| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| stevenfeldman |
Posted - 03/05/2010 : 00:03:56
We have just moved our king snake out of his plastic 20 inch box into a 36 x 18 wooden vivarium.
He was very happy on an 11 watt heat mat without a thermostat in the old box but since he has moved into the new vivarium he has burrowed under the bedding and is curled up on the heat mat barely moving for a week and has just refused his feed for the first time in in nearly two years.
Does he need more heat in the bigger vivarium? A bigger mat? A lamp? A thermostat?
Worried  |
| 5 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Gmac |
Posted - 03/05/2010 : 12:49:04
maybe need a slightly bigger mat so that is covering at least a 1/3 of the viv. if you are using a mat you wouldnt need to use any other heat sources this should be sufficient.
he may feel exposed if he only has the one log to hide under, it is better to provide at least 2 hides, 1 in the hot end and 1 in the cool end also 2 inches of aspen may be a bit too much take some out so there is only a couple of centimetres of aspen covering. you may also want to cover the mat with a sheet of lino to prevent your cali sitting directly on the mat.
How are you monitoring the hot end temps it is best doing this with a digital thermometer wth the probe on the substrate. |
| stevenfeldman |
Posted - 03/05/2010 : 08:59:40
quote:
Originally posted by Gmac
Hiya and welcome to the forum,
ideally you would want the heatmat to cover a third to a half of the base of the viv.
You really should have your mat regulated by a stat as your snake may very well burn itself severely, particularly if he has already burrowed to lie on the mat. The mat can and will heat up to extremely high temps, i dont know the exact figure though. So i would suggest getting a stat as a matter of urgency
Different species of kingsnakes require different temps so it may be best if you tell us the type of king you have but if you aim for about 30 degrees C this should be sufficient.
It's a california king - mat is covering a bit less than a 1/3 of base area. I am ordering a stat today do I need a bigger mat too? What do you reckon on a lamp as well, most on the forum say not to bother?
Thanks for advice
|
| stevenfeldman |
Posted - 03/05/2010 : 08:55:27
quote:
Originally posted by Grumpy
How much cover has he got? Might be feeling a bit exposed.
About 2 inches of aspen and he has a half log type hide which he used when first in the viv |
| Gmac |
Posted - 03/05/2010 : 01:54:57
Hiya and welcome to the forum,
ideally you would want the heatmat to cover a third to a half of the base of the viv.
You really should have your mat regulated by a stat as your snake may very well burn itself severely, particularly if he has already burrowed to lie on the mat. The mat can and will heat up to extremely high temps, i dont know the exact figure though. So i would suggest getting a stat as a matter of urgency
Different species of kingsnakes require different temps so it may be best if you tell us the type of king you have but if you aim for about 30 degrees C this should be sufficient.
|
| Grumpy |
Posted - 03/05/2010 : 00:21:32
How much cover has he got? Might be feeling a bit exposed. |
