| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Lindstrom |
Posted - 08/08/2012 : 09:30:19
Hi, I'm new to royals and have a few questions I couldn't find the answers to anywhere!
I have an 8 month male around 240g in a exo terra large terrarium with a heat mat and mat stat. I have recently moved him to this and he seems much happier but I don't know how to place the sensor for my thermostat, I currently have it;
Cheap wood draws, heat mat, raised glass bottomed terrarium and the the sensor inside taped to the bottom in his hide almost central to the heat mat position.
Is this correct or should I tape the sensor directly to the heat mat? I tried this first time around but it seemed too cold.
My second question is I've noticed very occasionally he will have a tiny pin sized black bug on him. I believe these to possibly be dust mites as I have noticed them in the house long before I got him. Will these harm him? I assume they are probably interested in small bits of dead skin in the tank.
Answers will be greatly aprecieted!
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| 20 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| boomslang |
Posted - 09/08/2012 : 19:06:22
If he was in shed when you got him,And he needed a week to settle.He's really not been of food that long.
So... quote:
I dangled it for 15 mins but he was more interested in trying to avoid it than checking it out and I am now leaving it in until morning
Id forget about the feeding for now,trying him everyday with food is not geting you anywhere.
Get the setup fixed and right for his needs,ie the temps and a better thermometer etc.Once his setup is right try food again in a weeks time.
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| Lindstrom |
Posted - 09/08/2012 : 17:38:34
I've had him almost 3 weeks and he still hasn't fed and he was in shed when I got him so must be coming close to a month of not feeding.
Today was my 3rd brained weaner rat attempt, I dangled it for 15 mins but he was more interested in trying to avoid it than checking it out and I am now leaving it in until morning. Went down the shop today and bought some large and medium white mice which I'll try on Sunday if he doesn't take today.
The previous owner said he was fed weaners, mice and chicks. He weighs 271g around 8 months old and about 26-28 inches long his temperament is amazing doesn't ball up much when I take him out, smells a lot and like to explore. Heat is about 83 but I'm working on making it warmer. |
| boomslang |
Posted - 09/08/2012 : 15:57:18
quote:
What part will overheat and melt?
Never ever heard of this. Thousands of uneducated people use unstated mats, and I have never heard of one getting that hot that it'll melt.
http://www.reptileforums.co.uk/forums/snakes/465329-heat-mat-malfunction-picture.html
And back to topic :P how are you getting on OP? |
| Kelfezond |
Posted - 09/08/2012 : 12:40:15
I think what they mean is we've all seen pictures of RUB's half melted from heat mat problems, unstatted I presume.
But yes, always use a thermostat |
| Stewy-C- |
Posted - 09/08/2012 : 12:13:58
There's no need to know anyway. It's simple, use a stat! |
| Stewy-C- |
Posted - 09/08/2012 : 12:12:56
quote:
Originally posted by boomslang
quote:
Unstated a heat mat won't get hot enough to burn.
Which it can,and can overheat and melt.That's the bit i meant to quote you on.
What part will overheat and melt?
Never ever heard of this. Thousands of uneducated people use unstated mats, and I have never heard of one getting that hot that it'll melt. |
| Lindstrom |
Posted - 09/08/2012 : 09:01:12
But I'm guessing 99.99% of the time the fuse would stop that? And that's only likely in already hot environments? And with a stat it's almost impossible? |
| boomslang |
Posted - 09/08/2012 : 01:24:07
quote:
Unstated a heat mat won't get hot enough to burn.
Which it can,and can overheat and melt.That's the bit i meant to quote you on.
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| Stewy-C- |
Posted - 08/08/2012 : 23:12:27
quote:
Originally posted by boomslang
quote:
Originally posted by Stewy-C-
Thermostats MUST be used at all times. IMO heatmats are fine. Unstated a heat mat won't get hot enough to burn.
I used to stress out with worry at first. Then I got ceramics, and started to stress out again for a couple of weeks. They are all totally safe if used in the right way.
if it's in direct contact,and under inches of substrate without a stat it can get very very hot.
anything thats electrical and gives off heat could malfunction and cause a fire,they should never be used without a stat.
Hmmm, My TV could malfunction an cause a fire, any electrical item can. The heat element of a heat mat is not hot enough to cause a fire. Also the heatmat is under his tank, not on any substrate. The first sentance of the comment was "Thermostats MUST be used at all times.". Notice the must is also in capitals.
Not sure if you read my post properly. |
| boomslang |
Posted - 08/08/2012 : 22:54:36
quote:
Originally posted by Stewy-C-
Thermostats MUST be used at all times. IMO heatmats are fine. Unstated a heat mat won't get hot enough to burn.
I used to stress out with worry at first. Then I got ceramics, and started to stress out again for a couple of weeks. They are all totally safe if used in the right way.
if it's in direct contact,and under inches of substrate without a stat it can get very very hot.
anything thats electrical and gives off heat could malfunction and cause a fire,they should never be used without a stat. |
| Lindstrom |
Posted - 08/08/2012 : 22:28:56
Wow suctioncupdirect.com lol, thanks for all your help I shall do some shopping and hopefully get some better results! |
| carlb1981 |
Posted - 08/08/2012 : 22:14:30
like this
http://www.suctioncupsdirect.co.uk/details.asp?ID=143
i use these in my cornsnakes rub
http://compare.ebay.co.uk/like/230708043079?var=lv<yp=AllFixedPriceItemTypes&var=sbar&cbt=y |
| carlb1981 |
Posted - 08/08/2012 : 22:07:17
yes the suction pads have hooks or a hole to thread probe through i will try find a link |
| Stewy-C- |
Posted - 08/08/2012 : 21:55:02
Thermostats MUST be used at all times. IMO heatmats are fine. Unstated a heat mat won't get hot enough to burn.
I used to stress out with worry at first. Then I got ceramics, and started to stress out again for a couple of weeks. They are all totally safe if used in the right way. |
| Lindstrom |
Posted - 08/08/2012 : 21:37:33
Ok I shall try some polystyrene thanks
I'm guessing these suction cups have some kind of cable clip?
I'm new to this and I have heard "fire risk" used too many times for comfort when it comes to heat mats, is this somthing that it blown out of proportion? Does anyone know of an incident where this has happend? I thought polystyrene was pretty flammable? Can heat mats even cause a fire if used with a thermostat? I know several people who have the mat under glass and havnt botherd with a thermostat or thermometer for 10+ years, is this commonly accepted?
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| Stewy-C- |
Posted - 08/08/2012 : 21:31:07
To secure the probe I just sit it under the hide. The wires are usually thick, and wont bend up, so should always be sat flush on the bottom. The polystyrene can probably be purchased from a stationary shop or a box storage place (The manufacturers of heat mats recommend sitting them on polystyrene also).
A digital thermometer is an absolute must have. I use exo terra ones myself and have about 10-15 of them, and have never had a problem. |
| carlb1981 |
Posted - 08/08/2012 : 21:17:23
For attaching the probe you can use suction pads like used in aquariums for securing hoses etc or places like B&Q sell 3m velcro wire securing hooks they also sell velcro pads you could stick mat to viv with but your best using poly sheets if you can find some thin enough or a folded tea towel |
| Lindstrom |
Posted - 08/08/2012 : 21:06:08
Ok, how should I fix the probe so he doesn't move it around the tank? :/ also where can I find polystyrene that thin? Wouldnt duct tape be less of a fire risk to secure the pad? The analogue monitor is saying about 83 and the stat is set at 90 is this an acceptable difference? I will probably get a digital thermometer when I get paid any particular recommendations? I was thinking exo terra?
Thanks for all your replies so far. |
| Stewy-C- |
Posted - 08/08/2012 : 19:14:41
I had corns set up in these bloody things when I first got snakes. Best thing to do is sit the heat mat on top of a thin slither of polystyrene, then the tank on that. Leave the probe on the hot spot. If the probe is on the mat outside the tank, it will fluctuate far to much depending on draughts and the likes. But please DO NOT tape the probe down! Don't ever use tape, if snakey get's caught in it, it's going to get messy. Stick the thermometer in the hide with the thermostat probe also.
Jobs a good'n |
| badwool |
Posted - 08/08/2012 : 19:03:08
I tried to heat my tarantula's enclosure by sliding a mat under the bottom of the tank - may aswell have spent the day rubing the glass to heat it for all the good it did :D |
