How much substrate is too much?

dank7oo · 07-25-04, 04:51 PM

I have my new corn is a lovely tank with lots of hiding places, plants, branches etc. However, I noticed she chooses to borrow under the substrate all day. I have about 4 inches, so it makes it impossible for me to access her (for cleaning or handeling) during the day. Should I remove 2 inches and leave 2, or is the 4 ok?

Also, I noticed in her cave (which is above the heat pad) there is moisture from the humidity. Is this harmful or would she like it?

Let me know, and thanks in advance for all of your help.

Jason

kidchameleon · 07-25-04, 08:40 PM

i think the substrate is fine, especially if she is burrowed a lot, and the moisture in the hide will be good because it will help her with shedding.

dank7oo · 07-25-04, 09:04 PM

I've lessened it to 2 inches, and it was a good thing too, because as I took the tank off my desk, I realized the heat had split the woon on my dads antique desk ... oops

We've fixed that problem now to say the least - LOL The heat pad is now on a hot pad, then a 1 inch thick piece of wood, and then a towel ... that should be sufficient right?

Jason

dank7oo · 07-25-04, 09:04 PM

I've lessened it to 2 inches, and it was a good thing too, because as I took the tank off my desk, I realized the heat had split the wood on my dads antique desk ... oops

We've fixed that problem now to say the least - LOL The heat pad is now on a hot pad, then a 1 inch thick piece of wood, and then a towel ... that should be sufficient right?

Jason

* sorry for the double post

C.m.pyrrhus · 07-25-04, 10:57 PM

Quote:

We've fixed that problem now to say the least - LOL The heat pad is now on a hot pad, then a 1 inch thick piece of wood, and then a towel ... that should be sufficient right?

You need to give the heat pad some air, or else your trapping all that heat in one place, thus the cracked desk. Some of the heat needs to disapate off.

I currently use heat pads for my boas only. The heat pad slips into a 3/4" gap under the cage. With the towel, hot pad and wood, your just trapping to much heat in that space.

Here is what I do, simple and no problems.

dank7oo · 07-26-04, 06:38 AM

That is exactly what we have set up at this point.

Thanks for the help and info.

Jason

joebagadohnut · 07-27-04, 07:05 PM

You also want enough substrate so your snake doesn't burn himself on the heat pad (depending on how much heat it radiates)

If you put some sort of outdoor carpeting under your substrate, you wouldn't have anything to worry about.

Linds · 07-28-04, 12:15 AM

The problem hasn't at all been fixed. The heat pad should NEVER be allowed to reach temperatures warm enough to damage glass, wood, or plastic. If this is allowed, imagine what it can do to your snake?! :firestart All heat pads should have the output controlled by a dimmer or thermostat at all times. All snakes typically require a basking spot of less than our own core temperature, which all devices will most certainly exceed if allowed.

dank7oo · 07-28-04, 06:18 AM

The measured temperature in the cage is onlt 85 F though. I think the damage occured because the desk was antique ... ?

Jason

C.m.pyrrhus · 07-28-04, 06:15 PM

Quote:

The measured temperature in the cage is onlt 85 F though. I think the damage occured because the desk was antique ... ?

That’s just because that is the amount of heat reaching the tank, not considering what heat is building up by being sandwiched between stuff, and into other objects, such as the desk.

When using any source of heat, you need to allow it to be allowed access to some air, as to let the heat dissipate through the air and not through desk, towels, boards and whatnot. Your still going to get enough heat by controlling how much output you give it with the use of a rheostat. The problem lies when you trap heat in one place, thus allowing it to build up and create MORE heat.

Lets say your heat pad will only reach 100°. If you allow to many objects to hold in that heat energy, you can build up enough heat energy that the temperatures will reach above what the heat pad is producing. Just because the heat source gets "so hot", does not mean there is not a risk of a bigger problem. Many fires start just like this.

Quote:

The problem hasn't at all been fixed. The heat pad should NEVER be allowed to reach temperatures warm enough to damage glass, wood, or plastic. If this is allowed, imagine what it can do to your snake?!

Even a heat pad on a controlled system like this, if not allowed to dissipate, can still warp, crack and destroy other objects if the heat pad is sandwiched between objects and not allowed to "leak off" excess heat. Much of the heat will end up where needed, in the tank or cage, but know one understands that a heat source creates a lot of energy that needs to be released. Simply using a rheostat does nothing if your not correctly using the heat pad!! Your still trapping heat with to much stuff, and still a huge potential for errors and problems.

You can still cook a snake on a LOW setting if that heat is allowed to collect and produce enough energy.