Undertank heater questions

[TxScarlet15]

I'm considering getting a BRB in the next week or two and I know that they don't like light so I want to try out a UTH. The problem is that the terrarium for this new snake would be on a wooden box. Last time I had a UTH, which was years ago, it ended up cracking the glass and burnt the stand (wooden) so now I'm a bit leery of them. I'm not sure if the one I had years ago was maybe faulty or got too hot, I've no clue, but my main worry right now is would it do the same thing again? If it's not wise to have a UTH on a wooden surface then what are some other options I could do for a BRB?

[REM955]

Here is where I got a response.
http://www.ssnakess.com/forums/gener...tml#post966029
There are overhead Heat Panels by both Reptile Basics Inc and Pro Products.
I have also seen some ceramic bulbs that generate only heat and no light.

[Minkness]

Not that I own a BRB, but to my understanding they need it pretty humid, and any heat bulb would just dry the enclosure out. I have MANY UTHs stuck right to the bottom of tanks and on wood and plastic surfaces and have never experienced a crack or damage to the surfaces, so you may have just had a falty one. Also, most people suggest using a thurmostat with the UTHs so you can controll just how hot it gets.

[TxScarlet15]

I think it was faulty, but back then I didn't even know what a thermostat was. I definitely know better now, I just wasn't sure if they could be used on different materials. The humidity issue is the main reason I don't want to use a lamp, and everything I've read says that BRBs don't like light, which makes sense.

[toddnbecka]

I was looking into BRB's last year, but didn't like the high humidity requirement. That's when I ran across the Dominican red mountain boas, and decided on them. You can use a thermostat or even a rheostat to control the temp of a heat mat. I've found the ultratherm heat mats to be much better than the zoo med stick-on type. Lower max temp, I don't use t-stats for my ultratherms, just stack hides over them so the snakes can choose direct or indirect heat to regulate their temp between digesting and just lounging about. Haven't used the radiant heat panels, though I probably will in a couple years when my carpet python needs a larger enclosure. They're quite a bit more expensive than the mats.