UTH's can also cause burns if not regulated
...
ALWAYS use it with either a rheostat or thermometer.
A rheostat - will only regulate the amount of energy being put out to the unit, therefore helping to keep it at a lower temp.
BUT you must have a thermometer with a probe to place right on the glass,
or a temp gun.
Using a
temp gun means removing a bit of the substrate over UTH and checking temps every couple of hours for the first day or two until you find the right position for your rheostat and if there are dramatic temp changes in the weather which change the ambient temp in your home you will need to check frequently again. This is because
a rheostat will allow for temp fluctuations, sometimes dramatic due to ambient temp changes. I live in Saskatchewan Canada and am temporarily using a rheostat (until I can afford the brand of thermostat I want) and our summer has been jumping between temps as low as 5 degrees and as high as 32 degrees. So I am having to constantly check the temp of the UTH and adjust accordingly, as it has heated the glass as high as 101 degrees and that was while still being on the rheostat, I can only imagine how hot it could have gotten with out it.
A thermostat is the easier option (these vary in price and versatility, some will only run one UTH or other heat source and some will run several at one time) as they can be set to a specific temp and will keep the UTH to that temp generally with in a degree or two. Thermostats usually come with a probe for placing in the viv, some you have to purchase the probe separate.
UTH's are essential to proper digestion and thermoregulation, over head heat just does not work as well as under belly heat, so they are great for your corn snake to have so long as they are controlled and used safely. Corn snakes are generally one of the smarter animals and often don't go where it is to hot but it has happened and you do not want to risk the burns they can get.
Now I say this all based on the snake owner having a glass viv and using a UTH and not a plastic tub/container and using heat tap or flex watt. Those I am not experienced with and will leave it to someone else to comment on.
As for why are UTH's sold at pet store and it is not mentioned about the dangers, two reasons' #1 - ignorance many of your pet store workers have no idea their knowlege is minimal aobut anything in the store, just enought to sound "smart" and get the sale, because #2 it is all about the $$$$ :realhot: which is why such dangerous things as the heat rocks available and pushed at pet stores as good for your reptile....$$$$$$$ that is all.:realhot:
Hope this helps clear things up a bit.:wavey:
Tisha
