Heat Mats

[just_brad1983]

Hi guys,

I'm very new to the world of snakes and was simply wondering what the best way to set a heat mat up is?

Thanks in advance.

Brad

[just_brad1983]

Has anyone got any advice for me?????? just don't want to set it up wrong and end up hurting my snake.

[luke_84]

glue to a piece of plywood at least 10mm and use a thermostat....
just put it under your enclosure and find out the ideal temp for your animal

[just_brad1983]

thanks for the reply Luke, so do you actually glue the heat mat to the plyboard. The guy from the pet hsop here in toowoomba told me just put it straight under neath the click clack box he is in and he will be fine. Knew that wasn't right so thats why i'm asking the question after he totally confused me.

[luke_84]

glueing it to a board just helps prevent the elements inside the mat from breaking

[mick_304]

Also only put under max of half the click clack 1/3 is what i put mine under

[luke_84]

Originally Posted by mick_304

Also only put under max of half the click clack 1/3 is what i put mine under

yeah, waht that says ^ ^ , forgot to mention that

[SlothHead]

Well that is a first, glue it to a board ????? HEH

I personally would recommend just putting it directly under the tank or tub. As mentioned dont cover the complete bottom of the tank with the heat mat.

You dont need to run a thermostat, as most heat mats maintain a temperature of 34 touch temp. Combine this with thermal transfer and loss and most a pretty much fine to just go straight under.

If it is getting too hot, you can easily just put a towel between the tub and the mat for further insulation.

I have never had a heat mat element break, something laying flat under a tank isnt going to break, so i dont really see the need for glueing it to a board etc.

[just_brad1983]

thanks all for your help, muchly appreciated. will post up a pic of the little spotted when i get a chance.

[herptrader]

I am not sure that I agree with the "no thermostat' approach.

At the VHS Reptile expo a lass asked me if it was normal for the heat mat to go brown where it was under the plastic container her python was in.

The key is how well the heat can escape. In a perfectly insulated environment even the lowest wattage heat mat will cook it self and probably burn your house down.

Most of the Herp Shop heat mats have a thermal overload built in but that will only work if bit with the overload device gets sufficiently hot to shut it off. Other areas of the mat could be much hotter at this point.

Have a look at the "Tiled Enclosure" page under care sheets at http://herpshop.com.au it may give you some ideas as to how you should set things up.

As your animals grow it will need a bigger enclosure. If you invest in the right sort of thermostat now it will be just as effective in the future ... and a lot cheaper than any damage that will be caused by a fire.

Originally Posted by SlothHead

Well that is a first, glue it to a board ????? HEH

I personally would recommend just putting it directly under the tank or tub. As mentioned dont cover the complete bottom of the tank with the heat mat.

You dont need to run a thermostat, as most heat mats maintain a temperature of 34 touch temp. Combine this with thermal transfer and loss and most a pretty much fine to just go straight under.

If it is getting too hot, you can easily just put a towel between the tub and the mat for further insulation.

I have never had a heat mat element break, something laying flat under a tank isnt going to break, so i dont really see the need for glueing it to a board etc.

[SlothHead]

Well dont know if it is the heat mats that i use or sell for that matter, but i personally have never seen a heat mat turn brown. So that is certainly something different.

Yes the key is how well the heat can escape, but the idea of a heat mat burning the house down is really a practical imporbability. We have tested this theory plenty of times placing heat mats of various wattage into styrofoam eskies and just letting them run, and this still doesnt retain enough heat.

Out of interest how do the thermal overload things work. I assume you are talking about the green mats, but every supplier i have ever got these from have never said anything about it, so yours must be from else where.
But yeah interested to see how that works,

Oh and as i have said before, i will give my reptile collection to the first person that can show me proof that a heat mat has ever caused a house to burn down.

[herptrader]

The lass in question was using an enclosure which kept a pocket of air underneath and I think this may have been a factor for her set up. It was not a heat mat I was familiar with so I cannot comment too much further.

It is the green ones but there are two reasons I would not spruik the thermal overload. The first is that it is set to high for practical purposes - in the 40 to 50 C range. The second is the reason stated earlier - that it only senses at the sensor - other sections of the mat could get much hotter without triggering it.

Your experience with heat matts may be correct but I still see thermostats as cheap insurance. (... and your insurance may prove void if a fire was caused by a heat mat that was not thermostatically protected.)

As with any heating option, even those controlled by a thermostat always double check the actual temperature with a thermometer. These are even cheaper than thermostats.

Originally Posted by SlothHead

Well dont know if it is the heat mats that i use or sell for that matter, but i personally have never seen a heat mat turn brown. So that is certainly something different.

Yes the key is how well the heat can escape, but the idea of a heat mat burning the house down is really a practical imporbability. We have tested this theory plenty of times placing heat mats of various wattage into styrofoam eskies and just letting them run, and this still doesnt retain enough heat.

Out of interest how do the thermal overload things work. I assume you are talking about the green mats, but every supplier i have ever got these from have never said anything about it, so yours must be from else where.
But yeah interested to see how that works,

Oh and as i have said before, i will give my reptile collection to the first person that can show me proof that a heat mat has ever caused a house to burn down.

[anna123]

what kind of wattage heat cord should i get to heat a tank to about 30 degrees?

[anna123]

as in 15, 25, 50, 80 watts? what would be best/?

[herptrader]

It depends upon many things... starting with how large your tank is.

If you are purchasing from the Herp Shop it may be easier to give Brian a call and explain what you wish to heat and how and he can guide your from there.