Porcelain or vinyl tiles as substrate

I'm trying to think of a way to keep my belly heat temps more even... with a UTH on a glass tank w/ bark substrate it varies a lot based on the substrate depth, which worries me. I was thinking of putting an 18x18 or 18x12 piece of tile at the warm end of the tank (40B) under the hide. This way the UTH is heating through the same material/thickness so the temps should be much more even. I should also be able to turn down the UTH temp overall, which should save electricity and be safer. Also hoping that this might help the heat to radiate through and warm the air more.

Thoughts? Which would you recommend, vinyl or porcelain tile? I'm swinging by Lowes after work to check out their selection.

maybe something like this

http://images.lowes.com/product/conv...41131338lg.jpg

or this

http://images.lowes.com/product/conv...41131321lg.jpg

why not just do papertowels or news papers? That is cheaper and easier

i was going to, but it has to "look nice". if i had it my way i'd be using tubs, but my girlfriend thinks the snakes would get depressed or something without wood chips, driftwood, and fake rocks :P

don't get me wrong, i don't mind it looking nice but it sure would be easier and cheaper to keep it simple

lol too cute! I would go with the laminate personally then....for me it is easier. We use laminate with our lizards and clean up is easy. If you stick the laminate down you might want to make sure that you seal it with caulking as well. That way ick doesn't get down in the cracks. Also you don't want to set tiles down uneven as I have seen that done and it does nothing but harbor bacteria. Unless you are going to actually cut them. Personally I have never used either for a snake.

You might be able to go with a recycled paper towel that is more of a brown color and then decorate around that. I just find for me it is easier clean up and I know immed. that they have pee'd or poo'd. You can sell it that way...;) you don't want them sitting in their own pee right....:P

I'd personally not choose tiles for substrate for the same reason that people tell you not to use just straight glass with a uth, even if you do have a thermostat: it gets crazy hot crazy fast, so if your tstat malfunctions for too long you may just end up with a burned snake... I'd say just go with paper towels, that way you can add extra layers to insulate like a substrate would, and it's a lot cheaper, not to mention that when you drop a paper towel it doesn't shatter or chip and leave sharp edges that you might not notice...

I agree with what every one is saying however i was having the same problem and my wife also thought they (Snakes), would be depressed. I went with ceramic tile instead i also used a second piece under the tank to help hold it up and provide a good airflow undertank which has allowed my heaters to not get so freaking hot