heat mat?

[minipumpkin]

We have our new corn snake and are just trying to get things right
We have both a heat lamp and a heat mat and using the heat mat on its own does not produce enough heat. We are using a probe to check the temp. we have a wooden viv but do we need the heat mat under the bottom of the wooden viv or do we need to put it in the viv under the substrate?

Please help

 

[halicorn]

In wooded viv's I have seen people place the heat pad inside the viv and to ensure that it is not in direct contact with the snake I have seen them place a self stick piece of tile with the power cord feed though the bottom as the hole is covered by the self stick tile.

CAUTION if you are going to do that then you must get an aquarium save sealant and seal around the edges of the tile. Reason for this is the snake could knock its water bowl over, or defecate on it could cause a electric shock to the snake.

Some people also use ceramic bulbs that are caged in so the snake cant burn itself by climbing on the bulb and controlled by a stat.

Just my 2 cents on that for ya.

 

[bitsy]

I use heat mats both outside underneath, and inside.

If using it underneath, you need to make sure the weight of the viv isn't resting on it.

Using it inside, as Pain says, you need to take extra precautions to prevent water spills or poop causing an electrical short as the mats aren't waterproof. The main place at risk is the junction where the cable goes into the mat, so I add some extra shielding at that point. I then lay loose ceramic wall tiles over the top to prevent the snakes coming into direct contact with the mat.