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Lindstrom
Hatchling
United Kingdom
91 Posts |
 Posted - 08/08/2012 : 09:30:19
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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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Edited by - Lindstrom on 08/08/2012 09:53:47 |
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boomslang
Old Royal - I Post too much!
United Kingdom
2025 Posts |
Posted - 08/08/2012 : 14:15:46
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Hello and welcome.Is the mat inside or outside under the tank? You want the temp probe and stat probe on the mat,And i really wouldn't use any kinda tape.
quote:
I've noticed very occasionally he will have a tiny pin sized black bug on him. I believe these to possibly be dust mites
Dust mites are tiny and white.When using wood or branches or anything natural,you will get tiny black bugs/grubs
But id also check him,and the water bowl to make sure there not snake mites. |
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badwool
Sub Adult
658 Posts |
Posted - 08/08/2012 : 14:21:38
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| Is your tank sat actually ontop of the mat? I know the exoterra's have a raised base. |
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Cookie
Yearling
United Kingdom
205 Posts |
Posted - 08/08/2012 : 15:25:50
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| Hopefully its not snake mites, took me a while to get rid of them wee buggers!! Nightmare lol |
1.2.0 Royal Pythons (Sebastian, Romeo & Gypsy)
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Lindstrom
Hatchling
United Kingdom
91 Posts |
Posted - 08/08/2012 : 15:35:19
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| Yeah the mat is under the tank and the stat probe is inside on the floor, when I had the probe outside he was cold to the touch and I could feel no heat on the floor. |
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badwool
Sub Adult
658 Posts |
Posted - 08/08/2012 : 15:44:01
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| That's because mats are contact heaters. If the tank is on top of the mat then the raised base would mean there is not contact between mat and glass. |
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Lindstrom
Hatchling
United Kingdom
91 Posts |
Posted - 08/08/2012 : 16:30:22
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| Ahh ok so tape the mat to the bottom under the viv? |
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Kelfezond
The bearded one
United Kingdom
4803 Posts |
Posted - 08/08/2012 : 16:36:28
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I'd avoid taping the mat, sounds fire hazard alarm bells to me.
However you should have a plastic light vasing that came with the Exo-Terra you can place heat bulbs in there to raise the temperature :) |
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Lindstrom
Hatchling
United Kingdom
91 Posts |
Posted - 08/08/2012 : 17:12:28
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| My only concern with that is its 45cm tall and he spends 99% of the time on the ground. And with the exo terra canopies I don't think they leave much room for thermo regulation. :/ I did think ceramic but I don't think you can do it in that model of viv? |
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Kelfezond
The bearded one
United Kingdom
4803 Posts |
Posted - 08/08/2012 : 17:13:53
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| It's a difficult choice, this is why we never recommend these exo terra things. I hate the fact they advertise a royal on the box :-/ |
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Lindstrom
Hatchling
United Kingdom
91 Posts |
Posted - 08/08/2012 : 17:54:03
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| I didn't buy it new, got it for £12 on eBay it's a good size for him the one I had before was too large and he never came out, I can heat the floor to about 80 according to a analogue exo terra thermometer I have (also second hand) although I have a feeling it's not very accurate as the stat turns off fine when it's set at 88 :s |
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Fezza
Fully Grown Royal
United Kingdom
1063 Posts |
Posted - 08/08/2012 : 18:04:44
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The accepted wisdom is that the stats aren't that accurate. As such, most keepers use a second thermometer to double check temps
Btw, 80f is kinda low to keep a royal in. You'd wanna be shooting for 88-90 |
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Lindstrom
Hatchling
United Kingdom
91 Posts |
Posted - 08/08/2012 : 18:19:18
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Ok just put the stat on full 90, I was worried that this would mean the mat being on most of the time, turning off for 30 seconds then switching back on to hit 90. Would this put too much stress on the mat?
Also this may be a silly question but if I build a hide from dark red transparent plastic would the snake think it's a normal hide? |
Edited by - Lindstrom on 08/08/2012 18:21:38 |
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badwool
Sub Adult
658 Posts |
Posted - 08/08/2012 : 18:26:20
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| the snake will still be able to see movement through the plastic - so no. |
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boomslang
Old Royal - I Post too much!
United Kingdom
2025 Posts |
Posted - 08/08/2012 : 18:49:41
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Theres nothing wrong with the exo terra tanks,Great for other reptiles etc.Just not really cost affective for a royal due to the height.And the time you will have the tank,before having to buy something else.
It is however fine for now..
quote:
That's because mats are contact heaters. If the tank is on top of the mat then the raised base would mean there is not contact between mat and glass.
Well the gap isn't all that big,Just tape the mat to the bottom of the glass.Or use sticky tabs around the outside of the mat.Not on the heating parts of the mat.
Or place the mat on polystyrene so it pushes the mat against the bottom of the tank.or a sheet of wood under the tank.Also you need a digital thermometer. |
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badwool
Sub Adult
658 Posts |
Posted - 08/08/2012 : 19:03:08
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| 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 |
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Stewy-C-
Yearling
United Kingdom
103 Posts |
Posted - 08/08/2012 : 19:14:41
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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 |
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"The highest form of ignorance is when you reject something you don't know anything about"
"On the internet you can be anything you want, its strange that so many people choose to be stupid" |
Edited by - Stewy-C- on 08/08/2012 19:15:18 |
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Lindstrom
Hatchling
United Kingdom
91 Posts |
Posted - 08/08/2012 : 21:06:08
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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. |
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carlb1981
Fully Grown Royal
United Kingdom
1527 Posts |
Posted - 08/08/2012 : 21:17:23
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| 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 |
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Stewy-C-
Yearling
United Kingdom
103 Posts |
Posted - 08/08/2012 : 21:31:07
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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. |
1.0 Spider Royal
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"The highest form of ignorance is when you reject something you don't know anything about"
"On the internet you can be anything you want, its strange that so many people choose to be stupid" |
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Lindstrom
Hatchling
United Kingdom
91 Posts |
Posted - 08/08/2012 : 21:37:33
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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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Edited by - Lindstrom on 08/08/2012 21:43:41 |
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Hi
