| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Elicia |
Posted - 29/01/2012 : 21:25:07
I cant help worrying about the temps in Percys viv. The heat mat covers just over half of the viv, its a wooden viv so i have the heat mat inside and taped down (dont worry I have some super duper industrial tape which wont come unstuck!)
Ive set the thermo to 30c but it keeps constantly switching on and off and doesn't ever seem to stabilize, it varies between 28 and 30c.Is it ok that it seems to switch on and off? Ive got a hide for Percy directly on top of the mat (just a little sprinkling of aspen on top of the mat)and have the thermo probe and thermometer probe taped together and placed directly on top of the mat.
when I get Percy out to handle he always seems quite cold to touch(I imagined he would feel warm if hes been sat on the heat mat??!)I just want to be sure I have got everything set up ok (or am I just been overly paranoid! ) |
| 8 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| lupi lou |
Posted - 30/01/2012 : 17:20:36
Glad you asked that question, i agree with the instructions being usless! me and the other half were setting up last night ready for bringing 8 home tomorow, and he insisted on following the instructions which said to put the probe in the middle of the viv! I told him that wasn't right and it needed to be on the heat matt otherwise it wouldn't be regulating the heat matt! would he listen no! then he was supprised that it wasn't reaching the right temp, so it's going to get put where i intialy told him to but it. at least now i can show him this post and tell him told you so!! thanks
|
| Sta~ple |
Posted - 30/01/2012 : 09:50:04
I just put a heavy hide or two on mine and mine have never gone under. |
| lotabob |
Posted - 30/01/2012 : 01:13:08
You dont need to fix the mat down, in fact for cleaning its probably easier if it does move, what you need to fix is the probes to the mat then no matter where the snake is in relation to the mat the temperatures are still controlled.
I also have to say that staple guns or anything metal into a heat mat is not a good idea, its an electrical heating element, I know there is a section round the mat that is just laminate but its sealed that way for a reason and if you get it wrong its a fire waiting to happen so for that reason I wouldn't damage the heat mat in any way.
I'm with Gmac on the tape front too, its snake kryptonite, it doesn't take much stickie to get them stuck and if its super strong tape it just makes the effects of getting stuck even worse. |
| tordyjo |
Posted - 29/01/2012 : 23:03:31
i bought some stones (could have collected them from the beach i suppose) cleaned and sterilised them just to be sure and put these in the viv to hold the mat down, bit more of a natural decoration but also serving a purpose, sometimes lilly still manages to find a way under the mat, but its stated so no more of a danger than sitting on the top of it |
| kdlang |
Posted - 29/01/2012 : 23:01:11
I don't fasten my heatmats down. Sometimes the snakes do go underneath them but as long at the probes don't come off the mat then snakey should be fine. You can stick the probes to the mat with silicone as centric suggested or someone on here uses a glue gun. Just make sure whatever you use is fully dry and the fumes have disipated before putting your snake back in.
Your right, the thermostat instructions are usually pretty rubbish so it's good that you asked. |
| Elicia |
Posted - 29/01/2012 : 22:39:50
Hmmm the reason I used tape was so that he wouldn't go under the heat mat. I will remove the tape and look for an alternative.
Thanks for advice, it was the switching on and off thing which was bothering me as I didn't know if that indicated a problem, but now I know its supposed to do that I can stop worrying! (its doesn't help that the thermo stat instructions that came with it are very very minimal!and to a first timer like me were not very clear)
cheers. |
| CentricMalteser85 |
Posted - 29/01/2012 : 22:06:24
Ideally your heat mat should be around one 1/3 to 1/2 and not more of the floor space
heat mat stats do go on and off, they go off when desired temp reched, and when it drops by about 3 or 4 degrees, switches itself back on
the human body is about 92F where as the heat mat should be between 80-85F so will feel cooler to touch
as long as your digital thermometre reads about 80-85 F (I have mine set at 83F as gives room to fluctuate within the temp range I desire) just as the heat mat turns off then there is no issue.
as for industrial tape, big no no,
get rid of it asap! you can use aquairum sealant to stick it down, but it does mean leaving the viv empty for 24-48 hours until it drys and until the smell goes (which usually within this time)
i have known others to use a staple gun, and then hammer the staples further into the wood, so its level with wood surface and nothing to catch on, he has had no issues, but its not something I have done.
and you are being paranoid a little lol, but at least it shows you do care and what to have a great set up, and remember, no question is stupid
also just keep records of feed, shedding, and even temps, just in case anything goes wrong etc |
| gmac |
Posted - 29/01/2012 : 21:30:36
the temps are fine dont worry you have a matstat and thats what they do they turn off a a certain temp and back on when its too low.
Would really suggest getting rid of the tape, even though its industrial just makes it worse if a corner does lift for any reason |
