How long do heat mats take to warm up?

[Phaedra]

I've always used reflector bulbs but I'm using a heat mat for my new snake. It's been on about an hour and it's only heated up around 8F (the viv is at 68F, the cool side is about 68F). Is it faulty or should I just wait for the viv to warm up more? It's a UTH and covers around 50% of the cage. It's on a thermostat that unfortunately doesn't show numbers, it just has "min" and "max". I've put it on max and it feels quite warm to the touch.

 

[diamondlil]

How are you measuring the temps? Maplins sell a digital in-out thermometer / hygrometer for around £15. If you check out this thread you can see how fast heatmats can reach dangerous temperatures
http://www.cornsnakes.com/forums/showthread.php?t=39097&highlight=unregulated

 

[Phaedra]

I'm using two cheap thermometers from the pet shop, one at either end. I've placed them close to the substrate. I also have a hygrometer in the centre of the tank.

I'm keeping a very close eye on the temps (checking every 10 mins or so) and they're creeping up slowly - it's around 70F now. I've also just created a humidity hide and misted the tank. I am cheating a bit by posting here because it's not a corn snake, it's a CRB, which is why I want humidity to be up from the 70% it's at now. I hope no-one minds that this isn't about a corn snake, I should have said that in my first post.

Very interesting thread, I'm certainly going to be vigilant about temps. But do you know if it's normal for the mat to take this long to heat the viv?

 

[diamondlil]

Phaedra, the best thing you can do is get a digital thermometer. Those from the petshop will not tell you the temperature directly on the surface of the glass, I can't think who it is on here, but their signature is 'your hand is not a thermometer', If a mat feels warm to you it could already be hot enough to burn your snake

 

[Checkerbelly]

I can't think who it is on here, but their signature is 'your hand is not a thermometer'

That person is da bomb! heh

It could also be that the heat from the pad just isn't getting through the bottom of the tank very easily. But I wouldn't jump to any conclusions until you get a reading directly on the glass. Once the glass is warmed up, that's all you need to worry about. The snake will do the rest.

 

[Cuddles]

Digital thermometer with a probe. The mat that I have heats up VERY fast, but will not heat the whole tank. I have a probe and a cheap thermometer, the cheap one hardly changes while the probe (ontop of the glass right above my heating mat) changes a lot.

 

[BRoSKO]

yeah you can get them indoor outdoor thermometers from walmart for under 10 bucks

 

[Phaedra]

Once the glass is warmed up, that's all you need to worry about. The snake will do the rest.

She's burrowed under her substrate and is lying on the cool side (thermometer is reading about 64F over there) so I'm assuming she isn't too cold. I'll get a digital thermometer as soon as I can. Thanks everyone.

 

[Jrgh17]

Until then, you might consider turning your heat mat down to a "moderate" setting. Having it on max and not being sure of the temps doesn't sound like a good idea.

 

[diamondlil]

Until then, you might consider turning your heat mat down to a "moderate" setting. Having it on max and not being sure of the temps doesn't sound like a good idea.

absolutley!

 

[Maize411]

heheh..everyone thought the thermometer on the warm side of my snake's tank was a cell phone..now that I look at it...it kind of does look like one..heh..the thing with my heat mat right now is I have it on a rheostat but it's sooo hard to control..one day the setting will keep it at a nice 82 degrees the whole day..suddenly the next day at the exact same setting and the bottom is reading 86...weird...very weird...

 

[Jrgh17]

Maize-

That's probably different surrounding temps (in your house) from day to day. Your viv isn't near a window or anything, is it?

 

[Maize411]

nope not near any windows...my boyfriend says the same thing though...it's probably the temp in our house making the difference..because the temp in my apartment is not controlled by us so it changes ALL THE TIME....we never have a solid degree..so it's rough keeping Maize comfortable..especially right now in the winter since who ever does control our heating seems to like the whole apartment to be a constant 78 degrees...so my poor snake only has two choices...78 degrees on the cool side...or 81 on the warm...sometimes when it gets real hot in here I just turn the heat mat off...it's so annoying..

 

[Flagg]

That type of environment is why a thermostat is better. You wouldn't have to keep adjusting it like you do a rheostat/lamp dimmer.