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Newspaper and Heating Cables/Pads

Velvet

Velvet

Totally corn crazy!!!!
Hi guys,

I have heard of some people using newspaper as a substrate as it is cheap, easy to clean etc etc...

I was wondering...wouldn't it be a serious fire hazard if you put newspaper directly on a heating cable/heating Pad?!?! :shrugs:

Many people use newspaper as a substrate but I wasn't sure if they had something in-between the newspaper and heating device...

Last thing I need is to accidentally burn my darling snakes (not to mention burn the house down...) :grin01:
 
Velvet said:
I was wondering...wouldn't it be a serious fire hazard if you put newspaper directly on a heating cable/heating Pad?!?! :shrugs:

Many people use newspaper as a substrate but I wasn't sure if they had something in-between the newspaper and heating device...
QUOTE]

Im no expert but im pretty sure you should have something in between , Like the bottom if the viv for e.g..
I have a plastic tank for my biggest corn and i have my heatmat fixed to the underside of the tankand use aspen for the subsrate ..

I would imagine its the same with paper of any sort...
Anyway i wouldnt feel comfortable with my snake being able to lay directly on the heatmat as ive seen a few stories about peoples snakes getting burned etc..

Hope ive helped in any way possible.. :shrugs:

Im sure somebody will correct me if im wrong as theres a lot of "seasoned" cornsnake owners and breeders here .. :)

A. Devil
Click to expand...
 
Thanks! :crazy02:

My snakes are currently on astro turf (mats) with a heating cable underneath the mat. This works very well, I have never had any problems with regurge etc etc. My viv's botton is quite thick so the snakes will definitely not feel a thing if the heating device was under it! :santa:

Also, I turn the heating cable off in summer as it gets very very hot here and the snakes are more than warm enough.

But yeah, I just wanted to know if anyone had experiences with Newspaper...
 
not hot enough

Well, if the heating pad ever gets hot enough to start paper on fire then it is FAR past too hot for your snake. I don't think there is much chance of ignition keeping the pad below 89 degrees. Heck even at the max of 110-120 I don't think there's much chance of igniting paper.

Ok, just looked it up, ignition temperature of paper is 151 degrees farenheit, Not even close.
 
Flagg said:
Well, if the heating pad ever gets hot enough to start paper on fire then it is FAR past too hot for your snake. I don't think there is much chance of ignition keeping the pad below 89 degrees. Heck even at the max of 110-120 I don't think there's much chance of igniting paper.

Ok, just looked it up, ignition temperature of paper is 151 degrees farenheit, Not even close.
Click to expand...

I agree on that; too low temperature = no ignition, simple as 1+1=2. I actually kept some corns in tubs on a pile of newspaper with a 14 Watt heatmat under it, and though the newspaper absorbs the warmth completely, is was not anywhere close to igniton.BY the wat, you'd be amazed at how much warmth a solid wooden viv bottom will actually pass through if you put it directly on the heat mat!
 
:confused:As I was reading the posts,I was thinking "a UTH could start a fire",,just from the heat it gives off ?.How is this possible at 85 degrees ??.
It's interesting to hear how some of you control the amount of heat getting to the bottom of the viv.Am I understanding it correctly ??,,by placing a thick layer of what ever is to be used,,news papers,tile,etc...you can regulate the in viv temp ?.So the UTH is being used with out a thermostat controller,right ?.Full heat output,but "diluted" by an in between filler.Am I on the right track with this ?.
 
These buffers are also being used on the outside,,underneath the tank ??.
That seems like the safest way.If the temp on the surface of what ever is in between the tank and the UTH is at 84,then the glass surface on the bottom of the viv should only reach 84,,correct ?.
So if your snake decides to tunall to the bottom of his viv,,there shouldn't be a chance for him to be "cooked"... :shrugs:
 
Droptines said:
These buffers are also being used on the outside,,underneath the tank ??.
That seems like the safest way.If the temp on the surface of what ever is in between the tank and the UTH is at 84,then the glass surface on the bottom of the viv should only reach 84,,correct ?.
So if your snake decides to tunall to the bottom of his viv,,there shouldn't be a chance for him to be "cooked"... :shrugs:
Click to expand...

Thats the method i use...
That way the heatmat is never inside the tanks i use for my snakes....
It makes me feel more comfortable as ..

1# Even if the heatmat dosnt get too hot for the snake i feel better knowing it cannot lay directly on it...
2# Ive never heard of it happening before but it also makes me feel safer for the snake knowing there cant be any electrical/water hazard that could also kill/electricute the snake ( one thread im still waiting to appear on the boards somewhere )

My tanks are pastic but good strong pastic so the heatmat will not melt or disfigure the bottom of the tank so people would probably take different steps to heat say a wooden viv from underneath or on the side of the viv..

I personally think this is the safest way by far but then thats just from my personal experience from keeping snakes.. :)

A. Devil
 
Droptines said:
:confused:As I was reading the posts,I was thinking "a UTH could start a fire",,just from the heat it gives off ?.How is this possible at 85 degrees ??.
It's interesting to hear how some of you control the amount of heat getting to the bottom of the viv.Am I understanding it correctly ??,,by placing a thick layer of what ever is to be used,,news papers,tile,etc...you can regulate the in viv temp ?.So the UTH is being used with out a thermostat controller,right ?.Full heat output,but "diluted" by an in between filler.Am I on the right track with this ?.
Click to expand...

My UTH is outside, under the viv with a pile of newspaper or towels in between, without a thermostat indeed. I feel safe that way, cause this way it can never fail and cook the snake. The UTH seems to work fine that way, neve rhad any problems. If possible I do prefer though a method which provides a buffer of air between UTH and viv. I put a tub on 2 kitchen paper rolls with an UTH beneath half of it, that works great for my emoryi which is in a 'nursery' tub right now.
 
I allso use this method to heat the wooden floor of the lowest viv of my viv tower (which has space beneath it), where my hatchling is, so she has a warm place to go at night. The bedding is not warm, but if she goes under the bedding, it is nice and warm to rest on.
 
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