So I've been keeping corns for about 2 years now and have never used them. I just use a normal electric heat mat. One of my corns is still young and so I keep him in a (i guess) fish tank with the heat mat under the tank itself. With the vivs i have duct taped newspaper over them and then theres the substate as well. Ive never had any shed or feeding problems with all 3 of the snakes. Do I really need a stat? Or are people using them with lights?
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Thermostats
- Thread starter maadne
- Start date
bitsy
Owned by Corns since 1991
The only way to know is to measure the temperature on the floor of the tank above the mat with an accurate thermometer (the plastic dial and cardboard strip ones are notoriously inaccurate). Most mats will get well over a Corn's safe maximum (which is around 90 degrees).
A human's core body temp is above 90, so if you put your hand on the mat and it feels warm or hot, that's a rough guide that it's too hot. I've run a test setup without a thermostat and the mat hit 120 degrees before I unplugged it.
It's a difficult thing to consider, especially when you've had no problems so far. It's good that you're thinking about the issue. However, that doesn't mean there won't be problems in the future. Personally I wouldn't run a heat mat without a stat to regulate it. Corns need surprisingly low temps - I always thought of them coming from hot steamy Everglades. But of course, Florida has winter, hurricanes and torrential rain as well.
If you can afford it, it's nice to provide the best possible conditions rather than just a basic setup that seems to work OK without really considering the comfort of the snakes.
A human's core body temp is above 90, so if you put your hand on the mat and it feels warm or hot, that's a rough guide that it's too hot. I've run a test setup without a thermostat and the mat hit 120 degrees before I unplugged it.
It's a difficult thing to consider, especially when you've had no problems so far. It's good that you're thinking about the issue. However, that doesn't mean there won't be problems in the future. Personally I wouldn't run a heat mat without a stat to regulate it. Corns need surprisingly low temps - I always thought of them coming from hot steamy Everglades. But of course, Florida has winter, hurricanes and torrential rain as well.
If you can afford it, it's nice to provide the best possible conditions rather than just a basic setup that seems to work OK without really considering the comfort of the snakes.
Ok so do you keep the temp on the warm side the same? Because I know people who are changes their stats temp now and then. I really dont see the point in doing this, If I were to get some stats I would keep them at a temperature thats safe for the snakes and keep it that way. Anybody see any problems if I do that?
bitsy
Owned by Corns since 1991
That's what I do. I keep the warm sides of mine steady at around 85 degrees using Habitat MatStats. When I last bought one they were the most basic (and cheapest) available in the UK. They do let the temps fluctuate by a few degrees as they're straight on/off stats rather than having a gentle dimming effect as they turn up and down automatically. However, the temps on the warm side don't go over 88 degrees which is what I aim for.