worried about heat lamp inside of terrarium (newbie)

[shuperkewl]

Hello, i am planning to buy a baby ball in September and ive already started building my terrarium slowly slowly.
I've got a nice 80x35x40cm terrarium, which shouldn't be too big for the python to freak out and ive started decorating and setting it up.
I got 2 pieces of artificial grass (brown colour) for a substrate cause i found on youtube that its actually a good choice and im going to replace the dirty one with the clean one each time.
Im building an Ancient Greek decor inside with a Spartan Helmet and an other pot for hides in each side of the tank (1 at the warm and 1 at the cooler side).
I already have a 50w Red heat lamp hanging in one side of the tank, the watts should be sufficient for the size of my tank and the red colour will not scare the python or mess his day/time perception.
I know that the heat is dangerous for him so i made a custom heat guard, from a pencil case i had , so that the snake doesn't go and burn itself on it. My worry is, though, that the guard still gets quite hot, and i dont know if it will damage the python if it goes and touches it...so now im thinking of removing the lamp altogether and replacing the heat source with a heat mat.
The problem is that the substrate i have is quite thick cause its plastic underneath and then there is an inch or so of artificial grass on it, so im wondering if a heat mat will do the job. You can imagine there will be quite a distance from the heat mat to the snake. I dont have an idea of how strong heat a mat can produce and i understand i can buy different voltage mats, so this is my question...Do you think the python is still going to mess himself up, even though i put a guard on the heat lamp? And if yes and im gonna have to buy heat mats, what voltage mats should i get in order for the heat to pass through the plastic base of the substrate and the length of the artificial grass to reach the tank? (keep in mind the size of the tank which is 110 litres i believe, so i dont think i need a super strong mat)
I appreciate your time and i am looking forward to reading your advice. Thanks.

[colton62]

Heat mat would be better IMO since the bulbs can dry out the air quite significantly, making your life harder trying to maintain proper humidity.

[BiggBaddWolf]

I agree UTH is the only way to go. I use red bulbs on some of mine, but not as a heat source, just to light up the tanks a bit

[jasonmcgilvrey83]

Another option is a radient heat pannel. They work great and don't dry out the cage as bad as a heat light does. I have one in my boa master. Their a little pricey but we'll worth it. Heats up the cage anddoesn't get hot enuff to burn your snake.

http://pro-products.com/pro-heat/

That's were I got mine. U give him your tank info and he will tell u the one u need and will walk u step by step when u get it. Tell u where to place it and everything

[jasonmcgilvrey83]

Wait is it a glass screen top tank? If so I mis understood.

[shuperkewl]

these radient heat panels are not an option for me my dear friend. i respect your opinion but i would appreciate if you would answer my question as to what voltage heat mats i should get in order to give heat to my tank through my really thick artificial grass substrate, cause it seems i AM going to go with heat mats afterall. and we have to take into consideration the size of my tank aswell for the heat mats

[shuperkewl]

i also want to know if it is essential to have a thermostat for my heating mats, and aprox how much of the tank base should they be warming up??? (like 1/2, 3/4 or something?)

[jasonmcgilvrey83]

When u get a reptile uth they are based on tank size. They have them for most tanks. they will say for 10 and 20 gallon tanks and so forth. Thermostats are a must with all heating sources. Something can happen to the heat source and might get to hot so thermostats are good to have so they shut off the heat source. Here is a good site for thermostats.

http://www.lllreptile.com/catalog/17...ats-and-timers

Here's a site for uth.

http://www.lllreptile.com/catalog/16...able-and-rocks

U can also check your local pet store but this will give u an idea of what to get.

[Neilengland]

I would avoid at all cost putting a heat bulb inside a cage... Snakes have a way of getting into places they shouldn't and a bulb would most definitely burn a hole through it

[Cyndymei]

i also want to know if it is essential to have a thermostat for my heating mats, and aprox how much of the tank base should they be warming up??? (like 1/2, 3/4 or something?)

Yes it is essential to have a thermostat. Always Always Always. Many times these heat mats have caused burns on the snakes due to malfunctions and there was no safety off. When many of these heating pads fail, they fail on, and continue to heat up, not turn off.

I recommend herpstats by spyder robotics, mine are accurate to a tenth of a degree.

I also have the uth on a little over 1/4th of my tank. I also recommend the ultratherm heat pads from reptile basics. http://www.reptilebasics.com/ultratherm-heat-pads