Can I use a heat pad in a plastic cage?

snakebeginner · 01-14-04, 05:56 PM

I just made my cornsnake a new cage last night its about the size of a 10 gal aquarium. and I have a good lid on it. and I was wondering would a heat pad be to hot for the snake in the cage?
Or any suggestions?

I made him a new cage cause I took the advice from saphire moon to get the Tarantula out of there. cause I had them in a tank devider and I also took the advice of using newspaper and putting more than one hide in there. and my snake looks so much happier already. He was sticking his head out of his hide like he was saying thanks or something. so I have all of you people to thank once again.

aaron

Tim_Cranwill · 01-14-04, 06:01 PM

Use the heat pad UNDER the cage... not IN it. You'll want the heat pad to cover about 1/3 (or a bit less) of his floor space.

Then just watch him for a few days to see where he spends most of his time. If he's on the hot side ALL the time, the cool side might be too cool. If he's always on the hot side, the heat pad might be a bit hot for him. A few thermometers might be a good idea.

Just watch and learn... That's the fun part!

Invictus · 01-14-04, 06:15 PM

What do you mean a plastic cage? A rubbermaid? How thick is the plastic? I would HIGHLY recommend you put it on a lamp dimmer. I've measured the surface of some heating pads at 140 degrees which is WAY too hot for any snake.

snakebeginner · 01-14-04, 06:26 PM

Its not to thick of plastic just as this as a margarine container would be, maybe a bit thicker. thank you for the usefull hints. I am gonna try a heat pad first and just put more holes in his cage.

sapphire_moon · 01-14-04, 07:43 PM

???? why would you take the snake out of the glass tank???? even heat pads can get to hot, try and find a digi thermometer, put the probe part IN the cage over where the heating pad is on the floor of the cage. If it goes over 85 (hotest a corn is supposed to get, but some people might have another opinion) then get yourself a lamp dimmer, plug it in to the wall, then plug in your heating pad.
Keep the heating pad OUT of the cage.

How long is your corn snake(aproxamately), and how big is your cage? You said a 10 gal. aquarium, but then you said a plastic cage?? So I'm kind of confused.

After about 1 month of being on paper and you see no mites then it should be fine to switch substrates (personal expierence only, others might have a different view). You will also want to get a fecal done...

Invictus · 01-14-04, 07:52 PM

Fecals aside, putting more holes in the container is not going to accomplish anything. It will still get way too hot on the surface for the snake, and you are risking injuring the snake. Don't poke more holes, get a lamp dimmer. Quit thinking about doing things cheaply - do things properly. If you can't afford to properly house an animal, don't get that animal.

scalawag · 01-14-04, 09:26 PM

I'm totally confused, in the thread where you're wanting a Burmese you wrote "saphire moon........I traded my tarantulas for my cornsnake and sold the rest. I never neglected them in anyway I loved those Tarantulas but, all they did was sit there and it got boring watching them after a long time of owning them. and i think snakes are way more active and funner to handle."
If you got rid of the Tarantulas then why take them out of the tank?

snakebeginner · 01-15-04, 12:00 AM

I only have one Tarantula left. And I was told to look after it for a friend. And the aquirium is hers.

And when I got a snake I thought you could put a tank devider in the middle, and it would be safe. But saphire moon explained to me that they can spread diseases to eachother. If I would have known that I would have saved up for an aquirium first.

And besides I always see pictures of snakes in plastic cages just like the one I made.

saphire moon......My snake is about 32cm long and the cage is about twice the length of him. and I had to put him in the plastic cage cause the glass aquirium isnt mine.

sapphire_moon · 01-15-04, 06:46 AM

actually I didn't say that. So don't quote me.

Are you talking about a rubbermaid or sterilite container? or something along those lines? Because I can't think of anything otherwise plastic unless you bought a vision, boaphile or another cage of those types....which I doubt.

snakebeginner · 01-15-04, 07:02 AM

It's a rubber maid. and how was I quoting you?

cmack · 01-15-04, 07:26 AM

Perhaps it would be a good idea to get a thermostat and turn it on low record the temp... turn it up a little record the temp etc. until you have found the appropriate hot spot and then put the snake in.

later,
chris

Dragon_Slave · 01-15-04, 07:45 AM

I would try out the rubbermaid, with a LAMP DIMMER, for a few days with the heat pad to see how it does. Do NOT put the snake in the cage until you know it will be safe. It doesn't matter how many holes you poke into the container, the holes have very little to do with heat distribution. You need to make sure, and then double check, that the heat pad is at the correct temperature and is not melting the plastic.

sapphire_moon · 01-15-04, 08:34 AM

you were quoting me by saying

sapphire moon said............

I didn't say that diseases can transmit easier that way. I didn't even think about that, and I'm not going to take credit from the person who knew this.

snakebeginner · 01-15-04, 06:40 PM

well i thought you were the one that told me that saphire moon.
Im gonna do what dragon slave and csmack said. thanks for the advice i hope it works.

jjnnbns · 01-16-04, 12:08 AM

definitely put a lamp dimmer on the UTH, I put one on mine today and also put the temp probe right on the bottom glass of my tank and it measured at a high point of 130 degreed F, with the dimmer all of the way down, it is now at 86.7 degrees. I was completely unaware because I had a round gauge attached to the wall about an inch above the floor and it was reading at 85F, I never would have known!! I strongly suggest getting an indoor/outdoor thermometer and putting on end on the cool and the other on the warm side. Mine was less than $15USD at Wal-Mart and it has a humidity sensor as well. Good luck and thanks to everyone whose advice probably saved my snakes life!