Heater question for Emma

[Val]

Hi Emma,
Do you unplug your heat pads at night? Just wondered if you ever let the temperature drop a bit.
Val

[Emmachan]

i usually leave on all night night tends to be cooler than day, so it makes sense that night is the time u would leave it on, thou i just dont turn mine off.

[Val]

Paul suggested that temperature drop at night would kind of simulate African conditions!!

[Paul]

I don't know whether it is worth doing it or not, it is just you mentioned your tank is very hot, 28c+ so I thought a few degrees cool down is fine. But that is only if your room is hot anyway. Do you see what I mean, the mats supposedly only raise the temp by a few degrees. If you're getting 28c with it on, it would be 25c at night without it on, and that is more than ample.

What is your ambient room temperature?

But tbh, mine do well at 21c+.

But as for African weather, have a look at this page about West Africa:

www.petsnails.co.uk/index.php?action=environment&type=westafrica

There is only a few degree shift, its fairly constant. But the dimidiata are South African so I'm not sure really. I imagine it is similar, still nearly equatorial.

They are adaptable and people have success with them in all kinds of variations of keeping. I look at it like this, if they're eating, active and munching cuttlefish they're doing fine. It just becomes instinctive I suppose and I haven't been doing it that long.

paul

[Val]

It's just that this is my first night!!!!
I am worried that it's too hot, or too dry, wondering if I should spray more or not spray more!!! Talk about 'new mum' syndrome!!!!!

[Paul]

I don't have mine with a heat mat at all, at the moment, seeing as the weather is warm but my room is warm because of computers etc and the sun streaming in. They do fine. You'll notice they tend to bury themselves by morning but I've noticed they are becoming a little more adventurous during the day.

They will eat during the day if it is humid. Spraying a few times a day will easily keep them moist enough. You'll get the hang of it in no time.

If you get them out in the day and spray them, they'll soon be out and eating so if you are ever worried just do this.

paul

[Emmachan]

I have a heater going for my more delicate snails, the fulica dont have a heat mat as they dont seem to need one. My bedroom gets pretty cold cuz i have two windows and its often gets to about 17C which i think its a bit low for tigers etc. Thats why I leave the heat mat on.