How to set up a heat mat and thermostat!
On our care sheets, we mention thermostats a lot because these are a vital piece of equipment when keeping snakes. They control the temperature of the heating source so it cannot reach deadly temperatures.
For this How to, the pictures will show you a step by step guide on how to setup your heat mat to your on/off or mat thermostat.
Remember to check your thermostat can cope with the wattage of the heat mat or heat strip.
For this How to, the pictures will show you a step by step guide on how to setup your heat mat to your on/off or mat thermostat.
Remember to check your thermostat can cope with the wattage of the heat mat or heat strip.
If you are unsure of where to get these products we would recommend Surrey Pet Supplies they are the cheapest we have found and they provide a great service with prompt delivery. They also stock a good range of heat mats and heat strips and thermostats. You can find digital thermometers on eBay for a couple of pound.
Click on the pictures below to enlarge them.
Step 1
You are going to need your heat mat!
Remember the heat mat should fit under the Really Useful Box or Faunarium, taking up around one third or at most one half of the setup.
Remember the heat mat should fit under the Really Useful Box or Faunarium, taking up around one third or at most one half of the setup.
Step 2
Next you will need your thermostat. For heat mats you can use a on/off or mat thermostat.
There is three leads that come off your thermostat, one is the plug, another is the plug socket for your heat source and lastly there is the probe.
There is three leads that come off your thermostat, one is the plug, another is the plug socket for your heat source and lastly there is the probe.
Step 3
Now plug the thermostat into your plug socket which should light up the light.
Step 4
The next step is to plug your heat mat in to the plug socket provided on the thermostat.
Step 5
Place your heat mat under the setup, remember it should only take up one third or at most one half of the enclosure floor space. Then we place the thermostat probe on the heat mat.
Step 6
Now set your temperature. We place the digital thermometer probe within the setup where your hot spot will be and place the thermostat probe on the heat mat then set the temperature on the thermostat dial accordingly to the species needs.
Now leave your thermostat for 24 hours to settle and then change the dial accordingly but do not add your snake until the temperatures have been running consistently for at least 24 hours.
Now leave your thermostat for 24 hours to settle and then change the dial accordingly but do not add your snake until the temperatures have been running consistently for at least 24 hours.