Heat mat concern

I got a 40B for my BP but I got a heat mat that's too big. The size is 18 x 8 I think. I thought it would fit but there's a piece of plastic that goes across the bottom of the tank. I don't want to return it but the temperature won't stay high. I don't know what to do. Should I stick it to the side of the tank? I'm worried that if my BP extends himself across the tank it could burn him if his belly touches it.

i think if your worried about it, it probably means it's not a good thing to do. Find something that works for your application.

What do you mean buy "wont stay high enough"?
You are using a thermostat, correct?

A properly regulated UTH will not burn your snake.......
You should also be taking the temperature UNDER the substrate.

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h1...psqcouxfgn.jpg

ALSO the UTH is only for a hot spot and not ambient temperatures.

A under tank heater is not meant to heat the air in a cage. It is meant to create a hotspot for the snake to lay on and needs to be controlled by a tstat.



As for sticking it to the bottom, I wouldn't. Use foil and stick it to the sticky part of the mat. Then use aluminum foil duct tape to secure the uth to the cage bottom. This will more easily allow you to remove the uth if needed.

As for the size of uth it is usually suggested that the heat mat cover no more than 1/3 of the cage floor.