Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I got my new heat pads in from LLL yesterday (they were great to work with) and this morning the warm end was 90 degrees. I know this is about 7 degrees over recomended, but should I leave it seing as how it is averaging 40 and only getting colder (my room is poorly insulated) or should I go get a rheostat? they all have hides that are not heated. thanks
-----
0.1 Snow Corn "Hope"
1.0 Ball Python "Wilson" (Castaway)
1. Orange Albino Black Ratsnake "Chunk" (Goonies)
.1 Orange Albino Black Ratsnake "Peaches"
0.0.1 Mexican Black Kingsnake "Onyx"

>>I got my new heat pads in from LLL yesterday (they were great to work with) and this morning the warm end was 90 degrees. I know this is about 7 degrees over recomended, but should I leave it seing as how it is averaging 40 and only getting colder (my room is poorly insulated) or should I go get a rheostat? they all have hides that are not heated. thanks
>>-----

I would try to get it below 90.
This goes towards the discussion below.
Over heating can cause them to get quite testy, and too much heat can be as detrimental to proper digestion as not enough heat.
-----
Corn snakes and rat snakes..No one can have just one.
"resistance is futile"
Jimmy (draybar)

Draybars Snakes

_____

What if your snake hides under the paper towels and is often cold when you pick him up? I upped my 60W light to a 75W the other day, because it was too cold in the room. Now my temp is around 88 deg or so, but I think it's ok. Like I said, this guy (milk) is always under the substrate, like 24x7, except when I handle him.

My son's king on the other hand roams often.

My daughter has the same 75W bulb in her enclosure and her temp stays about 83 deg or so. I think her room might be cooler. Sometimes the loft is cold and sometimes it's warm, so my milk temp gets higher...

Walt

Always under the substrate??? maybe you should switch to aspen as this will allow the corn to burrow whenever it wants to. Some of my corns were ALWAYS under the newspaper but I switched to aspen and I can find then under the aspen regularly. Either that or it's too hot.

No, it's because he's a milk snake and is very skittish. That's why I named him "Tweek".

My son's king is out a lot and NEVER goes under, as does my daughter's corn. The corn and king both hang out in either hide. However, my milk prefers to be under the newspaper or paper towel, like halfway between the hot/cold, so I think he's regulating that way. I have to take everything out of the dang cage to get him. Then, when I put him back, I can only watch him for a little while until he finds a way back under... lol.

Walt

Milks love to burrow and aspen is a great substrate for them. Because they are skittish by nature, as you have already pointed out, the hiding under the substrate is probably because the snake feels vulnerable and has nothing to do with temps. I have a rack with 4 black rats, 4 corns and 2 milks in it that stays 80 at one end and 72 at the other. All are set up exactly the same with hides and water bowls and aspen as substrate. My black rats never burrow. They mostly sit on top of their hides. The milks are never out in the open. They are mostly burrowed in the substrate. The corns do both. So, what is my point???? I think your temps are a little too high but as long as they have a cool end to get away from the heat, it should be fine. The aspen does help the milks feel more secure.