Heat Pad?

When I got my bp, the people in charge of the store told me i just needed a heating lamp with no heat pad underneath, but I've read differently elsewhere. I already have a heat pad I can use, so should I use it?

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Originally Posted by Shienjeru

When I got my bp, the people in charge of the store told me i just needed a heating lamp with no heat pad underneath, but I've read differently elsewhere. I already have a heat pad I can use, so should I use it?

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Welcome! I'm new to this as well but, if anything, I would say that the opposite is more true than what they told you! As I understand, BP's don't necessarily need a "basking" spot as much as the need a warm hide and a cooler hide area. Meaning, your BP needs the ability to self-thermoregulate. A UTH does this very well if used WITH A TSTAT!!! If you don't have a tstat then DON'T use a UTH until you do! You can easily cook your BP. UTH's as I understand don't raise the ambient temperature so, you can use a heat lamp if you need to... However, a radiant heat panel I believe is the preferred way to raise ambient temperatures. Good luck! I'm sure you will get more replies here to help clarify and/or correct anything I just stated... There are some amazing people here on this forum!


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Originally Posted by Shienjeru

When I got my bp, the people in charge of the store told me i just needed a heating lamp with no heat pad underneath, but I've read differently elsewhere. I already have a heat pad I can use, so should I use it?

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What you need is to provide a hot spot between 86/90 and a cool spot between 76/80 (measured with a DIGITAL thermometer right above the substrate), that can be accomplished different ways, a lamp can do the job but it will dry out the enclosure and it is not very efficient (remember heat travels up so heat pad make more sens whereas a lamp will have more heat loss)

I've not found any luck with heat pads/tape/whatever. I have had great success with radiant heat. Depending on your setup, I would invest in radiant heat panels over anything else.

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Originally Posted by SiXandSeven8ths

I've not found any luck with heat pads/tape/whatever.

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They are only for a regulated hot spot not ambient heat when used under the housing.

I have both a heat lamp and an heating pad, if you put the heat pad on a thermostat and regulate it, as well as have a heat lamp so your snake can get that extra "oomph" of heat in the upper 90s, you will be fine.

Currently I have a 75 w heat lamp with a heating pad on a thermostat. I have the heating pad to keep the substrate nice and warm, and the heat lamp to help with ambient temps as well as provide more heat to his hide and a basking spot of he wants it.

Aslong as you set up your heating pad properly and regulate it, you can either choose to add a heat lamp or not. Ambient temps are not going to heat your snake as much as a heating pad or heat lamp will.

I suggest you run the heating pad on a lower temp to heat the substrate, but add a heat lamp so the snake can regulate its body temp better.