Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have been researching corn snakes for about a month now, and am saving up to get a good setup.
I wanted to know what would be a better source of heat, a lamp, or a heat pad?
Thanks!

It may be personal preference BUT I like heat pads better.
Heat lamps always worry me with risk of fire hazards. Sometimes a simple heat pad (made for people/found at stores like walmart) works best since it has 3 settings (lo-med-hi). I keep the heat pad under half or less of the tank so that the snake has a range of temps to choose from. GOOD LUCK!

Thanks!
Is it safe to leave the heat pad on all the time?

I've had a heat pad on non-stop for about 7 years now. I keep it under my black rat snake enclosure. I got it at Wal*Mart for about 12 bucks(Well worth the money). I keep it on low. These new hating pads suck ass because they have an automatic cut off after 2 hours. Bullcrap!!!!!!!

i have been getting new heat pads at walmart and keep returning them b/c i thought they were just 'breaking' on me....i thought that the packaging looked different...

and i turn mine off at night in the summers

is there no way to turn off the 2 hour cutoff?

Nope, no way to turn off the 2 hour cut off. It really sucks.

>>i have been getting new heat pads at walmart and keep returning them b/c i thought they were just 'breaking' on me....i thought that the packaging looked different...
>>
>>and i turn mine off at night in the summers
>>
>>is there no way to turn off the 2 hour cutoff?

I got some a couple months ago at Walgreens and they don't seem to shut off. Try a different brand.
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-audri
Webpage/Pics

Yep. I meant to add that if you get a heat pad get it from a drug store of some kind. CVS or Walgreens have them with no crap shut off thing. They usually run about 15 bucks but well worth it. You can't depend on Wal*Mart for anything these days. Did anyone else's Wal*Mart stop selling aspen? Mine did but I get it cheaper form a pet shop anyway. So screw you Wal*Mart!!!!!!

I went out and bought a bunch of heating pads from Wal Mart and then returned them when I found out that you're not supposed to put them under something like and aquarium. They are supposed to be able to breath. So maybe this is why they now shut off after a few hours, so they won't over heat or something. They also cost a heck of a lot more to run than a heat matt made for reptiles... or heat tape. I'm still trying to decide if I should use one of these or get more heat matts even though they cost more.

Just my two cents.
MissHisssss.

I've had plenty of luck with undertank heating pad.

I NEVER use those blasted heat rocks. I've heard too many horror stories of burnt or cooked animals due to them shorting out and such.

And from what I have read and such, corns do better with under tank heat sources. overhead lights are more for pythons and arborial species.

hope it helps

Thanks for the advice everyone!