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Heat mat help!

subliminal

subliminal

New member
Hello all, I posted a question a couple days ago about putting two heat mats on one thermostat and everyone was very helpful. Now I have a new problem. Turns out my new snake's heat mat is bigger than the other that's plugged into the thermostat (I thought they were the same), so even though it keeps the hatchling's heat approximately 85F, Syn's heat was capping off at 90-92F. I know this is too hot for a corn, but when I unplugged the UTH the temp dropped to about 76F, which I know is too cold. I will be going to get a rheostat for this one as they are slightly cheaper and more available, and the only place for thermostats that I could find is sold out (checked yesterday) for a couple weeks. While I'm at work today, should I leave the heat plugged or unplugged? Is too warm more damaging than too cold? I would think that at least having a source of heat, even if a bit too warm, would be safer than none at all? She's had the same heat pad all her life and her former owner had it on no regulation at all. I'm sort of at a loss as I know neither too hot nor too cold is safe, but I have to pick one until I get home from work. Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
 
Update: I plugged Syn's UTH back in and have been watching it very closely. It seems to have levelled off at about 86F. I know recommended temp is 85F, is one degree over too much, until I get home with a rheostat? I'm more worried about how cold it got in there last night. *sigh* Just when I thought I had gotten over my snake worries...
 
For short term, I'd suppose that if in doubt go without, for very short term. You can't freeze a snake at 70 degrees for a day, but you can cook one at 90+ for too long.
 
mine wont change from about 75-78. (near the top). not sure the temp lower.. Still figuring out this whole temp thing!!
 
You have got to get a thermometer probe under the substrate because that is where the snake is. My uth would have the glass at 97 if I didn't have a thermostat and probe thermometer.
 
It would be okay to have the cooler UTH down around 82. OR you could put a piece of floor tile over the UTH in the viv- the snake can't get under it.
 
Would 82 be too cool for digestion? That's my main concern. I got a new UTH today that is a touch bigger but they are hovering close to the same temps, I am going to fiddle with the heat for a day to get them both hovering around 83-85.
 
I don't know about the digestion part, but I would assume if you had the cool side around the mid-70's, and the warm side at 82, it would be better than scortching hot, for the corn. But I don't know what would be worse; a regurge, or a burn.
Personally I wouldn't want the burn...
 
I doubt cool temps alone would cause a regurge. At least on a short term basis. That's why my vote is for, unless you can make it right, error on the too cool side.
 
Thanks everyone! I erred on the cool side and got a rheostat today, so we're back up and running at stable 85F :)
 
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