heating

[paul]

i was just wondering if it is necasary to have a under tank heater for my new two month old snow corn or is my heat lamp during the day good enough.

thanks

[Vanan]

In my experience I rarely use heat lamps for colubrids. Number one, cos they dry the air inside out, resulting sometimes in bad sheds. Also most NA colubrids benefit from belly heat, making heat tape a preferred choice. Also having belly heat 24/7 may be better if your house drop too low at nights.

Many people have had success with heat lamps but I find it easier to control the amount of heat with underheating. Always make sure, if you decide to use heat tape, rig it up to a rheostat or a dimmer switch. Safer.

Good luck!

[J_Riley]

Personally, I have undertank heating 24/7 that usually maintains the heat right around 70-72. During the day (9am-4pm) I have a small CHE on the hot side which brings it up to 80-82 by midday (while the cool side stays between 72-74) and it hovers right there until the timer goes off. 5 times out of ten, when the thermo reads 80+ on the warm side, the snake is down at the cool end.

[Burmies]

A heat lamp during the day is good but you have to have the tank temp between 70 and 74 degrees at night.

Burmies

[marisa]

Burmies stop answering questions with half correct info, or no info at all. It is getting tiring.

You DO NOT *have* to have the temp between 70-74 at night. That makes no sense seeing as that is a megear (sp) 4 degree differance.

If your temp goes to 70 at night your fine, if you choose to leave the heat source on all night (as long as its not white light) you are fine as well. Normal household temps don't drop into dangerous levels for corns overnight.

Heat lamps don't work as good for them as under the tank pads, but they won't cause "harm" heating pads are just better. Vanan igave you some good advice as to why under the tank is better.

Good luck!

Marisa

[Lisa]

Our corns are thriving at 78-80f all the time... they may get a little temp increase from the florecent lamp. They're thriving and rarey refuse a meal (once in a while they'll refuse in shed)