Question.

[ycgirl]

I work at Petsmart and I'm kinda new. I had to close by myself tonight and my coworker told me to put the ball python in the back room back in his cage which she already had ready with new bedding and water. She just told me to plug the stuff in when I did it. So I did tonight. It had a top with a light on one side and and a cord coming from the bottom which I assume was for the heating pad. Now I'm scared it was suppose to have a thermometer cause I heard heating pads can get to hot. I did see one in the basket in the back room but I thought it was just to take the temperature of the terrarium. But I guess sometimes they regulate it? Now I'm scared that it's gonna get way to hot and the snake is gonna get burned. But some of the heating pads only raise the temperature 5 to 10 degrees passed room temp, right? She never said anything about the thermometer. Grhh, I hope I didn't mess it up. I'm scared that I did.

[Kaorte]

You are right, but the correct unit is a thermoSTAT, which controls the temperature of the heating pad. They are basically required for use with all heating elements. Heat pads (although some say they don't go above 95*) will always get too hot.

If the snake sits on the heat pad too long, chances are it will get burned.

[ycgirl]

Well I'm pretty sure this is the thermometer that was in there...

http://www.petsmart.com/product/inde...ductId=2752177

And this is most likely the heating pad...

http://www.petsmart.com/product/inde...ductId=2752652

I don't get it though. Wouldn't she have told me to make sure I used the thermometer to regulate the temp?

Now I'm really scared.

[Kaorte]

To be quite honest, many people don't use thermostats. Most people don't know about them and petstores don't usually sell them or even tell you to use them.

Will the snake die? no. Will it thrive? no. The snake should be in a controlled enviroment with heating control to make sure it doesn't get burned.

Is the snake on reptile carpet? If so, it won't get burned. The only problem with reptile carpet is it is a breeding ground for bacteria, smelly, and impossible to clean.

[k2l3d4]

Well I'm pretty sure this is the thermometer that was in there...

http://www.petsmart.com/product/inde...ductId=2752177

And this is most likely the heating pad...

http://www.petsmart.com/product/inde...ductId=2752652

I don't get it though. Wouldn't she have told me to make sure I used the thermometer to regulate the temp?

Now I'm really scared.

OkKkkkkk .. Yeahh ... I am a fan of those type of UTH because I do not prefer the over head lamps.... now mind you I have one of thsoe exact same UTH on my 55 gallon glass tank with two inches of crushed walnut and the top of the crushed walnut was reading at 98.7 and rising...(I heard somewhere that those go to 115 ) ... Well to make long story short. I did not trust those temps and have since hooked a lamp dimmer via the plug in and it is now staying at a constant 88-89 degrees on the hot side. I am happy and satisfied that my little baby ball is not getting burned and it gets constant heat 24/7

[ycgirl]

To be quite honest, many people don't use thermostats. Most people don't know about them and petstores don't usually sell them or even tell you to use them.

Will the snake die? no. Will it thrive? no. The snake should be in a controlled enviroment with heating control to make sure it doesn't get burned.

Is the snake on reptile carpet? If so, it won't get burned. The only problem with reptile carpet is it is a breeding ground for bacteria, smelly, and impossible to clean.

Well it's just for overnight. Someone in the morning would know if I did something wrong I guess. But I'm almost sure what we had back there was thermometer and not a thermostat. Pretty sure it's the one I had linked. It's not on carpet, but aspen bedding. There's also a log hideout in there.

But yeah, I don't even think we carry thermostats at Petsmart. I think that's why we only sell heating pads that are only suppose to raise the temp 5-10 degrees above room temperature.

[k2l3d4]

I think that's why we only sell heating pads that are only suppose to raise the temp 5-10 degrees above room temperature.

I am so sorry to tell you that those heaters get very hot!.. Mine was getting the walnut up to 98 and was rising.

[Kaorte]

I think it is safe to say that many big box pet stores do not use thermostats with their heating pads and their animals don't all die. This does not mean it is okay to run a UTH without one.

I would suggest talking to your manager about getting some proper equipment to ensure the animals aren't cooked while in your care.

[ycgirl]

I think it is safe to say that many big box pet stores do not use thermostats with their heating pads and their animals don't all die. This does not mean it is okay to run a UTH without one.

I would suggest talking to your manager about getting some proper equipment to ensure the animals aren't cooked while in your care.

Well the weird thing is I don't think we use them for our animals on the floor. Just the snake we have in the back room. We also use them when we are feeding snakes in these smaller 'critter keeper' like containers.

But yeah, if it was just thermoMETER it shouldn't be a big deal if it isn't on the cage for a day, right? I mean all they do is take the temp, not regulate it.

[eMonk]

I just picked up a Leviton Plugin Lamp Dimmer @ Walmart for my heat pad. Going back tomorrow for another one. It's working well so far!