do bci really need h heat pad???

[snakeman879]

Do bci need heat pads or is a basking area ok.

[Mikoh4792]

Do bci need heat pads or is a basking area ok.

They don't have heat pads in the wild so they don't "need" it.

Heat pad or heat lamp, as long you can provide a thermal gradient they can use efficiently, it doesn't matter what you use.

[snakeman879]

Thats good to know my heat pad just broke and didend really want to get a new one as my boa is heavy and was worreyd bout thermal blocking and my boa getting burnt will just stick to my heat lamp naw then thank u.

[Mikoh4792]

why would there be thermal blocking?

[SnakeyJay]

From a heavy bodied snake... They cause the heat to get trapped and build up underneath them...

[Mikoh4792]

From a heavy bodied snake... They cause the heat to get trapped and build up underneath them...

How? if you put stacking feet or something to distance the bottom of the enclosure and the floor you should be fine. Also are you(op) using a thermostat? I don't see why there would be thermal blocking if you are controlling the heat source and creating some distance around the heat pad.

[snakeman879]

Hi as above thats what I thaught with the weight and I saw on a care sheet that bigger snakes prefer ambient temps and a basking spot

[Mikoh4792]

Hi as above thats what I thaught with the weight and I saw on a care sheet that bigger snakes prefer ambient temps and a basking spot

All snakes prefer ambient temps no matter where the heat comes from. Even if you are using belly heat you still would need to provide ambient temps of a given range.

[snakeman879]

Staking feet ?? Never herd ov that one. Yes I do use a thermostat but got told that a heavy snake. Could still cause a thermal block as the heat cant escape properly or am I wrong?

[Mikoh4792]

Staking feet ?? Never herd ov that one. Yes I do use a thermostat but got told that a heavy snake. Could still cause a thermal block as the heat cant escape properly or am I wrong?

That is what the stacking heat is for. You never leave a heat pad pinched between the cage and the surface it's sitting on with heavy snakes.

Stacking feet, it's anything that you put under a structure so that there is space between the bottom of the structure(in this case a cage) and the floor. I use adhesive rubber feet, you can use anything from wooden blocks, books, cardboard...etc

This is what I use
Amazon.com : StarTech 1-1/4-Inch Self-Adhesive Rubber Feet for PC Cases RUBBERFEET - 4 Pack - Black : Electronics (http://www.amazon.com/StarTech-4-Inch-Self-Adhesive-Rubber-RUBBERFEET/dp/B00032Q30Q/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1375880819&sr=8-3&keywords=adhesive+rubber+feet)

[snakeman879]

Thanks for the info. If it wont harm my boa I will stick to the heat lamp to give a basking spot and also it provides the ambient temps

[Jendee]

Ive heard of the thermal blocking thing before from over the pond all my boas have belly heat without stacking feet. I think it might be the difference in products. In stacked cages and in racks. I believe belly heat is best for digestion. Boas dont have it in the wild but snakes do tend to seek out warm surfaces ie roads, rocks

[snakeman879]

Ye the heat lamp is going to create a nice warm area so that should be ok that is what they would have in the wilde. Dont mind getting her a new heat mat just thaught if it is not really needed that I would give it a miss and stick to my lamp

[Mikoh4792]

Ye the heat lamp is going to create a nice warm area so that should be ok that is what they would have in the wilde. Dont mind getting her a new heat mat just thaught if it is not really needed that I would give it a miss and stick to my lamp

Yup it doesn't matter what you use as long as you provide the temps. However a snake would not have a heat lamp in the wild. They would have both overhead heat and belly heat depending on where they choose to bask( on a rock, under a log or on a branch).

[snakeman879]

Fair enough good answer will stik to my lamp then if I c a change in behaviour I will replace the heat mat imedetly cant c a problem tho as she still has a basking spot. Will deffo put new heat in when I build the new viv. As it will be a biger one so plenty room for both

[Mikoh4792]

Fair enough good answer will stik to my lamp then if I c a change in behaviour I will replace the heat mat imedetly cant c a problem tho as she still has a basking spot. Will deffo put new heat in when I build the new viv. As it will be a biger one so plenty room for both

Never said there was a problem.

[snakeman879]

I know u dident thas why I said good answer. Just said that I dont c a problem with providing just one heat source thats what I was geting at

[rocknhorse76]

I only use belly heat for all of my snakes and no problems with thermal blocking, even with my 10 lb Dumeril's male. I don't like heat lamps, as they tend to dry out the viv too much. I am able to keep the temps in the room at 78-80 degrees where I'm at now though. If I move somewhere cooler, I may end up using an RHP to keep the ambient temps up, but will still use the belly heat as well. Just remember that humidity levels are just as important as the temps.

[snakeman879]

I hav a digital thermomiter and it also reads humidity its steady at 65% and temps 29 to 30 c and I put bigger water bowl when she in shedd. And had no problem for a year with the humidity

[snakeman879]

I hav a digital thermomiter and it also reads humidity its steady at 65% and temps 29 to 30 c and I put bigger water bowl when she in shedd. And had no problem for a year with the humidity

[snakeman879]

Sorry for the second post mistake lol