heat panel question

[GyGbeetle]

Originally Posted by chairman

Could you post more information about the heat mat that you purchased? MOST heat mats are not designed to be placed on the floor of an enclosure, but SOME, including these, are:

https://www.kanemfg.com/product/poly-pet-heat-mat/
Stanfield Heat Pads Archives - Osborne Pet Supply
Zoo Med Laboratories, Inc.

They all still need to be controlled by thermostats.

to me, UTH means Under-the-Tank, which is exactly that; underneath the tank, on the outside. I do not trust having these mats inside the tanks, even the ones that specify being safe inside tanks.

[chairman]

Originally Posted by GyGbeetle

to me, UTH means Under-the-Tank, which is exactly that; underneath the tank, on the outside. I do not trust having these mats inside the tanks, even the ones that specify being safe inside tanks.

None of the heat mats that I posted are UTH. (Although all of Zoo Med's repti therm products are UTH except for the one I linked.) The top two products were originally designed as heat sources for pigs/other livestock so they're tough and very water/filth resistant.

That said, I only use the mats for tortoises. They could be used within wood or PVC enclosures for larger snakes, but I'd go with the majority here recommending the use of RHP mounted on the ceiling of an enclosure. I've got a cage upgrade coming in the near future and I'll be going with UL (or similar) listed RHP.