| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| jimmer7 |
Posted - 08/01/2012 : 13:03:52
Went to shop today where i got my royal from (breeder).told them i took heat mat out,and just useing ceramic,And then got lecture about why he waste his time telling people how to care for royals properly.He says they should 100% have a heat mat in viv to give hot spot,and only use the ceramic to give air temp.He say he has breed hundreds of royals over the last 15 years.with great success.
Just wondering what people think,have i done the right thing by removeing mat or not?
My temps with ceramic are 32-33c hot end 22.5-24.5 cool end. |
| 9 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| acd1984 |
Posted - 08/01/2012 : 21:19:33
There is also the possibility that the shop owner wants you to use both ceramic and matt so that he can sell you 2 separate thermostats, unlikely as this is, we are living on hard times |
| Lotabob |
Posted - 08/01/2012 : 19:43:41
quote:
Originally posted by jimmer7
he has breed hundreds of royals over the last 15 years
That bit exactly. 15 years ago its likely how he does things was how things were done. The hobby has moved on, its evolved and learnt from mistakes. Just because someone has done something for 15 years doesn't make it right or the best way. Maybe he has just been lucky that in 15 years he hasn't had a disaster or maybe he has and just wrote it off as one of those things without even questioning his methods. |
| blackskull |
Posted - 08/01/2012 : 19:36:44
never really talked to the bloke much in that shop, think only once about norma. its normally his wife who i speak to, lovely lady always trys to persuade me to buy a snake when im in. the last one was a spotted python. but i have never talked about what set up i use. still seems strange advice to use both heat mat and ceramic in my opinion |
| reptilemadd |
Posted - 08/01/2012 : 17:16:17
Very true jimmer7 but you know what they say opinions are like bum holes everyone has one lol, but when you go into a specialised shop such as a reptile shop only knowing that you want a snake you rely heavily on their knowledge or lack of, the best thing I think anyone can do when purchasing an animal no matter what sort of animal is to spend many an hour doing research, and depending on where you do your research you can then go into the shop with more knowledge than the person trying to sell you the animal, when buying an exotic animal we need to create an enviroment as close to it's natural habitat as possible inorder for it to not only survive but thrive, the problem is alot buy things on a whim and try to get away with the very least they can, cause they suddenly realise it's going to cost them a small fortune. Take bearded dragons for example as an adult they need at least 8 square feet floor space with a height of two feet, but I don't think any of the reptile manufacturers produce a viv that big so people jump in buy a "complete setup" then go on forums only to find they've basically wasted their money.... |
| jimmer7 |
Posted - 08/01/2012 : 15:33:17
Hi i know i have done the right thing by removeing the mat,just by reading what people have put on this forum.But as i am new to royals,its quite easy for some one to put doubt into your head.when all i am trying to do is the best for my royal(winston). |
| n/a |
Posted - 08/01/2012 : 14:37:23
Yes indeed - I've heard it said that they need 'belly heat' - but, as GMac says, there is definitely a danger of thermal blocking with a mat as they sense heat mainly through the pits on their upper lip and do not sense it sufficiently through their skin to prevent burning.
I've also heard it said that they live in burrows so overhead heat/light is alien to them, and that is why they need 'belly heat'. So they have little electric blankets down there in those old African savannah burrows eh? |
| GMac |
Posted - 08/01/2012 : 14:20:19
perhaps it may be worth mentioning the possibility of thermal blocking to these guys, large bodied snakes should not be kept on mats.
You have an ambient temps shown above the snake will take that temperature on not what is on the base, they take heat through all of the body, there is no evidence, so i have been led to believe, that they take the heat from the belly. Thats like saying they are heatproof all over other than their belly, that is nonsense.
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| n/a |
Posted - 08/01/2012 : 13:38:07
Grrrr shops! I HAVE seen starter vivs with a mat AND a heat bulb, UNguarded (amendment) and unstatted ... (And the hapless buyer thinks they're doing the best thing for the snake ...)
While I'm useless at explaining about ambient heat and so on, I just want to say I think you've done the right thing - to me a heat mat and a ceramic in one viv are a bit like having two gas fires in your living room and while that guy at the shop is entitled to his opinion, imo we all go on learning and my royals are certainly thriving with heatbulbs and no mats.
In any case (and I know I've said this before lol) imo a mat, except for a very small snake, is not a good thing in a viv; it's not waterproof and if a snake does a huge wee and it dries underneath the mat, you're left with a smelly mess that takes ages to eradicate.
While I'm no good on the technicalities, yes I definitely think you've done the right thing. |
| blackskull |
Posted - 08/01/2012 : 13:10:13
i have never used a heat mat in a viv with a ceramic, i don't see the point. the ceramic bulb will give you a hot spot under the bulb and heat the rest of the viv to give you your air temp.
maybe someone else agrees with that way of heating on here and can explain why |
