lighting & heating

[whiffin]

OKay, my new viv is going to be about 12"x13"x36".

For heating I'm gonna get a 11"x17" heat mat (as recommended) and stick it under the astroturf so my snake can't touch it.

I've been told by the pet shop I need a light too (for additional heating). They say a 40/60W bulb, or a "day bulb" would be good. Obviously I'll put a guard on it. They also say to make it controlled by a thermostat.

They ALSO say I need a UV strip light to simulate the sun and give the snake vitamins.

Now .... I'm definately gonna have the heat mat, and some kind of lighting. I can make a thermostat myself if required. I'm unsure on whether to use a 40/60W bulb, or a a flourescent tube in a plastic case (just like what you get in the bathroom).

All opinions welcomed

Cheers

 

[Neil]

You <i>do not</i> need UV light in your viv. Corns and other nocturnal snakes don't need this. You may also not require a light either, as long as the astro-turf reaches around 85 degrees. May I suggest making the viv just a little bit bigger depth-wise?

 

[bmm]

agreed

Neil is right.

Corns and most other snakes do not need and do not benefit from UVA/UVB. Of course, it's a nice bright clean white for viewing/personal lighting reasons. But other tubes are cheaper if thats your purpose.



bmm

 

[whiffin]

Cheers people - I'll buy the heat pad and see how warm it gets.

I can't make it deeper as this fits perfect in the unit and I've already cut the wood - BUT Suzy is only 4 months old and nowhere near full size so I''m thinking it should be OK.

When he's bigger I'll probably get another snake and a nicer/bigger viv anyway.

Cheers for your comments

 

[CornPony]

I was told specifically NOT to put the mat inside the viv.

 

[whiffin]

IIRC you can put the heat mat inside the viv providing the snake can't touch it - even if it burrows.

In my case I'm having astrosturf on top of it ... I'll secure this to make sure the snake can't "dig" it up.

I can't put it outside as the heat wouldn;t pass through the wood very well

Anyone

 

[reaper]

hi if your viv is wood the best place for the heat mat will be on the back wall on the inside of the viv if you go to my web site look under snake housing you should see how i mean

http://simonreaper.tripod.com/

 

[pipatic]

hi Whiffin



but get a themostate for your heat mat and then it wont matter if your corn lies down on it,,so long as u set it up right,,

and you can make themostates ,reaper was on the look out for some ,perhaps u guy's shud talk



p.s that a heck of a nice shop u go/did too lol

 

[AntoSnake]

UV

UV may damage the eye of crepuscolar snakes, and distur the behaviour of the snakes.

See you
Antonio

 

[whiffin]

Firstly - cheers for you help guys.

Reaper - I'll look at sticking it on the back, but I was gonna have a background drawn (then sealed) on the back ...

Pipatic - I'll look into a thermostat, and see how hot the viv gets.

As for the pet shop, I just think this particular guy was either trying to get a quick buck or inexperienced. They are actually pretty good, and apart from this visit have never said anything wrong. They have one main guy who knows his snakes, I guess he just wasn't in.

Cheers guys

 

[pipatic]

hi whiffin
how hot the viv gets??? the reason for the themo so you can adjust the temp to suite,but also to stop it sticking on an burning the snake,
for cheap equipment try
www.chrismartinservices.co.uk his prices are pretty had to beat

 

[whiffin]

Dunno yet - I haven't built it!

I've got the wood cut, got a few bits, got LOTS of ideas ... just a case of putting it all together.

I'll built it, then test temperatures and things

I'll check Chris Martin's site too

Cheers