Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I just got my corn's tank completely set up (it's getting here Friday!!!) and I plugged in the UTH. It's a ZooMed ReptiTherm U.T.H, made for 10-20 gal aquariums...and it's getting really hot! I'm not sure what it's supposed to feel like, but this seems awfully warm to me. It's been plugged in for an hour, and it's warm enough that I can leave my hand on it without having to pull it off, but not very comfortably. Do I need to worry about my baby burrowing in the substrate (aspen shavings) and burning itself?? Would it be ok to put a dishtowel between the substrate and the glass?? I don't want anything bad to happen to it... Please help!!!

Remember too, that there will be a thickness of glass between the two surfaces also. The pad, along with a light (depending on where you live) has to heat your viv up to 80-83 degrees. If you got a 10-20 gal viv than what you have will work fine. DO NOT put anything inbetween the two surfaces (and be careful what surface you place your viv on...NOT carpet) for this may cause a fire. Just be sure to have a thermometer (preferably on both warm and cool sides) in your viv. You'll be surprised at how much your new little one will take care of itself!
Good Luck!!
SWAN*

The kind of UTH that I have sticks directly to the glass...I was talking about the heat that I was feeling through the glass. I have it on the floor, but it's elevated on a sheet of glass, so no worry of fire. I'm just concerned that the glass itself (under the substrate) is too hot... I'm so afraid of doing something wrong and hurting my baby!

It's not enough now that I can't put my hand on it for very long at all...what's wrong?? How do I get it to cool down? Would it catch my aspen on fire?? (Yes, I'm panicking!)

Kristine

Id strongly suggest that you go and buy a thermostat. Not only will allow you to reduce the temperature to a reasonable level but it will also allow you to keep the temperatures in the tank stable throughout ambient tmperature variations.

And they -do- get really hot! I measured one at 130 degrees (my thermometer doesn't measure higher)! I would get a thermostat for it, I would not let it touch the glass as it is. I don't think it'll catch anything on fire, but my snakes always burrow to the bottom straight to the glass - and you don't want them touching that heat.
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-audri
Webpage/Pics

Where do I get a thermostat and what kind? I haven't heard of doing this before...also, is there something (cage carpet??) that I can put on the bottom under the substrate to stop it from touching the hot glass? Thanks so much!

Kristine

Something like this,you may be able to find one in a petshop.
Also, a plug-in lamp dimmer would work to lower the temperature.

You can find them at home depot, etc., but I don't know how much of a gradient it will give, since the heat mat is only 8 watts and the dimmers control up to 300 watts?
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-audri
Webpage/Pics

I don't know how many times this comes up.. you need to get a lamp dimmer so you can limit the output to the heat pad (and hence the temperature.) Alternatively, you can raise the terrarium up off the pad with wood molding to help limit the temperature to the glass. Temps above 95 deg on the glass are very harmful to the snake.

You can get plug-in dimmers from www.beanfarm.com or from Home Depot.

Whoa...sorry to irritate you with a repeat question, but I did search this forum and another and found nothing that would help me in this situation. I haven't been on this forum very long, and the posts about this topic must have been deleted. I appologize for the repetition, but I really needed to have this resolved...thanks for the response anyway.

Kristine

Don't pay attention to my attitude, but do consider the info provided. I apologize for coming off snippy. At least you asked the question and didn't let your snake overheat, so good for you.