Under tank Heaters

[QuickSilver]

I got a REALLY good deal on a cobra heat mat a few weeks ago and i put it in with my BCI, but its putting out ALOT of heat...about 95-100 on the cage floor. Is that too much? Im using newspaper (about 4 or 5 layers) and the heater is underneith my 40 gallon aquarium. It just seems a little too hot to me??
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	Boa Constrictor Imperator Boa Constrictor (Boa constrictor imperator). Most common is the Colombian Boa.

[captainmorgan]

Yes it's to much. Does it have an adjustable thermostat? If you're an electrician you can put your own in or find an electrician and have him do it. If you can't put you're hand on it without burning it's to hot! I perfer a human heating pad that I can get at walmart for like $15.00. The Cobra heating mats get real hot, especially if you're using newspaper for a substrate. Anyways, to answer your ?, yes it's to hot. [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif[/img] Consider the human heat pad set on medium as an option. I use a 40gl too.
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[KLG]

Consider plugging your heat mat into a dial-adjustable rheostat and controlling the temp from there. I personally use and recommend the "Power Plug" rheostats available from Bush Herpetological Supply and Eherp.com. While $30 may seem a little steep to pay for such a simple device, they have a track record of being reliable, safe resources for controlling temps in your boa's enclosure. I look at mine as some of the best investments I've ever made for thermoregulation.

If you have any questions or need more info, don't hesitate to drop me a line.

My $.02...

KLG [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]
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[Countryboy]

I just bought a dimmer from Lowes it cost me around 16.00 and I bought a 3 plug adapter (it was olny 3.00) to plug into it so it could control up to 3 things. The dimmer will only hold 300 watts. It is in the switches and outlets Isle. Its made by Lutron and it is a lamp dimmer. I hooked it up this after noon and it works great. Just a suggestion.
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[Dr.Oviparous]

I had the same thing happen, I put two layers of zoo med repti carpet right above the heat pad, under the substrate. -Juggalo
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[lizardlady]

95-100 doesn't sound too hot to me. My dogs are 103 deg. and I have no problem snuggling up to them, lol! They certainly don't burn me! I usually don't go over 105 with heat pads; belly heat is good! If a boa has a URI, you are gonna jack the temp up to about 95, so if you're SURE that's the temp, I think it's ok. Remember YOUR body temp is almost 100, and YOU don't burn the snake! JMO.
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[Dr.Oviparous]

the heat pad I was using was under a glass bottom enclosure, the glass was to hot for me to touch for more than a couple seconds, I don't know exactly how hot the glass was, but I thought it had a prettty good chance of burning Shamika! mabye it was alright? anyway, I know it's alright now at least. I don't really know how hot my dawgs are, I don't really think of them in that way! hehe [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_razz.gif[/img] -Juggalo
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[indyj]

i read that someone heated their cage with CHE, what the heck is that? I have a wooden cage and can't figure out how to heat it with a pad. Anyone know about this?

	Ceramic Heat Emitter Ceramic Heat Emitter: A porcelain heating device that screws into a standard porcelain incandescent socket

[Gecko-Guy]

uhh the temps in the cage are supposed to be between 86-88. 95 is too hot. Even if it doesn't burn you, its too hot for your snake. Body temperature has nothing to do with it lizardlady.

[Gecko-Guy]

lol i didnt look at the date. IndyJ you are naughty. Is making me look like an idiot really that fulfilling? jk

[haroldo359]

lol... i was wondering where these ppl i didn't recognize called from. i was gonna welcome them til i saw the the number of posts. i wondered if they were just hibernating, til i read boaman's post and realized the dates.

[DavidAg02]

Yes 95-100 is too hot. It won't burn your boa, but more than likely it will dehydrate them, and it will be hard to keep the humidity right in the cage. Unless you can return your Cobra heat mat, then there is no sense in trying to change out to something cooler. The easiest thing you can do is just add more substrate to the bottom of the cage. You might have to add a lot of newspaper though to get it down to where you want it.

What I recommend, that CountryBoy also suggested, is go to Home Depot or Lowes and buy the Plug N Play dimmer switch made by Lutron. I use one on my UTH and one on my overhead bulb. They work great, and have been very reliable. It takes a little trial and error to get the temps just right, but it will be a cheap and easy way to make better use of that heat mat. Good luck!

	Under Tank Heater Under Tank Heater

[akpuffin]

what about heat tape is there a heat regulator built in them, and how well would that stuff work eith plexiglass

[akpuffin]

i have a rainbow in a glass tank now and have been thinking about changing to rubber maid or plexi but i dont want to melt the plastic and still keep it hot enough for her any help