Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Well I've had no success with my general post so I'm trying to get more specfic.

I am getting custom cages... I don't know what yet but the kind of heating "thing" I use currently is the kind you stick to the bottom of the glass in aquariams... and that won't work for a non-glass bottom.

So I have been looking at heat pads. I would like some recomendations. I Don't want to use a thermostate and I don't think they should need one. (ie if it was constructed right in the first place...etc etc)

What kind of substraite do you use with them/it?

CAn you get the particular brand you use wet?

If you put a papertowel over it would it catch on fire? or in other words, how safe is it?

How hot does it get? Temp MUST be constant no matter how long its been on (acctually I keep my under the tank heaters on 24/7 without a variance) Would you trust your reptile laying on it bare? - without substrate inbetween?

I'm exp looking at big apple's dragon lair heat mats... anyone use one of thouse?

Thank you for your time. I will probally post this in more then one forum to try to get a wide varity of responces.
PLEASE don't be generic...

like "oh yeah I use a heat pad" or "I use both pads and lights" or " I would never use a heat pad"
Please give me details of why or why not and brand names. I REALLY need brand names!

Thank you.
- Sharon

Tell you what - for my snakes, I just use very basic heating pads like the ones you can get at Walmart or the local drug store. They have several settings; I use a digital thermometer inside the enclosure to determine which setting to use to get the proper temperature. The pads usually come with a cloth or vinyl cover, so you can place them directly under the cage, terrarium, whatever, without risking a fire or damaging the enclosure. I suppose there's convenience in having a thermostat-controlled heating device, but this works well for me. Place the pad under one side of the enclosure, so as to set up a temperature gradient and allow the critter to find his/her comfort zone.

I've never used heat tape; others with more experience can comment on that option. Hot rocks are discouraged, as they can get hot enough to burn the animal.

For substrate, I use aspen bedding or (occasionally) repti bark. Aspen should be available at most any pet store, probably even at Walmart. Repti bark is available at most pet stores that specialize in herps. One caution in using any of this stuff is that you have to watch that the snake doesn't ingest some of it with its food. That can be a particular problem when "slimy" food (frogs, fish, earthworms - garter snake stuff) is the main course.

Hope this helps some...michaelb

one thing:

GET A THERMOSTAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! no question, it's necessary.

have you noticed your snakes spending more time on the 'cool' end of the tank rather than moving back & forth between both?

there are no magic bullet heating pads that hit the right temps without regulation. all they are is unregulated electricity hitting a heating element and pushing it to its max.

i've tested both human heating pads SET ON LOW, and *specifically* for ya T-rex's 20 gal Under Tank Heating Pad with my Raytek Minitemp 4 temp gun...

what i found?

within 15 minutes both pads had average overall temperatures of about 115 degrees, while the human heating pad had a hotspot of 140 DEGREES F at 15 Minutes!!!!! and the T-Rex had a hotspot of 120 DEGREES F at 15 minutes. both were plugged into the wall, no heating regulation.

unregulated pads of any type are TOO HOT!!! for your reptiles.

please spend the $25 at home depot. it's soooooo worth it!

best of luck!!!

bc

I've been using the UTH type pads under my Neodesha plastic cages with no problems. Also have a human heating pad as mentioned in another post. Like everyone says, get a thermostat, rheostat, or something to adjust the heat output and get it set before you put the snake in. Good luck!!