Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi everyone. I'm fairly new to all this, so forgive me if this message is incredibly pedestrian.

I keep coming across posts warning of the excessive heat given off by heating pads, yet I'm finding that the Zoo-Med Reptitherm pad (in a 10 gallon tank) can't get the temperatures high enough.

Seems like I might be doing something wrong.

Maybe the substrate? I'm using about 1.5 inches of Repti-Bark.

Thanks so much for any advice you might be able to give me.

Oh, it's a corn snake, so I'm looking for a surface temp around 88 F.

I use the zoo med UTH on all my snake tanks. I have 2 corns, milk and a jungle carpet python. I also have lights on the same side as the UTH, except on my milk.
As far as I can tell they seem to provide enough heat. I also use the reptile bark but I have a couple sheets of newspaper over the heat pad. If you place your hand right on the glass it does get pretty hot. With the newspaper then substrate my snakes will lay over it.
Where are you taking temps? Some folks will place the thermometer right on the substrate. That is where the snake will be. If your measuring air temps then they can be lower.
Just my experience. I'm no expert.

Hi guys,
I see you both have corn snakes, I put up a post a little while ago called 'Corn Snake Swollen Throat'........if you could glance at it and offer any advice I'd really appreciate it.

regarding this thread: I take the temperature just above the tank floor.
J.

You could probably take a half inch of repti-bark off the top... 1'' is most likely plenty. I used those for awhile with my Geckos and they did fine. If you put a couple medium sized rocks in there they conduct heat (but not enough to be problem) and are warm enough to keep the cage and your snake warm.
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Sean McIntyre

Currently have:
0.1 Antherystic Elaphe Guttata Guttata - Corn Snake
1.0 Elaphe Vulpina Gloydi - Eastern Fox Snake
0.1 Leucistic Elaphe Obsoleta Linheimeri - Texas Ratsnake
1.1 Morelia Spilota Cheyni - Jungle Carpet Python

Saving for:
Agkistrodon Contortix Mokasen - Northern Copperhead
Epicrates Cenchria Cenchria - Brazilian Rainbow Boa