Reptile Forum, Reptile Classifieds - CaptiveBred

[mark]

i was thinking if i put a heatmat inside the vivarium and make a cover for it out of i think its called hardborad the thin wood that you get on the rear of vivs would the heat get through it ok ?
_________________
boas and burms

[Stuart]

Although many are against it I have used heat mats inside vivs many times without incident.They were always connected to a stat though as they can get incredibly hot and if a large snake sits on one for too long they will burn very quickly..Personally I would use a ceramic bulb guarded on a stat or a spot bulb on a dimmer..Not really a fan of heat mats unless for racks in which case they can be placed outside under the tubs on a stat.

[mark]

ive just made my false floor how i was on about im just awaiting it to heat up and see if i can get the right temps i need will let you know how i get on
_________________
boas and burms

[mark]

oh and just to add im also using a daytime basking lamp for the daytime hours and they put out little heat aswell so im going to try and make the desired daytime temp then see if i can make the night temp with just the mat
_________________
boas and burms

[mark]

quick update the stat has now turned the mat off so id say im getting the day time temp ok now im going to knock the stat down and lose the basking light and see if i can get the night temps ok
_________________
boas and burms

[premierpython]

Hey Mark,if your Viv floor is wooden take some perforated hardboard and screw it down over the heat mat.

Be careful not to pierce the heat mat with the screws.The holes in the hardboard lets more heat penetrate than solid would,this means you heat more snake,less hardboard

You can turn your stats down and still achieve similar temperatures as you don't have solid hardboard insulating the heat from your snakes.

Works for me.
_________________
Better smeg than dead!

[mark67123]

But then it wouldn't be waterproof and difficult to clean - but you could cover it with a piece of lino/vinyl and seal around the edges with silicone.

I've recently fitted a false floor under solid hardboard and although the surface temp is warm enough the warm area is only about 7"x7" over an 11"x11" mat, so if anyones thinking of doing this I'd say use a mat a size larger than you would normally for the size of viv. Within reason of course - mat being no larger than 50% of the viv floor.

[mark]

i started this my method as i stated and havent had any problems at all all temps are good
_________________
boas and burms