Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have been using Walgreen's heating pads under a portion of my snakes sterilite containers for about a year and was wondering how safe this is? The pads have a low,medium,and high setting switch on them. I'm just wondering if anyone else uses these and if it could be a fire hazard? Thanks for any info. Kevin

For 3 years I ran a general electric 3 setting human heat pad in the tank with substrate over it.
I switched it because like you got scared of maybe not safe after I began to get into snakes more.
I never had a single problem and find it better than reptile pads. Ignorance was bliss lol.
I still might go back to it . I wish they made reptile pads with settings and as well made as human heat pads.
Either way 3 years and I never had a single problem.

I use them as well. They're actually safer than the reptile UTHs, as they're made for human use and are subject to stricter controls. Just examine the pad regularly for signs of deterioration, as the instructions indicate. Also, don't set anything heavy directly on the pad. I use mine under a 30 gallon glass tank, and I have the tank elevated about 1/2 inch on wooden blocks, so it isn't resting directly on the pad. Light sterilite or tupperware bins are probably fine--for bigger ones with heavy animals in them, I'd elevate the bin on blocks or something so it isn't crushing the pad.
UTHs are also supposed to have air flow under the tank when you use them, so this isn't any different.

Human heating pads are far from safe.. The new pads are coming with a 2 hour shut off circuit because they develop extreme hot sopt within the fiberglass matting. Reptile heating pads are subjust to the same UL listing guidelines as a human heating pad but the only difference they are made for 24/7 use. Yeah it would be awsome for them to some with inline controls but its just not cost efficitive for the manufacture to produce.. Hope this helps,
-Matt
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www.mgreptiles.com
CBB Herps and Heating Supplies

Mine are the cheap Sunbeam $10.00 pads. They don't shut off. If they develop hot spots, I haven't noticed it, as they aren't in direct contact with the bottom of the cage. They seem to be holding up well, and they're doing the job.

I don't know how heavy the thing is that you're resting on the heating pad, but I had a walmart heating pad underneath a heavy wood cage for about 3 months, and when I took it off i saw that the plastic had melted somewhat & scorched the fabric cover.

Scared me enough not to use it again.