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UTH or basking lamp

Ravensfey

Ravensfey

Devil's Advocate
Which is better to use?

I want to have the tank set up before we buy our guy.

Is heating them from the top ok? (One side of the tank, etc)
I am worried that a UTH might get too hot and possibly bake or burn or little dude. Can't they get to 100F+?

I am setting up a 15 long- what size of UTH would be best? The smallest? Therefore more "cooler area" area? Would putting the tank on some 'feet' to elavate it disapate the heat?

Thanks, I just want the best for our new addition.

~Ravensfey
 
Both are useable, but UTHs are generally considered better as heat lamps do tend to dry up the atmosphere. Also, cornsnakes may well benefit from belly heat especially during digestion.

Your UTH won't get to 100F as long as you connect it to a thermostat. In fact, whichever heat source you choose, it must be controlled by either a thermostat or rheostat. So long as it's controlled, however, I consider UTHs to be the safest heating method out there.

If you decide to go for a UTH, buy one that covers a 1/3 to 1/2 of the tank. This creates a warm/cool gradient so your snake can thermoregulate. :)
 
revision

I should have also stated that the warm side is 80F and the cool is about 74F- basking lamp as the heat source.

Thanks!
 
Pleasure ;)

Just a quick question - how are you measuring your temps? You should ideally be measuring them with a digital thermometer that has a probe. If you're using stick-on thermometers, your temps probably aren't what you think they are - those things are wildly inaccurate. When I made the switch between stick-ons and digital, my temps were some 15 degrees higher than I had thought!
 
another revision- duh!

Also, with the basking lamp side only getting to 80F, I'm wondering if I got a bum lamp? The lamp isn't giving off any visible red light at night- or at all. The filament does glow a little. Is this normal?
I put a 60W incandesent plant light into the fixture and am getting the same heat readings.

Tnanks!
 
I don't use heat lamps, so I can't tell you what ammount of light is normal. However, I would recommend you stop using the dial thermometers. In my experience they are highly inaccurate and the tank is probably way too hot for a corn - probably much higher than 80F. See if you can get hold of a digital probe thermometer.

If it isn't already, the heat source must be connected up to a thermostat or rheostat. Without one, the heat can get too high, potentially putting your snake in harm's way.

Hope this is helpful...
 
in my viv i have a heatmat however no thermostat connected to it as i was told i wouldnt need one. i also have a 40 watt reflective bulb which i run as directed for roughly 10 hours a day. i have a sticky thermometer atm but have a digital dual therm and hygrometer on the way! should i really buy a thermostat?
 
Heatmats usually get over 110 degrees if unregulated and some tests have shown them going over 120 degrees. If you're using one without a thermostat AND have a lamp on for 10 hours a day, then I'd place a very large bet that your thermometer is out by at least 10 degrees, probably more.

You need to measure the temp where the snake is i.e. at ground level, immediately above the heatmat. Unless the snake regularly hovers in mid-air where the stick-on dial thermometer is (sorry, made myself smile - conjours up a wonderful picture!).

Not sure why you'd need a hygrometer in a Corn tank. The best sort of thermostat to use with a heatmat, is one that's designed for the purpose.

And I'd also recommend a digital infra-red thermometer if you're re-thinking that one.

Sorry you've been given such poor advice to start with. Stick with it - you're asking all the right questions which is great. :cheers:
 
thank you! reason i got a thermometer with a hygrometer is because on other posts in the forum it says that humidity is important especially when shedding. just thought it would be good 2 kill 2 birds with one stone. once my new temp/humidity device arrives i will be able to monitor the viv more carefully. if i am getting a really high temp at my uth then i will invest in a habistat control. sound reasonable?
 
Unless your UTH is defective, I would be willing to put $$$ on the idea that the viv is getting too hot. I'm sure many others would be willing to do the same. Take a look at this post:

http://www.cornsnakes.com/forums/showthread.php?t=39097&highlight=unregulated
You'll save yourself some time if you order the UTH now, or at least start researching what brands you like on the forums.

Great job asking questions. :) It's exceptionally nice to see new owners and potential owners who put a lot of thought into their husbandry.
 
ok thank you very much! i have a glass viv with my uth at one end with cardboard cut round the bit the wire goes in! i am quite concerned now i have ordered aspen shavings as a different substrate to my wood chips. i think i will wait till i get a thermostat before i use the aspen. i notice that there are 2 different types of thermostat - one that is either on or off and one which works more like a dimmer switch idea. could someone identify a dimmer one for me from the habistat website or give me a model number or is it straight forward in the product description. i appreciate any replies and am sooooo glad i read this thread!!!!!!
 
Hello again. I use the on-off type Habistat MatStats and they're fine.

The dimming type will give a more gradual cooling/warming effect if you're after the extra refinement of control, but my bunch don't seem to mind about the effects of the on-off approach.

The thing with humidity is that it's only an issue in the period around a shed. It's better (and probably easier) to provide them with a humid hide as they go blue, rather than try to increase the humidity in the entire viv. With the hide, the Corn can decide for itself whether it needs to be in a more humid atmosphere, but if you raise the humidity in the whole viv, it has no choice but to sit in the damper atmosphere.

Nine times out of ten, Corns won't need any help shedding, but the humid hide is a good trick to have up your sleeve just in case. It's usually worst for mine when I have the central heating on and the general air quality in the room is much dryer as a result.
 
again thanks but tbh i just got the dual indicator as it wasnt much dearer and i thought what the hell. lol. bit concerned bout my heatmat now so will need to hurry and get a thermostat
 
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