Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I recently purchased a new aquarium and heat pad for my kingsnake. The heat pad is the kind that sticks to the outside of the bottom of the aquarium and plugs in to the wall.

So yesterday I went to clean the cage, and I found that the substrate (newspaper covered with shredded aspen) was charred and brown above the heat pad. Also, the glass above the heat pad was extremely hot - so hot that it was painful to touch.

So two questions: 1. Is this a fire hazard? 2. If it's too hot for me to touch, how is it that my kingsnake can crawl around on top of it?

Yes that is WAAAYYY too hot! If it can char paper, think of what it will do to your snake! I would not plug that thing in again without a rheostat. It could catch something on fire and burn or kill your snake!

That is one reason I dont use UTH's. You cant regulate the temps unless you hook it up to a rheostat. I wont buy UTH's because they are so darn expensive, and then you have to buy or rig up a rheostat to make it safe.

I use a human heat pad that has a 3 setting switch built into it already. About half as expensive as a UTH and alot less hassle with it when it is time to clean out cages!! Plus, you can put 2 tanks end to end on one heat pad!!! Heat 2 cages for the price of one pad?? Cant beat that!!

Might want to take the UTH back and get your money returned, and then go and get you a decent human heat pad. I pick mine up in Wal-Mart for around $10!
Good luck and happy herping.
Brian
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Good luck and Happy Herping
Brian

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Good luck and Happy Herping
Brian

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>>n/p
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Good luck and Happy Herping
Brian

Thanks! I knew that couldn't be right.

I'll go check out some alternative heat sources ASAP.

heat pad to an aquarium? The reptile ones I'm familiar with have adhesives stuck to them to hang upside down underneath a glass tank. Human ones generally don't have that kind of setup...can you please specifically tell me how to hook one up? Thanks

Whats nice about the human heat pads, is that they come with a soft fabric cover. Place the heat pad flat on the surface you are placing your enclosure on, and just set it on top of the heat pad. I have one I used continuosly for 2 years and never had any problems. They work equally good for 10 gal and 20 gal longs, and you can place 2 tanks on one pad.

I prefer these to UTH's because they dont stick to the bottom of the tank, dont need a rheostat, and are cheaper.
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Good luck and Happy Herping
Brian

My 55g tank is sitting on a cabinet style aquarium stand that is open on the inside - so the tank is only supported by the outside walls and a cross bar in the middle. The actual bottom is open so there is nothing to sit the pad on. Can I use electrical tape to tape it up there?

That might work. Or you could try a small piece of plexiglass, or a peice of paneling? Or a small piece of peg board. Cut it to fit just inside the cabinet, place the heat pad on it and then the tank on top of that. Should work if the tape doesnt. Or heck, how about a couple of small bungee cords. There are some pretty small ones available that might do the trick.
Where there is a will there is a way.
Good luck
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Good luck and Happy Herping
Brian

While I agree with everyone else that has posted I havce another suggestion. You can get a lamp dimmer switch at any hardware store for $5-$10. You could just plug that heat pad into that and turn it WAY down. Also, sounds like you need a thermometer. It's a really bad idea to try to gauge temp by touch. It's esentially impossible.
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Martin Whalin

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