Using a heat mat

Does anyone use a heat mat just on its own?


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Yes, I use just Ultratherms plus thermostats for a couple of snakes, but they're youngsters in small tubs where it's easy to maintain a steady temp and the ambient temp in the room never goes below 77F.

What do you mean by "on its own?" Like without any additional heat sources?

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Originally Posted by Caitlin

Yes, I use just an Ultratherm for a couple of snakes, but they're youngsters in small tubs where it's easy to maintain a steady temp and the ambient temp in the room never goes below 77F.

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Really, even when using a heat mat alone with no other heating equipment?


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Originally Posted by Southpaw91

What do you mean by "on its own?" Like without any additional heat sources?

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Yes. No other heat source.


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Oh okay. I was worried you meant without a thermostat. In any case yeah, I do. But I use a bin setup so temps are generally more stable and also I dont think it's advisable to use a lamp or che with the plastic lid lol. Ambient sometimes drops to 72, but floor temps are always 78 and above.

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Originally Posted by Southpaw91

Oh okay. I was worried you meant without a thermostat. In any case yeah, I do. But I use a bin setup so temps are generally more stable and also I dont think it's advisable to use a lamp or che with the plastic lid lol. Ambient sometimes drops to 72, but floor temps are always 78 and above.

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What’s a bin setup? I mainly use vivs.
And can the heat mat online increase the ambient temp with the substrate above it especially on the cool end?
(Also worth noting my BP is about two years old and nearly full grown).


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Originally Posted by MuicyJelon

What’s a bin setup? I mainly use vivs.
And can the heat mat online increase the ambient temp with the substrate above it especially on the cool end?
(Also worth noting my BP is about two years old and nearly full grown).


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I use a plastic bin. It's a 16x24x8 weathertight container. I use two heat mats, one for warm end set at 90° and one for the cool end and 80° for the wintertime. The room temp is usually between 70 and 73, but since plastic containers hold heat pretty well, its usually a bit warmer inside her bin. If you are using glass, a heat mat alone may not be sufficient.

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Originally Posted by Southpaw91

I use a plastic bin. It's a 16x24x8 weathertight container. I use two heat mats, one for warm end set at 90° and one for the cool end and 80° for the wintertime. The room temp is usually between 70 and 73, but since plastic containers hold heat pretty well, its usually a bit warmer inside her bin. If you are using glass, a heat mat alone may not be sufficient.

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Not using a tank. It’s a Vivexotic viv.
Would be using a glass cover which will reduce the chance of burns. https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...bb67922055.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...2501896715.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...77952c5e20.jpg


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I have never kept a snake in a viv/aquarium (assuming you mean the glass tanks, yes?) so I could very well be wrong, but my initial impression is that just a heat mat + thermostat would not be sufficient in that case. I think that most of us who only use a mat/thermostat are using bins or tubs supplemented by ambient heat. Tubs and bins maintain a stable heat gradient that I am not sure can be achieved in a tank.

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Originally Posted by Caitlin

I have never kept a snake in a viv/aquarium (assuming you mean the glass tanks, yes?) so I could very well be wrong, but my initial impression is that just a heat mat + thermostat would not be sufficient in that case. I think that most of us who only use a mat/thermostat are using bins or tubs supplemented by ambient heat. Tubs and bins maintain a stable heat gradient that I am not sure can be achieved in a tank.

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Mostly likley they mean a wooden enclosure.

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Originally Posted by Caitlin

I have never kept a snake in a viv/aquarium (assuming you mean the glass tanks, yes?) so I could very well be wrong, but my initial impression is that just a heat mat + thermostat would not be sufficient in that case. I think that most of us who only use a mat/thermostat are using bins or tubs supplemented by ambient heat. Tubs and bins maintain a stable heat gradient that I am not sure can be achieved in a tank.

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This.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...44399d86b8.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...fc9e99fa52.jpg


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That looks very nice! In an enclosure like that I might try a heat mat at each end - one set for the warm side; one set for the cool side. But more experienced keepers might have better input.

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Originally Posted by Caitlin

That looks very nice! In an enclosure like that I might try a heat mat at each end - one set for the warm side; one set for the cool side. But more experienced keepers might have better input.

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There is three vents in it two at the top in each corner and one at the bottom in the middle. Just in case you were wondering.


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Yes it can be done. But it depends on the ambient temperature if the room the enclosure is in. If the room stats at a constant temp of 78+ then yes, you can get away with using a heat mat for a hot spot with no additional heat.

Heat mats are designed solely to create a hot spot and not for ambient temps. Of course, they will raise ambient temperature, but not a lot since that's not how they're designed.

I do have a few enclosures that I only use a heat mat for, but I keep my snake room heated accordingly.

How can I stat one up properly? I use a Habistat pulse thermostat, I can use it for a heat mat but I don’t where the probe should be.


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https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...3b564ac733.jpg


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Originally Posted by jmcrook

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...3b564ac733.jpg


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It’s a viv so it won’t be going inside as the heat wouldn’t get through. There’ll be a cover over the mats to prevent burns. That’s why I don’t know where to place the probe.


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Is that a wooden vivarium? If so, I don't think I've heard of anyone using a heat mat in one. I've never personally used a wooden Viv myself though so I can't really comment on that part.

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All of the photos I've seen online with wooden vivariums use either radiant heat panels or more frequently bulbs.

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Originally Posted by WhompingWillow

All of the photos I've seen online with wooden vivariums use either radiant heat panels or more frequently bulbs.

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I started off using CHE’s but my bp would wrap himself around the guard so I stopped using them and switched to rhp’s, one lasted for a year replaced that one in November after it burnt out and it smelt, got the replacement in November & it did the same, got the replacement for that one last week & that has also done the same.


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Originally Posted by MuicyJelon

I started off using CHE’s but my bp would wrap himself around the guard so I stopped using them and switched to rhp’s, one lasted for a year replaced that one in November after it burnt out and it smelt, got the replacement in November & it did the same, got the replacement for that one last week & that has also done the same.


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https://www.pro-rep.co.uk/wp-content...ual-a5-sml.pdf


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Originally Posted by MuicyJelon

It’s a viv so it won’t be going inside as the heat wouldn’t get through. There’ll be a cover over the mats to prevent burns. That’s why I don’t know where to place the probe.


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You will have to hot glue the probe if you want to do that and even than it will not prevent all the issues that can arise such as temp shooting up when cool down by urine or water.

And the "there will be a cover over the mats" is gonna make it a fire hazard as well and won't prevent anything.

In your situation what you need is a RHP (Radiant heat panel)

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Originally Posted by Stewart_Reptiles

You will have to hot glue the probe if you want to do that and even than it will not prevent all the issues that can arise such as temp shooting up when cool down by urine or water.

And the "there will be a cover over the mats" is gonna make it a fire hazard as well and won't prevent anything.

In your situation what you need is a RHP (Radiant heat panel)

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See my previous posts about the rhp.


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Originally Posted by MuicyJelon

See my previous posts about the rhp.


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You need to find a better brand or supplier over the year I have my fair share or equipment failure, I just made the effort to find better.

When it comes to husbandry you have a few choices, provide a safe environment and mount the supply the way it should (meaning a probe must be directly secured on the UTH if using a UTH) or you can do it your way and possibly put your animal's health in jeopardy.

Ultimately YOUR choice.

The last option is to use a CHE or heat lamp outside the enclosure (because a lamp should never be in an enclosure with a snake even with a cage), that will require simple modification, hole in the top of the enclosure, mesh and the bulb will have to be recessed not laying directly on the mesh top)

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Originally Posted by Stewart_Reptiles

or you can do it your way and possibly put your animal's health in jeopardy.

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I come on these forums to ask questions and find solutions to any issues that I have. Not to be ridiculed.


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Originally Posted by MuicyJelon

I come on these forums to ask questions and find solutions to any issues that I have. Not to be ridiculed.


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That wasn't ridicule. That was a solution.

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Originally Posted by MuicyJelon

I come on these forums to ask questions and find solutions to any issues that I have. Not to be ridiculed.


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Not ridicule. Help from an experienced keeper. If you ask questions, expect answers

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Originally Posted by MuicyJelon

It’s a viv so it won’t be going inside as the heat wouldn’t get through. There’ll be a cover over the mats to prevent burns. That’s why I don’t know where to place the probe.


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Put the probe between the uth and the guard on the side the snake will be on. Make sure to firmly secure it. The main issue I see is having wiring in the enclosure. Also if moisture gets into the housing compartment for the uth it could cause issues. You could be extra safe and put substrate trays and/or liner in addition to further protect the snake. Also you can use bulbs with a heat shield... don’t see a problem there. Although don’t use a che on certain materials as it could melt it without extra heat protection.


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Originally Posted by MuicyJelon

Not using a tank. It’s a Vivexotic viv.
Would be using a glass cover which will reduce the chance of burns. https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...bb67922055.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...2501896715.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...77952c5e20.jpg


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Put probe between glass and uth and it’ll be fine imo


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Originally Posted by MuicyJelon

I come on these forums to ask questions and find solutions to any issues that I have. Not to be ridiculed.


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That's called FACT, sorry you can handle people telling the truth and being factual.

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Originally Posted by MarkL1561

Put probe between glass and uth and it’ll be fine imo


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That’s what I thought but didn’t really know if it was the right place to put it or not. Thanks.
Will probably be getting a new stat as that one certainly won’t fit. https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...4271146eaa.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...4a04b5baff.jpg


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Originally Posted by MuicyJelon

That’s what I thought but didn’t really know if it was the right place to put it or not. Thanks.
Will probably be getting a new stat as that one certainly won’t fit. https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...4271146eaa.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...4a04b5baff.jpg


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Out of curiosity... why not just put the uth under the enclosure? It’s probably in the thread so I apologize for asking again...


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Originally Posted by MarkL1561

Out of curiosity... why not just put the uth under the enclosure? It’s probably in the thread so I apologize for asking again...


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Heat wouldn’t get through. [emoji106]


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If you have to secure it on top of glass and put a protective covering over everything. Essentially create another bottom then put substrate on that. Although then you won’t have proper ventilation. I’d just put it on the bottom and return the gear you don’t need. For ambient temps either heat the room or use a lamp or rhp.


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Originally Posted by MuicyJelon

Heat wouldn’t get through. [emoji106]


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It will unless the bottom of the enclosure is 2x4s or something. I use an uth on my melamine enclosure and it works fine. I have two probes. The thermostat probe is set higher because heat is lost by the time it gets to the enclosure. Due to that I have another probe on the floor of the enclosure that constantly displays temp as well as checking with a temp gun.


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Honestly, I'd look into a different brand of RHP and do it right rather than trying to Jimmy rig everything.

Either that or cut a hole on top and put a screen in place and heat from above.

I have one wooden enclosure still and trying to get a UTH to heat through it was like trying to shovel poop against the tide. I stopped trying years ago. I simply heat that enclosure from above. Easy breezy

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Originally Posted by Craiga 01453

Honestly, I'd look into a different brand of RHP and do it right rather than trying to Jimmy rig everything.

Either that or cut a hole on top and put a screen in place and heat from above.

I have one wooden enclosure still and trying to get a UTH to heat through it was like trying to shovel poop against the tide. I stopped trying years ago. I simply heat that enclosure from above. Easy breezy

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It’s all sorted now. [emoji106]


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