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Post by Sammy on Feb 13, 2006 10:00:46 GMT
I know this is really basic question but i want to raise the temperature in my tanks and am a little sure how to do it. At the minute i have a glass tank with a perspex lid (with holes drilled in the top, although i still get condensation on the sides) and a heatmat on the side. The temperature is usually around 20/21 but i want to increase it to around 24 or above (as i've read on here is good to aim for). In my cockraoch etc tank i have a lighbub with guard in corner but couldn't use this with the snails cos it might burn them (the guard gets very hot and they could poke their eyes through the grill). If i put a light outside the tank will it melt the perspex or should i raise it above the pespex? Should i double up on a heat mat (on the end or underneath as well as on the side)?
I also have a little plastic tank (the ones woth coloured plastic lids that clip on) which also has a heat mat but the tank is still only 20/21 again. shall i drill holes or somethin to let the heat in or put the mat inside (will it burn them?).
All my heatmats are backed with foil and insulated. My snails seem active but the moss is really cold to the touch which i figure can't be nice for them.
Also, i can't get my humidity above about 70, they are on capillary matting and moss and i spray them daily.
Thanks for any help. Sam
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Feb 13, 2006 10:21:15 GMT
cud u put the tank next to a radiator?
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Post by deadmansfinger on Feb 13, 2006 10:36:51 GMT
I wouldn't use the radiator option as you have no way of regulating the heat. Certainly the radiators in my house put out a phenominal amount of heat and I think it would be too much for the snails and would dry them out even quicker could you put a water bowl or similar in the tank which might help increase humidity? My main tank has 2 levels. The bottom level has a water bowl and compost topped with sphagnum moss and the top level has capillary matting topped with sphagnum moss. I find the compost/sphagnum moss area to be much more humid than the top area (it could also be cause I have far less airholes in this area). Could you perhaps seal a few of the holes in the lid? Add some water? Maybe compost? This is what works for me and I can clearly see a difference between the levels. I agree that the light you use for your cockroaches wouldn't be suitable as I use a similar design for my repltiles and I am sure the snails would inadvertently poke an eye through the mesh and come into contact with the bulb. Maybe your heatmat isn't big enough for your tank? I am sure some people on here put there heatmats inside there tanks (think Arno said he did ***if it wasn't you then sorry Arno***) so maybe doing this would provide more heat rather than it having to penetrate the glass? My room is very warm with my big vivarium and the central heating so I don't have this issue. Sure someone will be able to comment better on the heatmat inside the tank issue. Brian ;D
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LisaLQ
Archachatina papyracea
Old friend (emphasis on the "old")
Posts: 2,995
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Post by LisaLQ on Feb 13, 2006 13:20:08 GMT
I've had great success with mine being next to the radiators. It was recommended to me, and mine are doing really well there Obviously I'm at home all day though so can give them a spray when they dry up, but to be honest, it doesn't knock out as much heat as you'd think.
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Post by sezzy5889 on Feb 13, 2006 13:27:56 GMT
yes and the tank doesn't have to be right up against the radiator, you can move it out
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Post by deadmansfinger on Feb 13, 2006 13:32:52 GMT
might just be my radiators. go with the majority Sam and give it a go. If it works for you let us know.
Brian ;D
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LisaLQ
Archachatina papyracea
Old friend (emphasis on the "old")
Posts: 2,995
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Post by LisaLQ on Feb 13, 2006 14:03:51 GMT
Or it might just be mine *lol* If you're going to try it, do it initially when you're at home with them and keep an eye on things. Everyone's snail set ups and central heating are different, so what works for some might not for others.
Mine are just in big storage boxes, on a coffee table, pushed up against the radiator. I found keeping my tanks warm when they were on the floor a real problem, so I used to stack them and rotate them until I got the table in there.
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Post by section8angel on Feb 13, 2006 18:40:39 GMT
Less holes = more heat and humidity. For me at least. So I'd say no to drilling to get more heat in. I have 3 tanks that already have the holes in, lots and lots of them in the lids (tommy tank lids etc), and these have less heat and humidity than the storage boxes that my dad drilled holes in. The storage boxes do have bigger holes, but they probably don't even equal half of the other tanks holes put together! As for the light, I have 3 lights outside of my tanks (normal red bulbs in a normal holder), they're about 3 inches away from the plastic and so far I haven't had any problems with melting etc. The lights are on for a good 8 hours a day too. Once you get the heat up you should find the humidity goes up too. Before I put the lights outside of my tanks the temp was 22 and humidity under 70, now the temp is 26 normally and the humidity is 80+ and I still spray them the same amount as before. The temp drops at night as I have to turn the lights off, but the snails don't seem to mind it. They've always had a drop in temp at night anyway. But as you have heat mats anyway, that should stop it dropping too much. My lids are also covered in chiffon to keep flies out, that might help keep the heat in too. I think Sarah puts plastic bags over hers to do that. P.S Val is one of the people that has a heat mat inside the tank.
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