Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi everyone. I'm new (to both the forum and corn snakes), so forgive me if this message is incredibly pedestrian.

I keep coming across posts warning of the excessive heat given off by heating pads, yet I'm finding that the Zoo-Med Reptitherm pad (in a 10 gallon tank) can't get the temperatures high enough.

Seems like I might be doing something wrong.

Maybe the substrate? I'm using about 1.5 inches of Repti-Bark.

Thanks so much for any advice you might be able to give me.

What are you using to measure temps (analog,digital w/probes, etc)?

And where are you measuring temps?

Analogs/stick ons are generally unreliable. Best bet is digital w/ probes - they're more reliable and allow you to measure where you need to...under the substrate.
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0.1 California Kingsnake "Gentoo"
1.0 Mexican Black Kingsnake "Indigo"
1.0 Snow Corn snake "Chile"

0.1 Australian Cattle Dog/Pointer
"Kira"

I'm using a digital thermometer, with the probe resting on the surface of the substrate. (The snake is using his hides for shelter, almost never burrowing).

Measure under the substrate and see what those temps are. You need to measure under the loose substrate just in case you snake does burrow at times - to make sure it's not too high. Besides, you can't watch your snake 24/7 - so it may very well burrow at times.
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1.0 Ball Python "Aragorn"
1.0 Kenyan Sand Boa "Gimli"
1.0 Saharan Sand Boa "Frodo"
0.1 Rough-Scale Sand Boa "Arwen"
0.1 California Kingsnake "Gentoo"
1.0 Mexican Black Kingsnake "Indigo"
1.0 Snow Corn snake "Chile"

0.1 Australian Cattle Dog/Pointer
"Kira"

So what would be an ideal just-under-the-substrate temp?

Everything I've read refers to air temp.

I shoot for:

Warm side = 90-95
Cool side = 80-85

Which is probably about what you've heard. But the thing is - they're on the ground, they feel the temp of whatever their belly is on most - so I try to get my surface/belly temps in the range listed above and then your ambient generally falls in line on it's own.

My experience is that the UTHs get waaaayyyy hot - that's why you need a thermostat. I'd be curious to know what temp you read by putting the probe under the substrate.
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Check Out My Albums

1.0 Ball Python "Aragorn"
1.0 Kenyan Sand Boa "Gimli"
1.0 Saharan Sand Boa "Frodo"
0.1 Rough-Scale Sand Boa "Arwen"
0.1 California Kingsnake "Gentoo"
1.0 Mexican Black Kingsnake "Indigo"
1.0 Snow Corn snake "Chile"

0.1 Australian Cattle Dog/Pointer
"Kira"

Sorry, gave the wrong temps - I forgot we were talking about cornsnakes (that's a sign I've got too many snakes! No such thing).

Anyway, for a corn I shoot for 75 cool side and 85 warm side.
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Check Out My Albums

1.0 Ball Python "Aragorn"
1.0 Kenyan Sand Boa "Gimli"
1.0 Saharan Sand Boa "Frodo"
0.1 Rough-Scale Sand Boa "Arwen"
0.1 California Kingsnake "Gentoo"
1.0 Mexican Black Kingsnake "Indigo"
1.0 Snow Corn snake "Chile"

0.1 Australian Cattle Dog/Pointer
"Kira"

I notice you like/keep different types of snakes. If you could only have one ype of the types you have which would it be?
Lia

No fair! That's a very tough question. They each have their own unique 'personality' and react differently with me. Ugh! I dunno. My BP was my first so I feel a special 'connection' with him, but since they hide a lot I might say my corn or my Mex Black King because they are more active, but then I love my Cal King's attitude and her rattlsnake imitations, and sand boas have the cutest faces....as you can see, I can't choose one! Like people say, 'they're like potato chips, you can't just have one'.
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Check Out My Albums

1.0 Ball Python "Aragorn"
1.0 Kenyan Sand Boa "Gimli"
1.0 Saharan Sand Boa "Frodo"
0.1 Rough-Scale Sand Boa "Arwen"
0.1 California Kingsnake "Gentoo"
1.0 Mexican Black Kingsnake "Indigo"
1.0 Snow Corn snake "Chile"

0.1 Australian Cattle Dog/Pointer
"Kira"

Heeeheee I guess you cant choose. I asked because looking into snakes.
Lia

Well, based on the species I have (and from what I've heard others say about them), I'd recommend a cornsnake as a first snake - hands down. I'd also recommend a Kenyan Sand Boa, but some people might not like how often they are buried under the substrate - if you don't mind that they're awesome snakes (also docile and slow). I also think Mex Black Kings are great first snakes - they are pretty quick though, but other than that awesome eaters, active and beautiful at that! The corns are a nice in between: active, docile, great eaters, not too fast and come in a variety of neat colors at low prices.
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Check Out My Albums

1.0 Ball Python "Aragorn"
1.0 Kenyan Sand Boa "Gimli"
1.0 Saharan Sand Boa "Frodo"
0.1 Rough-Scale Sand Boa "Arwen"
0.1 California Kingsnake "Gentoo"
1.0 Mexican Black Kingsnake "Indigo"
1.0 Snow Corn snake "Chile"

0.1 Australian Cattle Dog/Pointer
"Kira"

Was gone all day and night Sunday and came home to smoldering uth and a dead corn.I had just checked all of them on Saturday when I cleaned cages.While I detest heat lamps I just may be making a switch.

.
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Check Out My Albums

1.0 Ball Python "Aragorn"
1.0 Kenyan Sand Boa "Gimli"
1.0 Saharan Sand Boa "Frodo"
0.1 Rough-Scale Sand Boa "Arwen"
0.1 California Kingsnake "Gentoo"
1.0 Mexican Black Kingsnake "Indigo"
1.0 Snow Corn snake "Chile"

0.1 Australian Cattle Dog/Pointer
"Kira"

While there was no fire it turned as brittle as a cracker.It also cracked the glass in the aqurium.My smoke alarm I keep over my reptiles never went off.

I prefer thermostats since they will shut off when the temp gets too hot. Might give them a try.
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Check Out My Albums

1.0 Ball Python "Aragorn"
1.0 Kenyan Sand Boa "Gimli"
1.0 Saharan Sand Boa "Frodo"
0.1 Rough-Scale Sand Boa "Arwen"
0.1 California Kingsnake "Gentoo"
1.0 Mexican Black Kingsnake "Indigo"
1.0 Snow Corn snake "Chile"

0.1 Australian Cattle Dog/Pointer
"Kira"

After getting a reptile UTH the stick on kind and finding out it went over 100 degrees with my glass aqarium. I got rid of it and went for a human heat pad. A few people have suggested these since i have been coming to the forum and it is great for me i use paper towel substrate and the temp on the lowest setting is perfect about 80-86 depending on air temps.

Make sure you get the cheaper on, the one without the automatic shut off. I got mien at a local Walmart for a little over nine dollars and for a 20 long tank it is great just under 1/2 of the tank is heated.

good luck

Wayne