New Snake Owner, Questions!

[KarenL]

Vypr, do you have an Under Tank Heater (UHT)? Snakes prefer belly heat and it helps them to digest their prey. I only use the overhead heat lights for 48 hours after mine have eaten or if the temps in the room drop and I need additional heat. The important thing however you heat your terrarium is to make sure that the heat source is controlled by a thermostat/rheostat so that the heat goes off once it exceeds the desired temps. This is important as snakes do not feel heat in the same way as we do and can get burned. I use this one Amazon.com : R-Zilla Controller Temperature, 500-watt : Aquarium Heaters : Pet Supplies

[sharthun]

Another great source of heat are radiant heat panels. I used to use belly heat but I will never go back after using the radiant heat panels. They heat the ambient air much better than heat tape/mats.

RBI Radiant Heat Panels

Also, a very good inexpensive thermostat is the hydrofarm:

Hydrofarm: Digital Temperature Controller for Heat Mat

You can find them online for around $30 plus shipping.

Originally Posted by KarenL

Vypr, do you have an Under Tank Heater (UHT)? Snakes prefer belly heat and it helps them to digest their prey. I only use the overhead heat lights for 48 hours after mine have eaten or if the temps in the room drop and I need additional heat. The important thing however you heat your terrarium is to make sure that the heat source is controlled by a thermostat/rheostat so that the heat goes off once it exceeds the desired temps. This is important as snakes do not feel heat in the same way as we do and can get burned. I use this one Amazon.com : R-Zilla Controller Temperature, 500-watt : Aquarium Heaters : Pet Supplies

[vypr]

I just have a simple 4watt under the tank heater, I'll probably need to upgrade and get a temperature controller with it then.

[sharthun]

Originally Posted by vypr

I just have a simple 4watt under the tank heater, I'll probably need to upgrade and get a temperature controller with it then.

Yeah that sounds kind of small. At least try to cover 1/3 of the bottom of tank with heat mat/tape.

[vypr]

Originally Posted by sharthun

Yeah that sounds kind of small. At least try to cover 1/3 of the bottom of tank with heat mat/tape.

Should the temperature probe be laying right on top of the heat mat or above the substrate?

EDIT: I am using a day/night timer, should the bulbs also be controlled by the temperature controller.
Also something weird is he is always going to the opposite side of the heat for some reason.

[sharthun]

Originally Posted by vypr

Should the temperature probe be laying right on top of the heat mat or above the substrate.
Also what temperature should the heat mat be, and could I use that temperature controller in addition to the heat bulb?

This is why it's important to have a thermostat to control your heat source. When I used heat tape, I put the thermostat temp probe between the heat tape and the glass underneath the tank to insure that it didn't get too hot to burn the animal. Then with temp probe or temp gun I took readiings above substrate and then adjusted the temp on tstat up or down to get desired temp of hot side but not too hot to harm the animal. I use a temp gun to read surface temps and air temps around the enclosures. You can put your tstat temp probe on substrate or under substrate just above heat tape/mat, but the probe will get moved around by your reptile. Lot's of adjusting either way. The idea is not to harm your animal and control your temps and a tstat will take care of that. Hope this made sense! lol Lot's of temp readings and adjustments.

[vypr]

Originally Posted by sharthun

This is why it's important to have a thermostat to control your heat source. When I used heat tape, I put the thermostat temp probe between the heat tape and the glass underneath the tank to insure that it didn't get too hot to burn the animal. Then with temp probe or temp gun I took readiings above substrate and then adjusted the temp on tstat up or down to get desired temp of hot side but not too hot to harm the animal. I use a temp gun to read surface temps and air temps around the enclosures. You can put your tstat temp probe on substrate or under substrate just above heat tape/mat, but the probe will get moved around by your reptile. Lot's of adjusting either way. The idea is not to harm your animal and control your temps and a tstat will take care of that. Hope this made sense! lol Lot's of temp readings and adjustments.

Geez, what a process I'll try to order that temp controller ASAP.
The thing is he is always on the cool side, he goes behind the rock thing in my exo terra terrarium
imgur: the simple image sharer

Lol


EDIT: Might have found out why, after waiting awhile for my temperature to read the hot side is 99 f! The cold side is 81f
Would a temperature controller decrease the wattage or turn off the bulb?

[sharthun]

I would ditch the bulb if you get a thermostat. One heat source should be enough. Until winter time lol.

Originally Posted by vypr

Geez, what a process I'll try to order that temp controller ASAP.
The thing is he is always on the cool side, he goes behind the rock thing in my exo terra terrarium
imgur: the simple image sharer

Lol


EDIT: Might have found out why, after waiting awhile for my temperature to read the hot side is 99 f! The cold side is 81f
Would a temperature controller decrease the wattage or turn off the bulb?

[sharthun]

Originally Posted by sharthun

I would ditch the bulb if you get a thermostat. One heat source should be enough. Until winter time lol.

Yeah, 99 is too warm, I keep my hot side in the 86 to 90 tops.

[vypr]

Originally Posted by sharthun

Yeah, 99 is too warm, I keep my hot side in the 86 to 90 tops.

I moved the bulb further away for now, the hot side is 85 now.
I like having a daylight looking bulb, will the temperature controller downgrade the wattage or shutoff the bulb?

Nvm, found it out.
I'm not sure what I'm going to do, if I get a good enough heat pad could I just use simple fluorescent lights for display?

[sharthun]

Originally Posted by vypr

I moved the bulb further away for now, the hot side is 85 now.
I like having a daylight looking bulb, will the temperature controller downgrade the wattage or shutoff the bulb?

Nvm, found it out.
I'm not sure what I'm going to do, if I get a good enough heat pad could I just use simple fluorescent lights for display?

Yeah LED's or fluorescent. I use RGB led light strips. Don't add any heat to enclosure.

[vypr]

Originally Posted by sharthun

Yeah LED's or fluorescent. I use RGB led light strips. Don't add any heat to enclosure.

Is there a heat mat you could recommend for around 30 to 40 dollars?

[sharthun]

Originally Posted by vypr

Is there a heat mat you could recommend for around 30 to 40 dollars?

Yep:

Heat mat:

Ultratherm Undertank Heater (UTH) - 11"x11" - Reptile Basics Inc

Btw, this heat mat you can run without a thermostat. It only heats up to 95 or so degrees. Even though a thermostat is recommended.

If you had a thermostat already, I would go with 1 foot of 12" heat tape with a chord set. Much cheaper and works great. They sell it by the foot. 3 bucks for 12x12

You would need this cord set:
THGHeat Wire/Clip/Insulator Set: Reptile Products You Can Trust | Reptile Basics Inc They will install the cord set for 99 cents. You have to select the pulldown at checkout for that. But for this heat tape you definitely need a thermostat.


12" Heat Tape

[vypr]

Originally Posted by sharthun

Yep:

Heat mat:

Ultratherm Undertank Heater (UTH) - 11"x11" - Reptile Basics Inc

Btw, this heat mat you can run without a thermostat. It only heats up to 95 or so degrees. Even though a thermostat is recommended.

If you had a thermostat already, I would go with 1 foot of 12" heat tape with a chord set. Much cheaper and works great. They sell it by the foot. 3 bucks for 12x12

You would need this cord set:
THGHeat Wire/Clip/Insulator Set: Reptile Products You Can Trust | Reptile Basics Inc They will install the cord set for 99 cents. You have to select the pulldown at checkout for that. But for this heat tape you definitely need a thermostat.


12" Heat Tape

Should I buy both the heat pad and heat tape?
Also the heat tape requires another set of those connector eires right?
I assume the heat tape requires the temperature controller.

[sharthun]

Originally Posted by vypr

Should I buy both the heat pad and heat tape?
Also the heat tape requires another set of those connector eires right?
I assume the heat tape requires the temperature controller.

You don't need both. Either one, but I would get 1 foot of the 12in heat tape:

12" Heat Tape

And you do need the wire/insulator clip set for Heat tape: rbi will install the clip/cord for. 99 cents. You have to select installation option before adding set to cart.

THGHeat Wire/Clip/Insulator Set: Reptile Products You Can Trust | Reptile Basics Inc

I will say again, that if you use heat tape you have to have a thermostat! Heat tape will get extremely hot without temperature control.