larger bodied snakes and uth - Page 2

Damion930 · 03-14-11, 11:13 PM

Some ppl use tile or cement bord or both I've also heard of ppl having succes placing it directly under 3/4 inch plywood or placing a framed peice of glass temperd plexi or other over it. Ther should be a form of ventalation as most need air flow to properly regulate. Ther are several options some you can find in ppls cage builds in the enclosure forum. Id have more for you but haven't actually built mine yet but I have read about a million cage build pages lol

Damion930 · 03-14-11, 11:22 PM

I guess that is going in the viv though lol in a lot of cases but in a way wher ther isn't going to be pressure placed on it more important obviously with larger snakes

Isaac's Ark · 03-15-11, 01:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TCS-bot

Never put the heat source in with the animals???

In that case would it be wise for me to remove my heatlamps out of my vivs?
Would the heatmats still function through 18mm thick contiboard??

Yes & Yes

You see snakes are rater stupid creatures if any heat source be it a UTH/Heat Matt (from what I can tell is the same only the application being different) or a heat lamp your animals should never be able to physically touch the source. I like a warm summer day I would also appreciate not shaking the suns hand. For instance I once witnessed a Chondro Python choose to perch on the accessible heat lamp that was turned off via timer once the lamp came on in the event of a temp drop the animal never moved and baked it's self, same problem seen in hot rocks and yes internally placed heat pads. We are some what off in reguards to why these peices of equipment are actually being used. we will hear people go on and on about how reptiles are cold blooded and require external heat sources to survive. All in all it sound close enough to the truth but the truth is a touch more complex then that. Reptiles are thermal regulators that require a heat gradient threw out their enclosures in order to thrive this is why the UTH works so well once under the cage it will create a hot spot of course but it will also create a warm spot not to far from the hot spot and the further the animal is from the location of the heat source the cooler the floor gets and presto instant heat gradient threw out the floor of the cage. This will then translate into a warm atmospheric enclosure complete with proper heat gradients. If no choice is available and the UTH must be installed in the enclosure then covering the entire floor with tile or Plexiglas is also a proper way to promote a heat gradient. As long as something is between the large body of the snake and the UTH the snake can not smother the heat pad and create this blockage that has been mentioned since the pad is heating the floor and not the snake.

Hope this helped

Isaac's Ark

TCS-bot · 03-15-11, 06:44 AM

I shall go remove the heat lamps from my beardie vivs, and my chameleon tanks now then.

As it stands though anyone in their right mind who uses a lamp in a snakes viv without sensible protection from the lamp, really needs to start keeping nothing but goldfish.

This thread has me puzzled now, as by all accounts some people believe that mats are the only heat source required, and that lamps shouldn't be in vivs.
What a load of rubbish, I'd like to see how the hell my beardies, plated, chameleons, even the turtle get on when I remove their lamps.

Can someone digitally sign to say that's what's been recommended then, so that my years of keeping has someone to go back to if I have problems, thanks.

Lankyrob · 03-15-11, 06:50 AM

I dont think anyone mentioned taking heatlamps out of the viv - you are deliberatley exagerating what has been said to try to create some sort of issue, no idea why you would do that.

Anyone that uses heatlamps of what ever kind inside the enclosure should have the bulb guarded so that they animal cannot make direct contact with the heat source.

Jenn_06 · 03-15-11, 07:57 AM

if you have a heatlamps in the cages you need this so the snake will not get burned.

Sapphyr · 03-15-11, 10:26 AM

Exactly what Rob said about you blowing this out of proportion, seemingly on purpose, and what Jenn said about the lamp guard.

We're saying UNGUARDED heat sources are dangerous to your reptile since it could climb, slither, jump, etc. onto the heat source and potentially burn themselves lightly, if not severely. I'd certainly hope you wouldn't want to take the chance of even lightly burning any of your pets. Animals aren't the brightest creatures around and don't always make the best decisions for themselves. It's our responsibility as responsible owners to try and reduce the risks of them injuring themselves as much as possible.

And since you seem to enjoy taking someone's words and blowing it out of proportion, I don't mean doing things such as not letting your dog outside because it can break its bones or some crap. I'm mostly talking in reference to the reptiles, not your dog, not your cat, not your fish. Don't try and take my words and twist them. Use some common sense. I'm sure you know exactly what I mean.

Damion930 · 03-15-11, 12:42 PM

It was mentioned that heat sources not be kept in cages but the intention I belive was unguarded or heat sources wher the animal can come in direct contact with said heat source no need to get all upety with your vast experience u claim to have u should understand this

sassy_snake_lady · 03-15-11, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Isaac's Ark

Yes & Yes

You see snakes are rater stupid creatures if any heat source be it a UTH/Heat Matt (from what I can tell is the same only the application being different) or a heat lamp your animals should never be able to physically touch the source.

Isaac's Ark

I have heat mats inside vivs??

They are statted but they are unguarded so the snakes can lay straight on them. Thats not a problem unless the snake is heavy bodied. All my corns have heat mats inside the vivs.

Isaac's Ark · 03-15-11, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TCS-bot

I shall go remove the heat lamps from my beardie vivs, and my chameleon tanks now then.

As it stands though anyone in their right mind who uses a lamp in a snakes viv without sensible protection from the lamp, really needs to start keeping nothing but goldfish.

This thread has me puzzled now, as by all accounts some people believe that mats are the only heat source required, and that lamps shouldn't be in vivs.
What a load of rubbish, I'd like to see how the hell my beardies, plated, chameleons, even the turtle get on when I remove their lamps.

This holds no water in this thread considering the thread is in regards to LARGE BODIED SNAKES not turtles or lizards I understand that simply responding to this may feed the drama mill I would like sSnakeSs.com members to know that Isaac's Ark stands by all advise ever released here on a public forum although we may not reference many source materials a lot of our husbandry advice stems from personal experience. We are herpaculturalists not herpetologist we make no claim that our techniques are the absolute way that things should be it is just how things are ran here and have yet to fail us our animals are healthy eating,drinking, growing, shedding & breeding

this is why we feel some advice we offer may help people by all means do it your way nothing you do affects our Ark so have it my friend.

Cheers folks

Isaac's Ark

TCS-bot · 03-15-11, 05:17 PM

My apols on going WAY off topic in regards removing heatlamps, it was mentioned on the previous page that someone suggested not having a heat source in with the animals, and further up this page where someone said 'Yes' when I said "shall I remove heatlamps from my vivs".

Think that heatlamps should still be included in this thread though as they are (IMO) much better for larger bodied snakes than mats because of the same reasons I have already stated on this thread.

Sapphyr · 03-15-11, 05:59 PM

I'm sure Jendee meant don't use unguarded heat sources in with you're reptiles. Animals is a general term. I'm sure you knew exactly what she meant, you just took it into its most technical and literal terms. I have no idea why.

Jendee · 03-15-11, 05:59 PM

This thread is so crazy to me..every breeder I know uses..and every reptile person Ive ever talked to in the past 20 yrs lol uses under tank heating for all size reptiles. I have boas and blood pythons. One of my female blood pythons weighs 40+ Ibs. I have never had a problem with a uth..ever!! They need belly heat to digest properly. What is being used?? I use Flexx watt, what kind are or brand is being dicussed in this thread??
what TCS-bot stated about snakes not knowing if there getting burned on there belly is crap!! All of my heavy bodied animals move from cold side to hot side when wanted/needed. Maybe you guys have opened topped aquaruims which isnt wise for large bodied snakes..and the heat escapes the top of the cage which is why you would state that there top half wouldn't get heated with a uth. With my cages the "air" temp stays at 86, Because the uth heats up the whole cage. I dont know anybody who uses lamps on boas/pythons until this forum lol its a whole new thing to me. Infact Ive known people to make fun of "noobs" using lamps for large bodied snakes. Which isnt fair at all..we all start some where and learn eventually. When I was 14 I used a heat mat directly pasted to the bottom of my fish tank lol and a lamp..my snakes were all ****ed up...no burning..but serious humidity, shedding, eating problems. I didn't know any better..then I found the internet and the entire Bci/bcc networks and the gods shined down on me lol hallelujah lol my snakes have been in tubs or abs cages with flexwatt a t-stat and perfect temps, sheds, feedings since lol 13 yrs later!!

Jendee · 03-15-11, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sapphyr

I'm sure Jendee meant don't use unguarded heat sources in with you're reptiles. Animals is a general term. I'm sure you knew exactly what she meant, you just took it into its most technical and literal terms. I have no idea why.

yes sorry, Im a strictly boa/python girl..i tend to assume everyone else is lol out of habit of going to strictly boa/python forums.
But this thread is stated as "large bodied snakes"...sooo I would assume that my earlier assumpution was spot on lol

Heat pads, heat rocks, heat rope, heat tape, heat emitters, heat lamps should never be in your tank with your boa/python!
Ive seen people use heat emitters because there temps dont get high enough due to where they live, my answer to this is make sure its in a guard (even the guard can get hot enough to burn mind you) or get a space heater...20 bucks at your local walmart lol raise the room temp to 80 degrees voila!!

TCS-bot · 03-15-11, 06:43 PM

I wonder if there seems to be a sort of country divide in regards differences in knowledge/recommendations.

From what I've always known (and heard from many other keepers in this country) mat heating has always been the recommended and prefered for smaller bodied snakes, but larger bodied snakes have always been recommended to use heating from above (ceramic, lamp etc) or an AHS.