake.

When ever repti carpet is used it should be thoroughly washed, rinsed and dried regularly to prevent, disease, bacteria, mold and parasite growth. That is why it is suggested to those who use it to have two pieces cut thatfit the tank, so that when one is dirty and being cleaned, rinsed and dried the other one can be put in.

If you are concerned about your snake getting under the carpet a better solution would be to use aquarium silicone and silicone Velcro around the bottom edge and then sew the other Velcro side onto the edges of the carpet. Thus you have a removable carpet, that can be properly cleaned.

Just some things to consider...I would hate for your snake to get sick and you to have your good intentions back fire.
 
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