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Heat Mats, etc?

L

LowNFToy

New member
We've found heat mats at local pet stores and online, and they say to have built in regulator or whatever for the amount of heat, and if not I would build a rheostat. The thing I am wondering is, I use the bark for substrate and the mats at the stores said recommended for desert type terrariums with sand or gravel for heat conducting. Would bark still be fine? If so.. do I need to set the temp right on the bottom of the tank or on the actual substrate under the hide? let me know some tips. thanks everyone!
 
that's a good question... look at it this way, if your temps on the surface are at the upper end of what's acceptable for a corn and they burrow, what's going to happen? It'll get burned. On the other hand, if your temps at the bottom of the viv are at the upper end of that scale, the surface temps will be lower. They can always burrow to get warmer if they want, plus there's the gradient from top to bottom due to the substrate.

Anyway, my corn (and a lot of other peoples' snakes from what I've read on here) spend most of the time in the cooler end of the viv. So as long as there's the temp gradient from one end to the other, and your snake isn't in danger of burning itself, it'll find where it's most comfortable at any given time and hang out there.
 
so maybe have the area on the actual glass at the upper end of the corn snake temp scale, he doesnt burrow much anyway (until the past 2 days and ive had him a year now) but i think he was just nervous, new larger home.. but he was out and active today lol. would that way be best so he could burrow if he wanted to be a little warmer, or just go hang out closer to his water if he gets too warm? what thermometer would you recommend and what placement? thanks alot!!
 
Temperatures should always be measured and adjusted at the hottest point the snake can come in contact with. In your case right on the glass above the UTH. Measuring anywhere else is like walking right out onto the road without looking because trucks hardly ever go along that road. Just because your snake hardly ever burrows doesn't mean he won't get burned.

As for what thermometer, any decent digital thermometer will be fine, even the indoor/outdoor ones from Walmart.
 
If you go to Walmart, you can find the digital thermometers that also measure humidity. I got mine for about $15.
 
is this any good?

I found pads at local stores, but im still afraid he might get burned if he burrows.. so would a rheostat be good even if I buy a pad made for reptiles?
 
What I think works just as well is a lamp dimmer. I got one that you can just plug the heat pad into.
 
ZooMed UTH's are a good element.. What I woudl recommend to you is not to take the backing off the adhesive though.. JUst pay it under the tank or adhre it on with foil tape.. If you evern need to take it off for cleaning or to move it to another tanke it could possibly ruin the element when you peal it off...
 
LowNFToy said:
is this any good?

I found pads at local stores, but im still afraid he might get burned if he burrows.. so would a rheostat be good even if I buy a pad made for reptiles?
Click to expand...
One thing I've done to help lessen the chance of burns from a UTH is place a piece of cardboard inside the viv under the substrate. It, along with the substrate, provides a bit of a buffer from direct heat.

And, yeah, a rheostat or lamp dimmer would be good. UTHs can get pretty hot.
 
David_F said:
One thing I've done to help lessen the chance of burns from a UTH is place a piece of cardboard inside the viv under the substrate. It, along with the substrate, provides a bit of a buffer from direct heat.

And, yeah, a rheostat or lamp dimmer would be good. UTHs can get pretty hot.
Click to expand...

You really shouldent "buffer" any tye of heat source.. This has disaster written all over it... Control not buffer....
 
justcage said:
You really shouldent "buffer" any tye of heat source.. This has disaster written all over it... Control not buffer....
Click to expand...
I fail to see why it's a disaster. The glass acts as a buffer, the substrate acts as a buffer. In molded plastic vivs with in-tank heat there is plastic covering the heat tape. Without controlling the heat then, yes, I see how it could be a problem. But I think using something to keep the snake from having direct contact with the glass is better than not.
 
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