Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi! I was going to post this in the lighting/heating forum, but that place doesn't seem to have a lot of traffic. What is the best substrate to cover a floor mat heater? I'm talking about a really big tank with plenty of room for the snake to move away from it if it chooses. Thanks!

not INSIDE it-whatever substrate you use.

Brad Chambers

Okay, but the glass is one inch thick. Does that make any difference? What's the safest substrate to avoid the possibility of fire?

What ever substrate you choose I think it's best to make sure the temp right on the bottom of the cage under the substrate is where you check to make sure it's the warmest you want the snake to have access to. The temp on top of a inch or more of substrate can be several degrees cooler than directly on the bottom. I'm sure you know that but it's just best to check directly on top of the heat source to be sure. Randy W.

Maybe this picture will help show what I'm trying to do. The glass is an inch thick. The tank sits on a wooded stand, which I may have to adjust to get the heater to stay in place.

I'm more worried about your snake escaping. Are those weights on top of the cage? You really need clamps to hold that top down.

I'm still working on the cover. I'm more worried about the substrate and if it will cause a fire.

I see I'm wasting my time here. I'll take this forum off my favorites and go somewhere else.

Take a thin board, set it up under the tank with the heater on top of it (Which would make it UNDER the tank) And there ya go.
Sorry, but if you would have posted the picture sooner we would have known what you were talking about.

lol. this person gets bent cause we're trying to help. poor snakes

No kidding!

I dont think anyone meant to offend you but I think the point is that if you are concerned about which substrate is the most likely to not catch fire you should first remove that concern. By putting the heater below the glass where it cant get wet you then avoid that issue. If your heat mat is not the kind with a sticky side you can tape the heater around the edges to the bottom of the tank with foil heat tape that heat and air companies use for high heat areas around duct work. It's holds VERY well and is safe. If you put a thin layer or styrofoam under it will help radiate the heat up into the tank. Once you do that newspaper or aspen bedding are probably the two most popular bedding choices. Both work great. Newspaper is easier to spot crap on and is very cheap and easy to change. Aspen bedding cost more but can be spot cleaned between complete cleanings and snakes can burrow down in it for added security. Hope this helps. Randy Whittington