Getting a Hognose (eventually)

[Ian of Oldham]

Heat mat under a glass will crack it and your snake will cut itself on the crack, you are better with a lamp


2 Royals 1 Corn 1 Boa 1 Carpet and a mad Cat.

[Andy_G]

Originally Posted by Ian of Oldham

Heat mat under a glass will crack it and your snake will cut itself on the crack, you are better with a lamp


2 Royals 1 Corn 1 Boa 1 Carpet and a mad Cat.

Respectfully, the above statement is incorrect. You should never use a heat mat or a heat pad without controlling it's output with a thermostat or rheostat. A controlled heat mat is MUCH better than using a lamp (doesn't dry out the air, lasts longer, less wattage being used) and will not crack the glass. The only circumstance where a lamp should be used with a snake is if your ambient temps are too cool.

[Magdalen]

Originally Posted by Andy_G

Respectfully, the above statement is incorrect. You should never use a heat mat or a heat pad without controlling it's output with a thermostat or rheostat. A controlled heat mat is MUCH better than using a lamp (doesn't dry out the air, lasts longer, less wattage being used) and will not crack the glass. The only circumstance where a lamp should be used with a snake is if your ambient temps are too cool.

Yeah agree with Andy here. I have the mat controlled with a thermostat (didn't like the rheostat). Plus the YEARS (about 12) that I had leopard geckos (and the sand boa) with matts not once has the glass cracked. Mind these tanks are on stands that are open in the middle so there is a lot of air flow under the tank.
Also this is a fish tank so the glass is much thicker than standard reptile glass tanks. One time I had crack the glass was me lifting the tank (thinner reptile glass) and I squeezed too hard and it cracked.

Ian, I'm curious, has that happened to you or someone you know?