Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi! I was wondering if anyone knew if an undercage heater was safe when using a mesh-bottom cage with a liner, such as the Reptarium design. I'm constructing something very similar with PVC pipe and the mesh that is used for screen doors. Am I better off just using basking lights? Any insight will be greatly appreciated!

Thanks,
Julie

i dont see why you couldnt use a cobra mat on a dimmer. they are safe to use inside the enclosure and are said to get 100 degrees maximum, but a dimmer is a good idea to have it at the temperature you need.

I wouldent recommend usingany heating element inside a cage unless it is a kane heat mat. Putting it under the liner will be fine and you will get excellent heat transfer. Also you have to use a thermostat with any heating device except for a bulb than I woudl go with a dimmer there.. Hope this helps,
-Matt
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www.mgreptiles.com
CBB Herps and Heating Supplies

kane is not the only heat mat designed to be used inside cages. cobra mat specifically says it can be used inside the cage and i have had two mats for about four years using them inside the cage with a dimmer with absolutely no problems. im not trying to be mean but you should be more open minded when giving advice especially if you do not know for sure because many people take things written here as written in stone.

I am open minded man.. I deal in heating all day long and know the ins and outs of what is safe and what is a marketing ploy.. Using a thin uth inside a cage without any type of protection from toenails, chewing or whatever is not safe! I sell Cobra heat pads and they are a quality product but they have to thin of a coating to be used inside a cage in my opinion.. A kane heat mat is designed to larger animals and will take a pigs hooves standing on it and not harm it.... Knowledge is somethign you need to have before you go and try to defend a statement that is wrong.... One small hole in the uth will allow air to get into the circuit and the you will have arcing,,,
-Matt
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www.mgreptiles.com
CBB Herps and Heating Supplies

Okay, thanks! I'll look into those. It's for a small corn snake, so I don't think chewing or toenails will be a problem - and if they are, hey, I got some amazing new morph on my hands! Thanks for the info, everyone!

LOL yeah I would ike to see a corn snake with claws..lol.. I would have to get into colubrids then....
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www.mgreptiles.com
CBB Herps and Heating Supplies

I have a cobra heating pad and your so right. I love them. I use one inside the cage with a temp controller type of thing made by zoo med which is ironic because its their heat pads i threw away.
Though this temp controller works well.