Help!!! Hot!

steen · 07-21-03, 09:15 PM

I just got my corn's tank completely set up (it's getting here Friday!!!) and I plugged in the UTH. It's a ZooMed ReptiTherm U.T.H, made for 10-20 gal aquariums...and it's getting really hot! I'm not sure what it's supposed to feel like, but this seems awfully warm to me. It's been plugged in for an hour, and it's hot enough that I can't leave my hand on the glass very long. Do I need to worry about my baby burrowing in the substrate (aspen shavings) and burning itself?? Would it be ok to put a dishtowel or cage carpet between the substrate and the glass?? I don't want anything bad to happen to it... Please help!!!

lordkovacs · 07-21-03, 09:40 PM

what is the temperatuer of the inside of the tank on top of the uth? you need to get a thermometer and take the temp. the baby will burrow in the substrate so it can be an issue. I have used newspaper in teh past under the substrate (makes cleaning much easier, and the paper soaks any urine that got through).

daver676 · 07-21-03, 09:45 PM

Get a rheostat to help you regulate the temp of the UTH. If the bottom of the tank is hot to you, then it's way to hot for your snake.

steen · 07-21-03, 09:50 PM

I live in a pretty small town right now, and the pet stores here don't carry the Rheostat...Is there a good place to get one online? Also, I'm going to have to drive to Spokane, WA (1 1/2 hours from here) on friday to pick up my new corn...can I wait until then to get one? My concern is that I'll wait, and then not be able to find one there...would a corn be alright without a heater for a few days if that happened?? Thanks so much!!!

Kristine

Oh, BTW...I'm Kristine...I've been reading posts here and on ************** for a while but have only recently been posting myself...nice to meet you!

snkmn · 07-21-03, 09:57 PM

put a thermometer and see exactly how hot it is

steen · 07-21-03, 10:09 PM

Sorry, but I don't have a thermometer, and I turned it off anyway because I got scared...but it was hot enough that I could only touch it for 5 secs before I couldn't take it anymore...estimate: around 120-130...REALLY hot!

marisa · 07-21-03, 10:16 PM

You will really have to have a thermometer if you are going to have any snake. You *must* be able to tell the temps. Period. You can easily find a thermometer anywhere and if you are picking up a snake I am sure the place you are getting it carries them. Get one and take the temp. Then raise or lower the tank above the heating pad accordingly.

Marisa

Pixie · 07-21-03, 10:20 PM

I fyou were to choose between too hot and no heat source, I would go with no heat source. As long as the enclosure in a reasonably temped area (not too much a/c, not sweltering - around 77-82°f you corn will do just fine. My appartment is always in the range of 78-83°f and I don't have additional heat sources for 2 of my corns and they have been doing great since day one this way.

Pixie

enso · 07-21-03, 10:36 PM

I use the exact same uth's (10-20 gallon size) in 20g long enclosures for all my smaller colubrids. You need a rheostat and something on the bottom of the tank that the snake can't burrow under. I use a layer of aspen shavings over the heater and then seal a peice of cardboard on top of it with electrical tape. I have no idea why Zoo Med makes these so damn hot. They run at 115+F with no rheostat, and 90+F with a rheostat turned all the way down. Good for beardies but not for most snakes.

steen · 07-21-03, 10:56 PM

Marisa....
I do have a thermometer, but it's on the inner back wall of my tank just above the substrate, not on top of my UTH, which by the way is adhered to the bottom of my tank...I can't raise the tank above it, or I would have done that already.

Pixie...
My apartment is around 80 during the day (no a/c in this room) and 70 at night (I sleep with the window open but can stop if I have to). Do I even need to have a UTH on when it's this hot here in the summer?? Obviously I'll need it when it starts to cool off, but if it'll be fine under these temps, I'll wait on the Rheostat until I actually need the UTH.

Thanks for your help guys!!!

steen · 07-21-03, 10:58 PM

enso...
Would it be cool enough if I used a layer of cage carpet under my aspen shavings and got a Rheostat also? Would that drop the 90 to an acceptable temp? Thanks!

enso · 07-21-03, 11:22 PM

As long as the snake can't get under the carpet and possibly burn itself on the glass. You need an accurate mobile thermometer, be it a probe, IR, or other. Most pet stores sell cheap flat strip thermometers. I use these for calibrating the rheostat settings for the uth. Shoot for 85F on the hot side. Sounds like you won't need it in the summer at all. Good Luck.

Pixie · 07-22-03, 12:22 AM

Corns are very forgiving when it comes to temp requirements, humidity and such. If your room stays around 80-82 during the summer then the extra heat isn't very necessary IMO. I've had both my corns setup without UTH's for months and they're growing like weeds just as well as the other two that have setup's with UTH's. I've noted absolutely no differences in behavior, appetite, digestion or shedding. As for the night time temp drop, I've had no problem with a slight cooling myself. I do make sure that if the corns have eaten that they absolutely have 80°f+temps during the day. If need be, I supplement a little bit with a lamp during the day and that's it.

Although I don't use UTH's on some of my corns, I do have to emphasize that I moniter temps and all other conditions very closely.

Pixie

gonesnakee · 07-22-03, 01:45 PM

Another solution to regulate the temp of your "pad" is to hit any hardware store & buy a dimmer switch meant for a light. Wire the dimmer switch into the cord of the u.t.h. & waa laa you can regulate the temp. If you are not sure about how to do this, don't & find someone who is capable to do it for you or you may have a major electrical hazard if not done properly. Mark I.

tai_pan1 · 07-22-03, 04:37 PM

Dimmer switch is what I use on all my UTH. They work great and you can vary the temps.