Reptile Forum, Reptile Classifieds - CaptiveBred

Scott W · Posted: Wed Jan 04, 2006 1:31 pm Post subject:

Only one way to find out for sure and that's for him to test the pad under his viv. Wink

I personally wouldn't like to say for sure one way or the other as I have no idea how deep the substrate will be, how thick / type of viv, what the viv will be sitting on, and of course the ambient temp of his house.

All I do know is that I placed heat pads under glass vivs (8mm!) and in vivs with more than an inch of substrate the glass cracked badly due to too much heat! I have never tried a heat pad outside a wooden viv.

For all my venomous vivs I use a heat pad that is 10% of the floor area, this is not on a stat and placed inside a viv. I use a substrate and depth that insulates the temp enough to give the right surface temperature depending on the species kept within, plus the ambient room temp is also controlled.
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Stuart · Posted: Wed Jan 04, 2006 2:48 pm Post subject:

Yep I agree try out a couple of different setups and record the temps...as I said though when I tried it the heat that did come through wasn't enough..the probe of the stat was directly on top and never got up to temp..substrate was wood chips..but not deep..so not rubbish just facts based on what I have tried.

Dan · Captivebred Communist Joined: 08 Sep 2005 Posts: 1306

Did you try a more powerfull heat mat?

I have tried both methods and find i prefer the safety and security afforded by having the mat on the outside.
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The future is bright, the future is a net like pattern.................

I'm NOT an expert, so if you don't want to know my opinion don't ask!!

Stuart · Posted: Wed Jan 04, 2006 4:31 pm Post subject:

Used the highest wattage one I had..So what temps are you getting through the wooden floor of your viv Dan?have you measured them with a infared gun or just the dial type thermometer?Or is it connected to a stat with a probe inside the viv

Dan · Captivebred Communist Joined: 08 Sep 2005 Posts: 1306

94 is the temp on the floor of the viv, i also have a lower wattage mat on the side so there is a wall temp of 85. I use a gun to measure the temps, would you like a pic? Razz

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TFA

The future is bright, the future is a net like pattern.................

I'm NOT an expert, so if you don't want to know my opinion don't ask!!

Stuart · Posted: Wed Jan 04, 2006 4:57 pm Post subject:

Oooh that would be nice..is there a viv underneath with heating attached to the top i.e. ceramic or bulb?..is the mat the only source of heat in the viv?

Dan · Captivebred Communist Joined: 08 Sep 2005 Posts: 1306

I'll do you one later tonight. The viv has been empty for the last few days and as a result the doors are open and there is no substrate currently in there. As a result i would expect the temps to be lower.
The viv is sat on a chest of drawers, no other vivs in the room (my bedroom - i know you can't wait for the insight Laughing

)
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TFA

The future is bright, the future is a net like pattern.................

I'm NOT an expert, so if you don't want to know my opinion don't ask!!

Stuart · Posted: Wed Jan 04, 2006 5:23 pm Post subject:

was this the only viv that you used this method for then?..and no I cant wait.. Shocked

Dan · Captivebred Communist Joined: 08 Sep 2005 Posts: 1306

Its the only viv i have that uses a heat mat as primary heat currently. We used to use heat mat pretty much exclusively but i changed to ceramics a while ago. Greater, faster heat and a better capability to heat large areas was needed. I much prefer ceramic heaters in general and if/when the viv using mats is replaced i will change the heating system too.
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TFA

The future is bright, the future is a net like pattern.................

I'm NOT an expert, so if you don't want to know my opinion don't ask!!

Stuart · Posted: Wed Jan 04, 2006 5:43 pm Post subject:

I'd rather ceramics also..really have only used mats in vivs as a secondry heat source for night time heat if using a bulb on a dimmer for main source.If using ceramic no need for the mat.One viv they do work well with externally are herpteks..Used a heat mat externally controlled by a stat with the probe inside and found it easily reached the temps required.