Hello from the South East of England

[shotputtman]

Hi all

I have been waiting for about 18 months now to purchase my first snake.
The reason its been so long was i lived at the Mother in Laws due to saving up for the mortgage deposit and NO way would she have a snake.

We have started on a 4 week old Corn snake and unfortunatelly i allowed the children to name him and he is now called Houdini (as many snakes i am sure are called) but hey its their snake too...

The main question i would like to be answered quickly is the temp in the vivarium.

I have a plastic viv while i build a solid wood one over the next few months or so to match the lounge furniture (wifes orders) and i seem to be having problems with the thermostat.

I have a heatpad under the tank, linked to a Microclimate ministat 100 and a digital thermometer. The thermometer reads from the same place as the ministat (ends cable tied trying to get a better/closer reading) and also takes a reading from the furthest corner in the tank (coolest).
The ministat is set at 30c but the thermometer goes up and down between 26.5 and 29.5 over about a 7 minute period.
Is this normal being that the thermostat sensor is much smaller in diameter or do i have a problem?

I have tried kidding the wife that we need to take him to our bedroom tonight so i can keep an eye on him but i didnt win.

Look forward to chatting and reading on the forums

Thanks for reading and Happy New Year to all

Thanks
Sean

[infernalis]

sSnakeSs.com - Rules (http://www.ssnakess.com/index.php?page=rules)

http://www.thamfriends.com/mat.jpg

[CK SandBoas]

Hi there, welcome to the forums:)

[Norm66]

Welcome! I can't help with your problem. Sorry. Someone will soon I'm sure.

[marvelfreak]

Hello and welcome to our zoo Sean. I am not familiar with that brand of ministat, but it sound like you may have a bad one. If it was 3 degrees difference in Fahrenheit it wouldn't be any thing to worry about. But 3 degrees in Celsius is a big difference. It could be your heat pad, but i say it most like is your ministat.

[ZARADOZIA]

Hyas & Welcome!!

I have had readings fluxuate often when setting up enclosures, which is why I always give myself a full day to monitor temps because they fluxuate when the heater turns on, AC turns on, doors open & close. I should also tell you that I am anal about the details, so someone may have a better answer for you. But the short answer from what I have experienced is Yes, it is normal for the temp to fluxuate a few degrees.

Hello and welcome to our zoo Sean. I am not familiar with that brand of ministat, but it sound like you may have a bad one. If it was 3 degrees difference in Fahrenheit it wouldn't be any thing to worry about. But 3 degrees in Celsius is a big difference. It could be your heat pad, but i say it most like is your ministat.


Good point, I didn't even compute Celsius! TY for catching that!!

[snake man12]

Welcome!!!

[Lankyrob]

Hi there, your best bet in my opinion is to get your hands on a laser thermometer, mine is an absolute godsend as can check multiple locations of multiple vivariums really easily and quickly, it may be that you have a dodgy thermometer that isnt showing consistent reading or it could be the thermostat. You really need a secondary temperature reading to be sure.

[Swany]

I was given this piece of advice yesterday and got one on ebay for £15.

[UwabamiReptiles]

Welcome to the forum!

[shaunyboy]

Hi all

I have been waiting for about 18 months now to purchase my first snake.
The reason its been so long was i lived at the Mother in Laws due to saving up for the mortgage deposit and NO way would she have a snake.

We have started on a 4 week old Corn snake and unfortunatelly i allowed the children to name him and he is now called Houdini (as many snakes i am sure are called) but hey its their snake too...

The main question i would like to be answered quickly is the temp in the vivarium.

I have a plastic viv while i build a solid wood one over the next few months or so to match the lounge furniture (wifes orders) and i seem to be having problems with the thermostat.

I have a heatpad under the tank, linked to a Microclimate ministat 100 and a digital thermometer. The thermometer reads from the same place as the ministat (ends cable tied trying to get a better/closer reading) and also takes a reading from the furthest corner in the tank (coolest).
The ministat is set at 30c but the thermometer goes up and down between 26.5 and 29.5 over about a 7 minute period.
Is this normal being that the thermostat sensor is much smaller in diameter or do i have a problem?

I have tried kidding the wife that we need to take him to our bedroom tonight so i can keep an eye on him but i didnt win.

Look forward to chatting and reading on the forums

Thanks for reading and Happy New Year to all

Thanks
Sean


hello and welcome

your temperature fluctuations are down to the type of thermostat your using mate

mini stats or mat stats are on off stats,this means when it reaches the desired temperature it switches off.the mat usually continues to build up 1 or 2 degrees heat,after the stat swiches off.

it does not switch itself back on until 1 degree below your desired/set temperature

this causes the tank to have temperature fluctuations anything from 3 to 5 degrees,sometimes a little more

your best using a dimming stat or pulse stat.they are a little more expensive,but they will keep the tank at the exact temps you set it up for.

pulse and dimming stats have less than half a degree of temperature fluctuation

re pulse stats
they give continues pulses of power,once the desired temp is reached it gives of very short pulses of power to remain at the set temp.it gives off longer pulses of power when heating up to the set temp

re dimming stats
they cut down the power and once the desired temperature is reached,it gives out a constant little amount of power.when heating up the tank the dimmer gives a constant full power to the tank,then cuts back a little at a time towards the set temp being reached

pulse stats CANNOT be used on LIGHT emmiting heat sources,as it flashes the light on and off once temps are reached

dimming stats can be used on LIGHT emmiting and NON LIGHT emmiting bulbs,they just dim the light bit by bit,until the set temp is reached .then it will keep power going at a reduced level and the light emmiting bulb will have dimmed right down

both these types of thermostat are very accurate and very consistant,they cost roughly £30 to £45 depending on where you buy them

cheers shaun

[Hillsberry]

Welcome! :D

[alessia55]

Welcome to the forum, Sean :)

[GarterPython]

Welcome we would love to see some pictures of your little guy and his temporary tank.

[shotputtman]

Thanks for all the help and hello's...

My daughter was in tears this morning, no the snake is fine but living up to his name as he was hidden in the bedding at the back of the tank having a snooze. Bless her she is eleven and so sensitive :hmm:

I will be popping in to the shop this morning to have a chat with them to see what they use etc.

Have a good day.:crazy:

[SnakeyJay]

When I was using matts to hear my vivs all my temps fluctuate by a few degrees. With you having a corn snake you should be ok. Corns are hardy species n it comes to temp ranges etc.
Shotputtman-- Welcome and congrats on your corn :D

[shotputtman]

Hi

I have left Houdini alone for 2 days since setting him home and as suggested by the Pet Shop i have had him out and handled him.
Not sure who was more nervous me or the snake, its not im scared of the snake just the size of my fingers/hands in respect to him. My hands were shaking but we both soon settled.
Placed him in an empty Viv with his first Southend pinkie, watched him for about 4 mins then he went in for his meal, absolutely fantastic to see him eat and the kids were excited too.
Placed him back in his own viv after checking the bedding and changing the water and to my surprise he carried on slithering around like he has been all afternoon, i thought they lay rather dormant for a day or so after feeding.

As for the temp problem, i have monitored them and going by the snake its not a problem. He has been sleeping in the hide which sits across the end of the pad into the cool area and he seems happy.

Oh well thats my update today

Take care all

[Kayla90]

Welcome to the forum :D

As for the slithering around.. it all depends on the individual personality.. I find my garter can be even more active after a meal... like perhaps he's looking around for more.. or just a position to get comfy in??

[Swany]

Hi

I have left Houdini alone for 2 days since setting him home and as suggested by the Pet Shop i have had him out and handled him.
Not sure who was more nervous me or the snake, its not im scared of the snake just the size of my fingers/hands in respect to him. My hands were shaking but we both soon settled.
Placed him in an empty Viv with his first Southend pinkie, watched him for about 4 mins then he went in for his meal, absolutely fantastic to see him eat and the kids were excited too.
Placed him back in his own viv after checking the bedding and changing the water and to my surprise he carried on slithering around like he has been all afternoon, i thought they lay rather dormant for a day or so after feeding.

As for the temp problem, i have monitored them and going by the snake its not a problem. He has been sleeping in the hide which sits across the end of the pad into the cool area and he seems happy.

Oh well thats my update today

Take care all

Excellent.we're both in the same boat, I'm new to this forum and snake keeping. I bought a 3 month old Royal python last week, she had her first feed here on wed, and shes been active since. Ain't it a buzz lol