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plainboy
Hatchling
United Kingdom
53 Posts |
 Posted - 21/02/2013 : 01:47:53
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| I've read that heat mats are bad for royals as they are a heavy bodied snake but I hear all the time on this site that you's keep them in rubs with heat mats so what's true and not true ? I'm personally making a viv with a heat lamp for when he's older |
Royal python = Samson pomeranian = Todd Newfoundland = Sassy |
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JBOB
Snake Mite
United Kingdom
39 Posts |
Posted - 21/02/2013 : 02:00:10
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Heat mats are fine for royals in rubs. It's when you put a mat inside a wooden viv and the snake lays on it directly that you can have problems.
They are heavy compared to other snakes so they can cause thermal blocking of the mat causing burns. They also like to tip over water bowls and pee a lot !! If the mat is under a rub with airflow under as well then there's no issues. |
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Lotabob
Royal Python Moderator
United Kingdom
5008 Posts |
Posted - 21/02/2013 : 15:57:49
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A little bit of thermal blocking info.
Rubs and other plastic snake receptacles (new term, I like it) have either feet or grid patterns etc on the bottom. They are designed to strengthen the tub but in a happy coincidence they are great for us snake people too as it holds the flat of the bottom away from the heat mat, as the contact with the mat is minimal so greatly reduces the risk of thermal blocking.
Glass tanks don't have this and the weight of the tank itself can greatly increase the risk but over the whole mat so the thermostat should catch any rise in temperature and switch the mat off.
Wooden vivariums are the biggest risk (other than an unstated mat) as the mat is inside where the snake can make actual contact with it. The stat probe is only monitoring the exact spot on the mat that it is touching (less a tiny bit for air temp interference). So along comes a heavy bodied snake and curls up on the mat, the stat probe is jut to the left of where it's sitting, the sheer heft of the snake is causing thermal blocking so the mat under the snake is rising in temperature, the bit of the mat the stat probe is monitoring is still operating normally so it doesn't switch the mat off and snake ends up with a very warm belly at best, a severe burn at worse. |
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Nicola
Hatchling
United Kingdom
90 Posts |
Posted - 21/02/2013 : 22:53:59
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| Great info Lotabob, I understood the meaning but your explanation makes it much clearer to understand now :) |
0.0.1 California Kingsnake. Cecil
0.1.0 Spider Royal Python. Lexi
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plainboy
Hatchling
United Kingdom
53 Posts |
Posted - 22/02/2013 : 01:39:11
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| Hi thanks guys for clearing that up I'm new to all this so I read a lot of stuff and there's that much info out there it's muddles everything up lol |
Royal python = Samson pomeranian = Todd Newfoundland = Sassy |
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Foremand
Sub Adult
United Kingdom
968 Posts |
Posted - 22/02/2013 : 02:14:06
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Awesome write up there. But oh so true. Heat mats are just a quick n easy option out of a real set up. Me personally I've never liked heat mats and would always spend a little more for safeness and for effectiveness.
My boa had a heat mat when I got him. And he wasn't as he should be. After fitting a ceramic heater, thermostat, etc hes really come out of him self. More lively, calmer and loves attention. |
1.0.0 Royal python- Kaa
1.0.0 German shepherd- Riley
0.3.0 Cats- Does not matter they won't come to you
1.0.0 Red Footed Tortoise- Nemo
1.0.0 Boa- Bison
0.0.1 Brocky- Bearded dragon |
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boomslang
Old Royal - I Post too much!
United Kingdom
2025 Posts |
Posted - 23/02/2013 : 19:14:02
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| Always found roof mounted heating easier myself,Stat probe getting moved of the mat.Not having a snake trying to go under the mat :) trying to fix the mat to the floor,So it stays in one place etc etc. |
1.0.0 pinstripe Royal Python
1.0.0 Bumblebee Royal Python
1.0.0 Normal corn
1.0.0 Extreme red Hognose
0.1.0 Extreme red tiger Hognose
1.1.0 yemen chameleons
1.0.0 Piebald yemen
1.0.0 Tamatave panther
1.0.0 Quadricornis
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Heat mats?
