Garter heat mat query - Not hot enough

[luminol]

Hi All, would like to pick your brains regarding garter warmth.

I have a thermometer in each zone, hot and cold, cold is reading at 20c and so is the hot side, im using a 7w mat (Komodo) with a thermostat on a third/half of cage and eco terra analogue thermometers. The mat seems warm under the faunarium but worried the lil fellas too cold. Any suggestions?

Ive played around with the thermostat, having it set on 30degreesc and when that didnt do anything put up to max when I was in to monitor it, no change, so ive put back to 30c as am at work in case it goes super hot all of a sudden)

The mats currently sitting about an inch under the faunarium (cage has feet). maybe im meant to attach to underside cage? But I thought I read somewhere not to.

Sorry for the newbie questions, just new at this and want Tickles (my checkered name :)) comfortable and happy.
Thanks in advance, I really appreciate your guys info.

[-MARWOLAETH-]

Try putting the mat on top of a ceramic tile to get closer to the tank.

[Invisible Snake]

I'm not familiar with Komodo heat mats, but I use this Amazon.com: Zoo Med ReptiTherm® Under Tank Heater, Small: Pet Supplies (http://www.amazon.com/Zoo-Med-ReptiTherm®-Under-Heater/dp/B0002AQCKA) which has a self adhesive so it sticks to the underside of the enclosure.

Edit: I googled Komodo 7w heat mat and I came across this link to a reptile forum where the OP is having a similar situation, it may be helpful(?)

http://www.reptileforums.co.uk/forums/equipment-supplies/613844-komodo-7w-heat-mat.html

[luminol]

Ahhh thanks for looking for me, didnt find that.

It mentions to put on a polystyrene tile, I have some polystyrene I fished out of a computer monitor box.

do you reckon its safe to put a heat mat on polyS? allllllso, its a plastic cage, that an issue.

again, sorry for the beginner questions!

[luminol]

This is quite handy for anyone in my position:Faunarium isn't hot enough - Reptile Forums (http://www.reptileforums.co.uk/forums/newbie-advice/905248-faunarium-isnt-hot-enough.html)

[luminol]

still any other ideas woill bre great thanks all.

Side not, I should probably get a digital thermometer?

[guidofatherof5]

No need to apologize for your question/s. That is what this forum is here for.
20C/68F isn't enough heat. Not familiar with that pad but apparently it's not doing the job or the application needs to be changed.
I use ZooMed heat pads. They attach directly to the underside of the enclosure.
Using a thermostat that monitors and controls the temp is very important no matter what heat pad you use.
Amazon.com: Hydrofarm MTPRTC Digital Thermostat For Heat Mats: Patio, Lawn & Garden (http://www.amazon.com/Hydrofarm-MTPRTC-Digital-Thermostat-Heat/dp/B000NZZG3S/ref=sr_1_fkmr2_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1352817805&sr=8-1-fkmr2&keywords=amazon+uk+hydrofarm+thermostat)

[luminol]

Thanks for the reply,

This the thermostat I am using, bought straight away in order to monitor it

MiniStat 100 (http://www.reptiles.swelluk.com/reptile-supplies/reptile-heating-equipment-414/thermostats-555/microclimate-ministat-100--246403.html?ref=shopping&utm_source=product-search&utm_medium=googlebase&gclid=CMLPxJaezLMCFU3HtAodRxgAXQ)

and this is the mat

Komodo Heat Mat, 7 W, 15 x 28 cm (http://www.google.co.uk/products/catalog?client=opera&q=komodo+heat+mat+7w&oe=utf-8&channel=suggest&um=1&ie=UTF-8&cid=11599689333431793427&sa=X&ei=cmSiUOD4JoLH0QXbxoCABA&ved=0CEkQ8wIwAw)

So by the looks of things the mat may be rubbish?


Im going to have a bash at raising my up a little and closing the inch gap between mat and terrarium. Maybe thatll help?

If not i'll get a new mat.

[ConcinusMan]

do you reckon its safe to put a heat mat on polyS?

I would say no. Mat shouldn't be sandwiched between anything, especially insulating materials. This is the reason for the adhesive. So there will be a gap underneath the mat.


cold is reading at 20c and so is the hot side, im using a 7w mat (Komodo) with a thermostat on a third/half of cage and eco terra analogue thermometers. The mat seems warm under the faunarium but worried the lil fellas too cold.

20-25 c isn't too bad for the cool end / air temperature but there should be a spot warm enough for the snake to warm itself to around 30 c.


The mats currently sitting about an inch under the faunarium (cage has feet). maybe im meant to attach to underside cage?

Exactly. That's what the adhesive is for, and you do want the gap underneath the mat or they could overheat. I would think that a thermostat would prevent that though.

You can always use a combination basking light and heat mat on the warm end. Just don't let the whole tank heat up. Air temp in most of the tank should be a temperature that is comfortable for you and I. They just need a highly localized spot where they can get warmer than that. A 40-60 watt reflecting incandescent bulb (the kind with a silver backing) in a ceramic socket fixture with dome, placed at one end will create a "sunny" localized hot spot.

If you don't want to use the light, you need to get that mat in contact with the glass Don't do this when the mat is already hot or it might crack the glass. They are designed to heat up slowly to prevent that.

[chris-uk]

Attach the mat to the bottom of the faunarium and that should help. I don't think the mat is the issue it's just the air gap between it and the glass. I've been using a Komodo mat on one of my vivs for over a year.
I've also found that those ExoTerra dial-type thermometers are next to useless. You'll see more accurate results from a digital thermometer, although they aren't always accurate either so I use an old fashioned liquid thermometer to calibrate my thermometers. I've found that the cheap Lucky Reptile dual probe thermometers are accurate to within a degree.

[ConcinusMan]

... and cheap ones are worthless. If it seems like a really good deal, pass it up and pay for a good one. I like the wireless ones with base station. Can monitor several probes from one remote base station. They are accurate to within 1/10th of a degree, can monitor surface temps (lay probe on top of substrate) or air. You can also set high/low alarms, and record high and low readings. These are great for monitoring brumating snakes without disturbing them, and for alerting you if temps go out of desired range.

[chris-uk]

They are accurate to within 1/10th of a degree

Just because the digital readout is to 0.1 degrees it doesn't mean the thermometer is that accurate. They will give a more precise inaccurate reading, but that reading could actually be a degree or so out. Hence my laboratory grade thermometer to calibrate my digital thermometers, I mark the digitals to show whether they read high or low and by how much. I've yet to find a digital thermometer that costs less than hundreds of pounds that has a stated accuracy of less than a degree.

[ConcinusMan]

Just because the digital readout is to 0.1 degrees it doesn't mean the thermometer is that accurate. They will give a more precise inaccurate reading, but that reading could actually be a degree or so out. Hence my laboratory grade thermometer to calibrate my digital thermometers, I mark the digitals to show whether they read high or low and by how much. I've yet to find a digital thermometer that costs less than hundreds of pounds that has a stated accuracy of less than a degree.

Well, working in a juice processing plant with a USDA QC lab, part of my job was calibrating all kinds of thermometers. I bought two sets of these base stations, and two remote probes per station. (Springfield Precise temp)They all agree with each other, mercury thermometers, etc. I did take all of the probes in to the lab to check, and they were all accurate. Most industries would agree that they are precision instruments. Maybe these cost more over there, I don't know, but while they are not dirt cheap, they are still very affordable.

Amazon.com: springfield precise temp (http://www.amazon.com/s?ie=UTF8&keywords=springfield precise temp&page=1&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Aspringfield precise temp)

[luminol]

thanks alot for all the great info. The heat mat is attached and believe is doing a better job as the lil ones quite active. Just fed him a pinkie which he devoured pretty fast.

Definately getting a better thermometer this weekend.

Thank you again everyone, I will keep you updated, first snake ive owned (or pet other than a fish) and im really loving it.

[ConcinusMan]

Garters are very hardy. You don't have to be precise with their temperatures anyway. You just need to provide a temperature gradient within range of reasonable.