New Snake Set Up?

[DDALDD]

G'day everyone, I realise that this has been covered before, but I find the need to ask again to make sure I've got everything I need.

I'm looking at getting a Stimson's hatchy sometime soon as my first snake. I'm wanting to make sure I have everything ready before purchasing. Based on what I've read up on, all that's needed for a hatchy is a click clack and a heat mat (with the two hides and water in the click clack.) I guess I just wanted to double check a few things.

1) What's an appropriately sized click clack?
2) Do I need a thermostat?
3) Is an infrared themometer fine?

Anything else I should keep in mind? Any advice is appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

 

[notechistiger]

1. Shoe box sized or slightly bigger.
2. With a heat mat, yes. I use heat cords and I've found I've never needed a thermostat with it.
3. Yes, it should be fine.

 

[DDALDD]

Thanks mate, would you suggest heat cords over heat mats?

 

[daniel1234]

Sounds like you've got it all sorted better than most first snake owners. I am no expert but I brought my third hatchy today and like the other two he went into a 60x45x45 enclosure. Was due for a feed today and bugger me he ate! Nice and warm, enclosure was preheated before getting snake.

 

[notechistiger]

Yes. I find them easier to control, temperature wise (because they don't rely on a thermostat) and they can be used to heat mulitple click clacks at once.

 

[DDALDD]

daniel1234 - are you using a heat mat?

notechistger - thanks for the advice, I'll certainly look into it.

 

[daniel1234]

Na listen to notechristiger, she knows her stuff. Mine have heat lamps and there for need a thermostat, but I run two identical enclosures off one thermostat. My Bredli just has a dimmer (exactly like the one used for house lights). I just cant be bothered with change and I find the larger enclosures easier to access and appreciate. That said, I built all my enclosures except the Bredli's. Also, if you are watching the budget a click clack would initially be cheaper of course.

Oh originally I did start with heat mat but it was getting to hot so I needed a thermostat and I did not know about heat cords. It was getting to hot on the surface but not hot enough to raise the ambiant tempreture, and yes it was a big enough mat just that the tank at the time was to big. But I hear they do well for click clacks.

Just curious about how the cord provides enough heat from what I presume is the outside of the click clack if you can heat more than one. Or do you drill holes and feed the cord through each click clack.

 

[DDALDD]

Definitely wasn't suggesting she doesn't know her stuff

I was thinking about the heat cords outside the enclosure also. I'm only going to have one small click clack for one small snake. Hmmm, well as I said, I'll look into it.

Again, thanks for your replies.

 

[notechistiger]

No, just run it underneath the click clack- just like a heat mat. Depending on the wattage, sometimes the cord needs to be doubled over so that it gets hotter. But yeah, I think heat cords are the simplest method of heating for click clacks.

 

[notechistiger]

Aw, thanks guys! Lol.

Ah, but you'll get more, DDALDD, so a heat cord is good. Lol. I still have my original one, still use it, and it still works great.

 

[DDALDD]

Ah, but you'll get more, DDALDD, so a heat cord is good.

Is that so? Well then, done deal I guess, lol.

 

[notechistiger]

Lol. No one can resist more snakes.

 

[DDALDD]

Hehe, I'll keep that in mind, check back in 6 months and we'll see how your prediction turned out.

What wattage would you recommend the heat cord being?

 

[daniel1234]

Aw, thanks guys! Lol.

Ah, but you'll get more, DDALDD, so a heat cord is good. Lol. I still have my original one, still use it, and it still works great.

So true, thats why I have "spreading the disease" on my signature because one is never enough. And I knew you were not saying notechistiger didn't know her stuff, just different experiances which is what this forum is all about
PM me when you get your stimmie, love to see it.

 

[notechistiger]

Wattage doesn't really matter. It refers to the length of the cord. A longer cord will have a higher wattage, and will generally be hotter. I have a six foot cord, which is 40w (if I remember correctly).

 

[daniel1234]

Hey notechristiger what wattage is your cord? Ah dont worry bout it we all replied at the same time

And DDALDD, six months, I'll give you two (unless your 14 and still have to convince your mum then six is pretty good).

 

[DDALDD]

daniel1234 - lol, we shall see. though those knob tail geckos are pretty awesome...

notechistiger - the wattage/length correlation makes perfect sense now that you've explained it, I feel slightly blonde.

 

[notechistiger]

Whoa, my memory's bad. I just checked then, it's 220 cm (just measured) and 25w. A single "strand" underneath a click clack will reach an average of 20-25C. When doubled over, it reaches around 30-33C, which is perfect.

 

[daniel1234]

daniel1234 - lol, we shall see. though those knob tail geckos are pretty awesome...

notechistiger - the wattage/length correlation makes perfect sense now that you've explained it, I feel slightly blonde.

Yeh, and I saw a Heaths monitor (hope thats right notechristiger will kill me if its not) in the shop today that looked awsome as well. We have herps, and we have it bad

 

[daniel1234]

Whoa, my memory's bad. I just checked then, it's 432 cm (just measured) and 25w. A single "strand" underneath a click clack will reach an average of 20-25C. When doubled over, it reaches around 30-33C, which is perfect.

She's good