Jungle Carpet - Help!

[Fbaccnum1]

Hey people. I have recently (4 months ago) been given a jungle carpet python. He was very underweight and malnourished. Since i have fattened him up and he's had no problems. Eats regularly is quite active seems like a happy snake. Today while i was cleaning out his enclosure i noticed some redish rash like patches on his under belly. Being new to reptiles i assumed it has to be scale rot but looking at pictures on the net im unsure of what it acctualy is. Scale rot seems to look alot different. Heres a picture of him and one of his belly. Any help and advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advanced.

[Snake_eyes_88]

That could very well be a burn.... Are you using a heatmat by any chance?

[Fbaccnum1]

i am. its under the glass though and is set at 25 celsius around 75 Fahrenheit i believe? he does spend alot of time there though.

[EL Ziggy]

It looks like a slight burn to me as well. How are you measuring the temperature on your hot spot? Is your heat mat regulated by a thermostat?

[Minkness]

Definitely a burn. Check the temps on the mat, not just the dial. You may see a few bad sheds because of the burn. =(

[Snake_eyes_88]

Tbh any substantial size snake shouldn't be on a heatmat anyway... Thermal blocking occurs way too easily and will cause this kind of burn.

[Minkness]

What do you mean by that? How else do you heat a snake? Also, this carpet doesn't look very 'substantial' to me. Still looks pretty small.

[chairman]

The picture of the cage shows a ceramic heat emitter right out in the open. The snake definitely climbs on it and probably burned itself doing so. CHEs need to be outside the enclosure or surrounded by specially designed cages.

[EL Ziggy]

Originally Posted by Snake_eyes_88

Tbh any substantial size snake shouldn't be on a heatmat anyway... Thermal blocking occurs way too easily and will cause this kind of burn.

I'm somewhat familiar with the concept of thermal blocking but I haven't seen any evidence of this being an issue with keeping snakes. I have a few medium to large sized snakes and they've all had thermostat regulated uths for years now and I haven't had any burns on any of my critters.

[Snake_eyes_88]

Originally Posted by Minkness

What do you mean by that? How else do you heat a snake? Also, this carpet doesn't look very 'substantial' to me. Still looks pretty small.

What I mean is I personally don't think any large snake should be kept on a heatmat... What else could I mean? If a large snake can possibly cause thermal blocking then I switch to CHE.

I didn't spot the ceramic in the photo so now I know he's already got that sorted, it could possibly be from the carpet coiling around the light cage instead.

I had no size referance that I spotted so I was speaking in general terms. It wasn't a dig at the OP..... I assume you've read my reply and have taken it the wrong way. 👍

[Snake_eyes_88]

Originally Posted by EL Ziggy

I'm somewhat familiar with the concept of thermal blocking but I haven't seen any evidence of this being an issue with keeping snakes. I have a few medium to large sized snakes and they've all had thermostat regulated uths for years now and I haven't had any burns on any of my critters.

Fair enough, I've always erred on the side of caution where it's concerned... I havnt seen it happen myself either but because I'm aware there's a slight chance I always switch them over to a ceramic before I end up spending all day worrying while I'm out at work.. Lmao I'd hate to be the one that's just that unlucky. �� Its something that I've never had happen but worry about just because of the amount of times people post up a pic online of burnt snakes etc... If there's a chance I'd rather not take the risk that's all, I'm just that unlucky lol.

It wasn't a dig at mats or their use, I use them myself ��

[Minkness]

Originally Posted by Snake_eyes_88

What I mean is I personally don't think any large snake should be kept on a heatmat... What else could I mean? If a large snake can possibly cause thermal blocking then I switch to CHE.

I didn't spot the ceramic in the photo so now I know he's already got that sorted, it could possibly be from the carpet coiling around the light cage instead.

I had no size referance that I spotted so I was speaking in general terms. It wasn't a dig at the OP..... I assume you've read my reply and have taken it the wrong way. 👍

Never safe to really assume what someone means. My questions were not asked out of aggitation, but genuine curiosity as I am, at this time, unaware of what thermal blocking even is, or how else to heat a snake that (from what I have read) requires belly heat to aid in digestion.

Burns can happen with any unregulated heat or light source, be they mats, RHPs, CHEs ect. I met a man with a rescued burm with SEVERE scars from a light that had fallen on it. Crap happens, even with the best intentions sadly.

So...what IS thermal blocking?

[Snake_eyes_88]

Thermal blocking is where the mass of a snake (in this instance although it can be anything blocking it that doesn't conduct well) coiled up blocks the heat from escaping... So it builds up to dangerous levels...

Obv everything should be on a stat too but this happening can cause the heat to be trapped and so not reach the stat probe if it's not fixed directly to the mats surface.....

As for how to provide belly heat without a mat.. Have a heat emitting source (CHE etc) directly over a basking area or stone etc. This heats up then when the snake lays there it gets belly heat and heat from above. Same as what I assume they must do in nature... Don't get me wrong I'm sure there's many other ways, I'm just saying how I'd do that.

[dannybgoode]

We've discussed this before I think. Put a book on a heat mat for 30 mins but don't cover the stat probe.

Then feel the heat of the mat when the probe is and then under the book (or use a temp gun). Thermal blocking causes very localised heat build up such that the stat probe may remain well within range and not shut off the power.

I'm with SE on this and wouldn't use heat mat for any heavy bodied snake a) because of the potential danger and also because they heat more by conduction than radiation so don't not warm the air anywhere that is not within very clear proximity of the mat.

A radiant heat source acts much more like the sun warming both the air and the 'ground' which I believe is much more suitable for larger snakes in particular.

That said I know plenty of people who use mats and this is very much a personal preference but with some rationale behind it.

Edit: it also seems to be a regional thing. UK keepers seem to use radiant heat sources more than you guys over the pond. Don't know why and could just be my perception.

[Snake_eyes_88]

Ambient temp of where people live will play a role on what heat source is used I'd assume... ��