Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Im using linoleum for a substrate for my 4.5 foot king snake and I got an under tank heater last night and came home today to find him just laying out on the cool side of the tank, used my laser temp gun and surface temp is 105! WAY TOO HOT! How do I cool this down without spending a fortune on a thermostat? Its a 30 gallon tank for reptiles, 36x18, but I got the 10-20 gallon heater for 10-20 gallon so it should work, should I change the substrate to crushed walnut shells? I wont used aspen, I do not like it. Please give me some answers asap so my snake doesnt bake!

Linoleum.. Really??? that's a first for me??

I guess it would work i just dont see it as being very absorbent... So, i would replace the linoleum.. If you do not like aspen then use plain old newspaper, then you need to get yourself a thermostat or a dimmer switch to contol your heat pad temps.

DO NOT use walnut shells.. It is not safe and in my opinion it should not be marketed as a suitable substrate for ANY reptile!!

~ Mike Russo

Just a regular dimmer switch from like a lowes store or something? How do I hook the heat pad to a dimmer switch? Why does the substrate have to be absorbent? Will aspen work the best for him?

Its about the SNAKE! Stop keeping him so it looks pretty, start keeping the cage clean and utilitarian to its needs. Find a substrate that dissipates the heat, not absorbs it. Create a place where he can get away from it....maybe a raised branch of some sort?? There are more successful keepers here than anywhere and just about everyone will help you IF you have the snakes best interest in mind.

If you use a thick layer of aspen your thermal gradient will be vertical as well as horizontal....The snake will burrow down into the aspen to get warmer (closer to the heat source).....
And if the snake was on the 105 side and has options as to were to go then maybe he wanted to be there......
My hot spots are hit 100F or better. I rarely see them on that spot....BUT sometimes I do.....

I would trash the linoleum for sure.....
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John Lassiter

"Poor planning and procrastination on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part....."

Glass is an excellent conductor of heat as you have found out already..LOL! Elevate the aquarium slightly in staged incriments with blocks of any type to create an air space underneath, and an accurate thermometer directly on the bottom of the cage to monitor the temps. You will be looking for a "target" temp of about 84 on the warm side, and high 70's(average room temp"on the cool side.
I would recommend something other than lenolium for substrate, but DO NOT use cedar!. I use aspen myself, but use something fairly soft as opposed to crushed walnut shell etc.. as this could easily create internal problems if ingested. Newspaper works well too.

~Doug
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"Better to be silent and thought a fool, than to open mouth and remove any doubt!"

The snake eats outside his tank, so is there really a risk of impaction? The tank is open underneath the stand, so air does get to the heater, do they sell something at petco or petsmart that will turn off at a certain temp and keep it regulated? I do not know how to wire a dimmer switch.

A space beween the heater and the glass bottom is what I referred to!. There are a million ways to compensate this problem. Get the glass bottom more ABOVE the heat source!!!, and don't have the heater INSIDE the aquarium!

~Doug
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"Better to be silent and thought a fool, than to open mouth and remove any doubt!"