Heating problem HELP!

[nazanova]

Hey guys I'm in real trouble right now. I'm due to get a Corn Snake tomorrow but today I've been having trouble getting my temperatures right! At the moment I have a 12W heat mat that is connected to a Thermostat that is set to the highest temp possible but my thermometer on the hot side is still reading 20C when it should obviously be much higher then that. I've tried unplugging the heat mat from the thermostat and running it solo but it's still saying it's 20-22C! Everything is brand new, all windows are closed so I don't know what the problem is? It could either be my thermometer is messed up, the heat mat isn't powerful enough or there's something wrong with the thermostat because I have noticed that on the thermostat there are 2 lights, one that shows that it's on and the other to show that the heat mat is on. The power light is on all the time obviously but I've sat and watched as the light to show that there's heat is on for about 5 mins then the thermostat turns it off! I thought I'd ask for you guys advice before i go and purchase anything. What do you suggest? I'm thinking more powerful heat mat?

[pdomensis]

First-your corn snake isn't going to suffer from 20C temps for a while so don't fret.
Second-where is your probe set and what temperatures are you trying to reach?
Third-how are you reading temps? If you're using a dial thermometer set up on the wall it's not going to register the heat mat temps.

I would use a good temp gun before making any other decisions.

[Mikoh4792]

Hi, here are a few things you could do to help us help you.

1. Post pics of enclosure
2. What is the temperature inside the house?(or the room rather)
3. What thermostat, heatmat, and thermometer are you using exactly?

[franks]

Like stated above make sure you are using a temp gun and post some pics of your setup for us. Plug the heat mat directly into the wall and feel it with your hand to make sure it is working and Turning on.

[nazanova]

It won't let me upload more then one picture so I'll explain my set up as best as I can. I have 2 thermometers that are stuck on the walls inside of the cage, one on the hot side, one on the cool side. I have the heat mat underneath the left side of the cage that covers about half of the left side.

[nazanova]

Hi, here are a few things you could do to help us help you.

1. Post pics of enclosure
2. What is the temperature inside the house?(or the room rather)
3. What thermostat, heatmat, and thermometer are you using exactly?


I'd say room temperature is a standard 15-18C and I'm using a habistat thermostat and the rest of my set up is from a website called Komodo

[nazanova]

First-your corn snake isn't going to suffer from 20C temps for a while so don't fret.
Second-where is your probe set and what temperatures are you trying to reach?
Third-how are you reading temps? If you're using a dial thermometer set up on the wall it's not going to register the heat mat temps.

I would use a good temp gun before making any other decisions.

My probe is set directly on the heat mat underneath the tank and I did not think about your third point. Of course the thermometer wouldn't be able to pick up the floor temperature if it's stuck on the wall! Duhhhh dumb moment! Lol I think you might have just solved everything haha and I am looking into purchasing a temp gun.

[nazanova]

I think I just had a real dumb moment guys. From what Pdomensis said made me think obviously if a thermometer is stuck to the wall of the cage it won't be able to read the floor temperature! Ive buried my thermometer under the substrate on the hot side and check in a few minutes what the temperature says. If it goes up... Well then I'm just embarrassed.

[Mikoh4792]

I think I just had a real dumb moment guys. From what Pdomensis said made me think obviously if a thermometer is stuck to the wall of the cage it won't be able to read the floor temperature! Ive buried my thermometer under the substrate on the hot side and check in a few minutes what the temperature says. If it goes up... Well then I'm just embarrassed.

No need to be embarrassed, many people make the same mistake. I know I did when I first started keeping reptiles years back.

[Mikoh4792]

the stick on thermometers are not very reliable. I would look into good digital thermometers such as acurite(there are two versions, one with a probe, and one without...either works well).

[pdomensis]

I think I just had a real dumb moment guys. From what Pdomensis said made me think obviously if a thermometer is stuck to the wall of the cage it won't be able to read the floor temperature! Ive buried my thermometer under the substrate on the hot side and check in a few minutes what the temperature says. If it goes up... Well then I'm just embarrassed.

My work here is done. Time to start the weekend. :D

[nazanova]

Thanks a lot guys for your help if it wasn't for you I would've probably gone out and bought loads of new equipment! Lol. Temperature is slowly but surely going up so thank god for that! Thanks again guys and due to that scare I have ordered myself a temperature gun.