Under tank heating pad. Will she burn herself?

[Tinaboa]

I have an under tank heating pad under my boa'a tank. It is stuck directly to the glass and is warm to touch. Will she burn herself when burroing under her substrate and laying directly on top of the area. Also, would she know it's to hot for her to lay on.

[Mikoh4792]

no thermostat?

[Tinaboa]

Not at the moment, no.

[Mikoh4792]

I'd monitor the temps regularly then, with a heat gun or thermometer.... and then get a thermostat asap. Why didn't you have a thermostat before putting the animal in?

[Tinaboa]

I did have a thermometer, they were the ones that stick to the glass. She kept hanging on them and knocking them off. Eventually they stopped sticking so I took them out and lost them when I moved. I haven't got back to the store to get new ones yet.

Is there something I can buy to control how hot the heat pad gets? It's just a regular zoomed one. That's what you mean by a thermostat, correct?

[Mikoh4792]

You can get a rheostat dimmer from the petstore. Almost all petstores have this product:
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/images/Categoryimages/larger/lg-231703-47070-reptile.jpg

Although with that you'd have to manually control the heat. I'd rather just spend the money right now for a proper thermostat. Herpstats, vivarium electronics, helix...etc they are all good thermostats.

Stick on thermometers are no good. Get something like an accurite or even a zoomed/exoterra thermometer with a probe. Infrared heat guns are also a great investment, as you can point and shoot to get a reading anytime you want.

[formica]

pulsed or dimmer thermostats are the best way to control heat pad temperature, pulsed units can be bought cheap from ebay or amazon

a manual dimmer may help prevent burns, but it could also leave her without the temperature she needs if for eg the room is a bit colder, or warmer, these temperature fluctuations happen in most homes hour by hour

analog thermometers measure air temperature, not ground temps where she is basking - heat mats can easily reach dangerous temperatures without a thermostat

[Kid Boa]

Hydrofarm makes a very good inexpensive thermostat.

http://www.amazon.ca/Jumpstart-Digital-Thermostat-Heat-Mats/dp/B000NZZG3S/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=300O20833XK6R&coliid=I37C4XX08P5E

[thinkbig317]

^^^ this ^^^ Hydrofarm is a great choice for the money!

[revent]

You can get a rheostat dimmer from the petstore. Almost all petstores have this product


Nearly no pet stores within reasonable driving distance to me have any sort of thermostat or rheostat or heat controlling device of any kind for reptiles. Nor do any of the employees even mention the possibility of temperature control when selling people reptiles. But they all sell heat mats and ceramic heat bulbs and such.
I live in a fairly large city too. The need for heat control just isn't shared with the public its sad.

[Mikoh4792]

wow... they are pretty late in the times then...

When you can't find something local... the internet is your friend =]

[Terranaut]

^^^ this ^^^ Hydrofarm is a great choice for the money!

I also agree. I have many of these and they work great. But I do monitor them with the odd heat gun check. These only cost a bit more than a rheostat.

[Kid Boa]

Nearly no pet stores within reasonable driving distance to me have any sort of thermostat or rheostat or heat controlling device of any kind for reptiles. Nor do any of the employees even mention the possibility of temperature control when selling people reptiles. But they all sell heat mats and ceramic heat bulbs and such.
I live in a fairly large city too. The need for heat control just isn't shared with the public its sad.

There are Hydrofarms on Amazon for $40.00 Canadian and they ship world wide for only a few bucks, maybe even free.

Also, here is a link to Hydrofarm WHERE TO BUY page, maybe there is a location near you.

Hydrofarm - Where to Buy (http://www.hydrofarm.com/where-to-buy/index.php)

Hope this helps. :)

[sharthun]

I also agree. I have many of these and they work great. But I do monitor them with the odd heat gun check. These only cost a bit more than a rheostat.

I agree! I have 3 hydrofarms myself. If worried about cost this is the way to go.

[MizCandice]

alot can be said for ebay when there arent any local options and it will come right to the door.

[shaunyboy]

i had a carpet python trail itself through its water bowl,then push the substrate off the bottom of a plastic tank where the heat mat was,and burn itself when the water on its body heated up

cheers shaun

[Hurrok]

Hydrofarm makes a very good inexpensive thermostat.

Jumpstart Digital Thermostat for Heat Mats: Amazon.ca: Patio, Lawn & Garden (http://www.amazon.ca/Jumpstart-Digital-Thermostat-Heat-Mats/dp/B000NZZG3S/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=300O20833XK6R&coliid=I37C4XX08P5E)

I definitely recommend this one as well. It's cheaper and it does the job, but do check the temps once and awhile as it can be a few degrees off sometimes. Just takes some fiddling with to get it perfect and you are set!

And trust me, you don't want to have to deal with a burn so get it as soon as possible ;)