heating pads

yindrgn13 · #1 (**permalink**) 12-08-2007, 12:27 AM

Ok I have another really stupid question...

I got a heating pad for my 55 gallon snake tank... but after getting home I realized my tank sits on a solid wood stand.. Is it ok to put the heating pad on the bottom oursidw of the tank against the wood surface without causing any issues?

HARTSOCK · #2 (**permalink**) 12-08-2007, 12:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yindrgn13

Ok I have another really stupid question...
I got a heating pad for my 55 gallon snake tank... but after getting home I realized my tank sits on a solid wood stand.. Is it ok to put the heating pad on the bottom oursidw of the tank against the wood surface without causing any issues?

THere are usually little rubber feet that come with them, they will usually provide enough space to vent air but you may want to get some wooden blocks to put the tank up on. I took 2 x 3 inch blocks and cut a wedge out of them so the tank can sit on them, but still have a lip to hold it secure. I did glue the blocks to the table it's on....so, you just want to make sure that if you put the blocks under it, it is secure.

If it is too close it may discolor the thing it is sitting one.

Do you have a thermostat or at least a dimmer switch to attach it to? Those heat pads (I use them too) can get way too hot. a simple dimmer switch from Lowe's that is a plug in one cost about 10 to 15 bucks and just play with the setting and watch it closely till you get it set.

yindrgn13 · #3 (**permalink**) 12-08-2007, 01:38 AM

The heating lamp is connected to a timer... and I do have a thermometer. The heating pad I have is an 8 watt.

HARTSOCK · #4 (**permalink**) 12-08-2007, 01:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yindrgn13

The heating lamp is connected to a timer... and I do have a thermometer. The heating pad I have is an 8 watt.

timmer is great and thermometer is a must, but I found out that those heating pads can get out of control. I still use them but you need to be careful. When I got my first boa, he was in a 20L and I had the lamp and turned it on and off myself, and I had a heat pad on the one side. It was whatever size was suited to a 20L and I believe it was an 8 watt as well. I noticed after a while that side of the cage on the surface of the floor got to 100 degrees and sometime more. That is fine if you got cages like Razeraze, but in a 20L it is way to high. I got one of those dimmers and get it set up and it worked like a charm. I now use one of those $30 zoo med thermostats which are the best, but they work. I have dimmers (some homemade) on the other snakes.

One thing I found to be a good investment was a digital temp gun. Mine is a little handheld thing that I got from Radio Shack. These are great for surface temp readings because that is what your snake is going to be in contact with.

yindrgn13 · #5 (**permalink**) 12-08-2007, 02:01 AM

ours is a 55 gallon long. I was thinking maybe I could put the heating pad on the side of the tank... but not sure if that would work. I do understand the causes of heating pads.. We use to take in Iguanas.. most had been burned because of the overheating of pads and stones.

HARTSOCK · #6 (**permalink**) 12-08-2007, 02:05 AM

I have seen them used on the side of the tank and most of the packages list that as the way to use them. only thing would be the heat on the side and not belly heat, which some say a larger snake absolutely needs, but I don't know which is best in that regard.

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