Arg :(

I just got a digital thermometer and it shows that my 600gram royal is at 85F. of course this is low, but the thermostat is on the max setting! :/ what should I do?

what kind of thermostat and thermometer do you have?

Exo terra reptile digital thermometer. and a Mat Stat from habistat and it's a 12inch exo terra heat mat.

Where is your thermometer probe located? And where is the thermostat probe located? Probe placement could have a lot to do with why your temps won't get up high enough...

Also, what is the thermostat set to? I read a little about that thermostat and it might be the problem area.... :oops:

It's set full, like 94F, and both probes are next to each other. I have newspaper substrate and the UTH is under the viv, the probes are next to each other on the inside on the wood above the heat mat

So, you have a wooden viv and the uth is on the outside and under the viv? Is this right? If so, that's a problem because it is hard to heat through wood. Lots of people with wooden viv's put the uth INSIDE the viv and then cover that area with linoleum tiles as a barrier between it and the snake.
Also, I don't understand about BOTH of the the probes being on the inside?? The thermostat is on the uth to control the temps and the other probe is inside the viv to monitor the temps.
Have you thought about getting a radiant heat panel? These are heat panels that live above the floor, on the lid of the viv. They radiate heat down- like the sun. They work really well in wooden vivs.
Also, I think your thermostat might also be lending itself to the problems. It doesn't seem that it is a dependable model that will just run without lots of tweaking. Have you thought about a Helix or a Herpstat?
Lastly, are you in the UK? If so, Derek (Dr. Del) might be your best resource for things available in the UK... ;)

Thank you! I was actually considering bringing the UTH's inside the vivs. thanks.

You're welcome! :)
Make certain you cover the uth with something like sticky linoleum tiles that will completely cover the uth, and surrounding area, in such a way that the snake will never be able to push the barrier aside and come into direct contact with the uth. Very Important :)

Thank you, I have placed a large heavy hide over some newspaper over the UTH, she will not be able to push her hide out of the way either because ontop of that is part of her big log :) So fingers crossed this will work, Ill leave it 20mins before I check the temps, give it time to warm up.. If it's worked, ill do this on my cornsnake tanks too! :)

Awww :/ her Temp is now at 87F :/
My two corn snake set-ups "exactly the same vivs, heat mats, and thurmostats" are now perfectly set up between 84-86F

:/ I wonder why her heating has trouble reaching 90F :/

Quote:

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Originally Posted by GTKeeper

Thank you, I have placed a large heavy hide over some newspaper over the UTH, she will not be able to push her hide out of the way either because ontop of that is part of her big log :) So fingers crossed this will work, Ill leave it 20mins before I check the temps, give it time to warm up.. If it's worked, ill do this on my cornsnake tanks too! :)

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You only have newspaper between the UTH and the snake?

As in you have an electrical device in your snake's enclosure and no barrier (paper does not count) between the snake and the device.

I hope I read that wrong...

Bruce

PS: Snakes pee... ALOT.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Loft Lizard

You only have newspaper between the UTH and the snake?

As in you have an electrical device in your snake's enclosure and no barrier (paper does not count) between the snake and the device.

I hope I read that wrong...

Bruce

PS: Snakes pee... ALOT.

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Sorry I forgot to add... if I am reading that correctly. GET THAT HEATING MAT OUT OF THAT SNAKE'S ENCLOSURE.

Bruce

Well, I believe they say put something over the UTH encase it gets hot. However.. My UTH is on a thurmostat, and therefor it won't get hotter than I set it. And if it does, it'll be like 1 or 2F.
So where is the problem?
I actually do have a slice of thin wood somewhere, I could put that over it, but it's plastic coated and won't it melt?

Bruce- lots of people put uth's under vinyl tile within their wood viv's. The issue with the OP is that he has forgotten to do as I suggested which was to put vinyl tile down over the floor of the viv to keep out water, pee, etc. and also let the heat come through ;)

Ohh! Sorry :/ I thought you just meant to stop the snake getting burnt, which would be impossible when a thurmostat is set, however I realise now that electrics and snake pee could = bad.

What should I put between them? Would a slice of thin wood work?

Just double checked this AM and the temps are still 85F :/ The heat-mat is about 2 year old now, could that be a problem?

Ya know what? Do you have cash? If so, get this: http://www.reptilebasics.com/2x3-Cag...h-p-16286.html. You've got a working t'stat and so you'd just need this reptile cage and belly heat and all will be right with your world :gj:
What do you think???

I already have nice vivs, they cost quite a bit too, nearly £250 each at 3ft ;)

Well, to keep those cages nice add some self-stick vinyl tiles over the heat pad. They really do work, are easy to clean, and look nice when you get a good color/pattern. Also they are rather cheap. It's a simple way to keep your snake safe.

Also, you might think about getting an Ultratherm pad from Reptile Basics or some flexwatt instead of that older pad. Then your temps should even out to where you want them.

Hey, thank you! I just got back from work.. Thank you for the advise, we actually have some of those self stick tiles spare we used for the bathroom, I have ordered a heat-mat and im going to pick it up first think in the morning, I also have a load of other stuff to pick up :)
I guess once the tile is stuck down though, won't it make the inside of the viv really sticky and if I ever change vivs over make things hard? Also, won't it melt? Just a few questions, thanks :)

It may make the inside floor sticky underneath the tiles, but there are products out there to remove stickiness even from wood. :)

My method for the sticking down of the tiles is to leave the paper on the parts of the tile that would go over the heat pad itself. That way, the tiles are stuck down around the pad but not onto it.

And it would not melt as long as the heat pad were controlled by a thermostat, which it should be anyway. :)

Hope that helps.

A big help actually, thank you :salute:

Hi,

To be honest if I'm putting a heat mat inside a tank I prefer to do it when the animal isn't in residence so I can silicon down the covering to make it totally water tight.

So next time you move him to a new enclosure I would try and plan all that out first.


dr del