| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| The Royal Scandal |
Posted - 21/02/2011 : 10:33:38
Hi everyone
Jessie has been in a plastic rearing box for a while now and we are considering putting her into her vivarium in the near future. Currently, her rearing box is inside her vivarium (wooden), but secured so she lives only in the rearing box.
There is a heat mat underneath her rearing box, so she is separated from it by the plastic floor of the box and a layer of tissue paper.
Once we put her into the vivarium, the only thing separating her from her heat mat will be a layer of substrate. Considering this, whats to stop her from slithering about and moving the substrate so that she comes into contact with the heat mat on the floor of the viv? How does it work that you have a snake and a heat mat in close proximity, separated only by substrate, and they do not come into contact and burn themselves?
Also, does anyone recommend a certain type of substrate as the best?
Theres no hurry for putting her into her viv as she is still only little, but for future reference any help with this would be appreciated. |
| 6 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| The Royal Scandal |
Posted - 21/02/2011 : 22:08:09
Thanks for the replies guys. Jessie will be pleased, I'll get her viv set up properly and she can move into it within the month!  |
| hodgie |
Posted - 21/02/2011 : 15:09:32
I put my smaller ones in vivs with heat mats and use "wall lining paper" from B&Q,(the stat goes under the paper) 1 roll will last approx 1 year and costs £5. It all depends on whether you want to spend more money or not, substrate does nothing to enhance the snakes life and is more of a visual enhancement for the owners in my opinion. your Viv will still look good and is far easier to keep clean. |
| Royalbob |
Posted - 21/02/2011 : 14:54:55
If you set it up as BE and Robert have suggested there is absolutely no need to use a heat mat. You will just be adding extra cost for no benefits. |
| reptilemadd |
Posted - 21/02/2011 : 11:34:19
I have a guarded bulb in my viv but was considering a heat mat at one point but like you was worried about burns etc so I was going to put a couple of ceramic floor tiles on the heat mat (just like underfloor heating in the home) so if you decide to go down the heat mat road maybe thats something for you to consider. |
| Robert |
Posted - 21/02/2011 : 11:20:30
I wholly agree with BE I use guarded infra red lamps with a dimmer stat, I always use Aspen as bedding and if you buy it in big bales it works out quite a lot cheaper than buying the small bags |
| Blackecho |
Posted - 21/02/2011 : 10:47:28
Hi, when moving into the vivarium it would be better to use a guarded heat bulb instead of the heat mat.
Personally I prefer Aspen (of if you can get it (Equestrian type shops sell it) Aubiose - its very cheap) |
