Exo Terrible? [Heatpads]

[nev]

Just wondering...
I have to get a heat pad in a rush and the only shops I can get to in this time sell Exo Terra pads, there is no other option atm. I had one a while back for my gecko and the heat that came out was weak to say the least. It was a desert pad. Ive heard this is the case for all their pads, hence the nick name Exo Terrible.
My question is, I have to heat an 18x18x18 Exo Terra terrarium for a sand boa.
What pad size would you recommend?

[marvelfreak]

I said a 6x9 also a thermostat. Then you can turn it up or down to get the desired temperature.

[kaikara]

exo terra heat pads don't get very hot by design. The desert ones only get to about 95-100 when I have tested them and I have a couple that I have used.

[NennaMeerkat]

I personally have seen no problem with using a under the tank heating pad beneath my snake's aquarium and getting to hot...

[Ch^4]

^^ While you may not have seen any overheating problems, it can and does happen...unregulated UTH's can cause severe and sometimes fatal injuries to your snake. As Chuck said, it's always best to regulate any heat source with a thermostat.

Sorry, I don't have an appropriate answer for UTH size.

[NennaMeerkat]

Meh true I guess. Guess I got my hands on my snake I would notice something wrong. Wouldn't know how to regulate this pad considering it doesn't even have an "off" switch like her light does. Maybe during the summer/spring I will unplug it and just use the light. But with 19 degree temps at night I don't have any other choice. The heat lamp is right where I sleep would be impossible to leave it on all night >.<

[Ch^4]

^^ I'm not saying you shouldn't use an UTH!!! I'm just saying it's best to regulate with a thermostat!

[NennaMeerkat]

Understandable Ch, totally. I knew that is what you didn't mean.

[Ch^4]

I wouldn't want to see that cute lil hoggy of yours get burned, especially since she likes to burrow and probably gets close to the UTH!

[NennaMeerkat]

Yeah that has been concerning me...I think I will look for one that I can adjust the temp when I can get enough cash again. Things are so damn tight.

[kaikara]

Yeah that has been concerning me...I think I will look for one that I can adjust the temp when I can get enough cash again. Things are so damn tight.

While a thermostat is best you could also use a rheostat. You can either buy a reptile one or just make one from a standard dimmer switch. It will cost you less then 10 bucks. You have to manually adjust the temp though testing - put a probe on the floor over the heatpad and then play with the dimmer until you get the right temp. You also have to be careful doing this if you have big swings in ambient temp in the room then you will have to readjust. Persoanlly, I like to use rheos in conjuction with thermostats as it will protect against a termostat failing.

[NennaMeerkat]

While a thermostat is best you could also use a rheostat. You can either buy a reptile one or just make one from a standard dimmer switch. It will cost you less then 10 bucks. You have to manually adjust the temp though testing - put a probe on the floor over the heatpad and then play with the dimmer until you get the right temp. You also have to be careful doing this if you have big swings in ambient temp in the room then you will have to readjust. Persoanlly, I like to use rheos in conjuction with thermostats as it will protect against a termostat failing.

Yeah I am no good with getting something like that setup. Wouldn't feel comfortable or know the first thing. After doing some poking around the net most people who use them like I have right now (and with my corns back when I had them) without a gauge or thermostat haven't reported having burning problems with the kind that I got by just leaving it on all the time. It doesn't ever get hot enough to super heat the glass/substrate and then hurt the snake. Put my hand directly on the glass right over the pad and was able to hold it there without feeling it being even mildly disturbing. I know my snake is different than my hand of course but it can't be so different that if I feel no discomfort she won't as well right?

[Marica]

I use lamp dimmers on some of my tanks that are in rooms where the temperature doesn't fluctuate too much, 'cause, like kaikara mentioned they do require some manual adjustments. Once I find the sweet spot for the switch I put a mark beside it. They usually cost around the same as the components you would need to build one (around $10) and can be bought from most hardware or department stores.

http://feeds2.yourstorewizards.com/3201/images/200x200/tabletop-lamp-dimmer-l32-tb103-1lw.jpg

As for the Exo Terra heat pads, I have never used them as I'd heard that the desert model gets way too hot and rainforest doesn't get warm enough and both are difficult to regulate. I use ZooMed heat pads on all my glass tanks and have been happy with them for years.

[NennaMeerkat]

What exactly is that called cause if I can buy it online I can use my paypal credit for it.

[Marica]

They're called lamp dimmers as they are commonly used with lamps. The one pictured is manufactured by Leviton, but another common brand is Lutron. I usually pick mine up at Walmart and have seen them for sale in other department stores and hardware stores. It looks like you can buy them online from Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=lamp+dimmer&x=0&y=0).

[NennaMeerkat]

Thanks muchly! I found one on home depot online so I snagged one :) Now I just have to figure out how to keep her warm at night until I get the dimmer sometime next week.