Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Perhaps a simple question, but would mounting a Repti-Therm heat mat on the side of a glass tank really work for snakes? Would it generate enough heat into the tank?
Beth

Size of tank, size of heater, type of lid, temperature of room, temperature requirements of the species being maintained in the tank?
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Current snakes:

0.0.1 Gonyosoma oxycephala - Java locale (green)

1.2 Gonyosoma oxycephala - Jave local (green)

2.2 Gonyosoma janseni - Seleyar locale (all black)

1.2 Gonyosoma janseni - Celebes locale (Black & Tan)

Like Chris said to many variables to give a definitive Yes or No. However I use heat panels in the sides of my enclosures and they work just fine, but again its totally based on those variables. I also have a 80* constant temp in my Reptile room.
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Jeremy

"I am become death, the destroyer of worlds" July 16, 1945 Robert Oppenheimer

1.1 Double Het "Sharp" Snow RTB's
1.1 Hypomelenistic RTB's
0.2 Pastel Hypo RTB's
2.0 Double Het Stripe Albino RTB's
0.1 Suriname RTB
0.1 Anerthrystic RTB
0.0.10 Red Bearded Dragons
1.1 Rhinoceros Iguana's
1.0 Green Iguana
1.0 Ball Python
1.1 Cream Golden Retrieviers
1.0 Pomeriaian
0.2 Catus Terribilis
0.1 Spouse
1.0 Child

I have a juvenile female Bairdi ratsnake, in a 10 gallon glass tank with screen lid. She has a 50 watt incandescent bulb, and the tank is on top of a plywood cage that generally sends up bottom heat. But now the animals in the plywood cage are brumating, so no bottom heat. I am concerned that she is not warm enough. House temps around 70 - 72 degrees F.
Thanks!

Well I'm confused why you wouldn't just put the heat pad underneath the tank. Maybe you covered that in your first post.

But you could use the heat pad effectively on the side. But to do so would mean wrapping the cage in Reflectix insulation. See if you can find a bulk roll at a local hardware store so you can only buy as much as you'd need.

Otherwise, this won't work well.
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Current snakes:

0.0.1 Gonyosoma oxycephala - Java locale (green)

1.2 Gonyosoma oxycephala - Jave local (green)

2.2 Gonyosoma janseni - Seleyar locale (all black)

1.2 Gonyosoma janseni - Celebes locale (Black & Tan)

A simple answer to a simple question without the need for all the additional information. No, it would not work for a snake and would not heat the aquarium. Repti-therm mats, even if used properly (as an UTH) are not designed and will not heat a tank. They merely provide a warm spot for the snake to lay on but will not increase the ambient temps of an enclosure. Do not confuse its heating abilities with flexwatt, and certainly do not compare their use to radiant heat panels.

The only way a heat mat of this type will benefit the animal by sticking it to the side of an aquarium is if the animal found some way to lay on the side of the tank. Of course, if you use a mat designed for a 30-40 gallon tank on a 10 gallon tank, it may increase ambient temps a little but most of the heat it produces will be lost. Keep in mind these mats are not designed to be used inside the tank but on the outside. As an UTH, at least the heat rises into the tank, but again, will not be enough to significantly increase ambient temps. On the exterior side of a glass tank, it would be next to worthless.

Bart

You seem to understand my simple mind. The question arose when I read the directions on the heat pad. I was just now looking for them to quote them accurately, but alas, they went out in the garbage. It said they recommended side mounting, at least that's what I understood it to say. So I was just wondering if that would really work for a snake. I know they recommend it for Tarantula's.
Thank you all!
Beth