Coastal Jaguar Carpet python Question

I didn't even notice that. The cage came assembled like that? I've normally seen them on the sides or the top, do you have a thermostat on it so it isn't getting super hot? I know snakes can get bad burns on bellys if things like that are too hot

great no this is how it came it even has the stoppers on that side.... I will rotate it around though is it worth stressing her out by disturbing her introductory period in the house?

Is it upside down? Like can you flip whole thing over and still open the door and give her enough space to move?

I got this from Cornels World on their rhp FAQ


Do I need to use a thermostat or rheostat?

Radiant Heat Panels (RHP's) are designed to be used with a thermostat. Unlike some other heat sources, such as Flexwatt, it is possible to operate the Reptile Basics Inc. RHP without a thermostat BUT unsafe tank temperatures can occur! Remember, just because the panel can run at full power continuously does not mean it should. The panel itself uses an element made of a durable fiberglass cloth that is temperature resistant to over 1000 degrees so the panel burning out is an unlikely situation. When the RHP is operated at full power you do run the very real risk of overheating your vivarium and harming your animals due to the enclosed area. Please, use a thermostat to properly maintain ideal temperatures for your animals at all times!

Also:

RHP's are similar to Ceramic Heat Emitters (CHE) - they both project IR heat into the cage. Unlike CHE's that get very, very hot on their surface, these RHP's maintain temperatures safe to use inside the cage. This Infrared Heat tends to heat objects more than the air, much like the natural sunlight outdoors. This type of heat mimics real sunlight both in the direction it comes from and its penetration into the muscle tissue. IR heat has been shown to have a therapeutic effect on sick and injured animals as well. Your reptiles will spend less time basking and receive a much greater benefit from it. The RHP has been the heat of choice for the bird community for years due to these benefits. We at Reptile Basics Inc want to see the RHP gain this popularity in the reptile field!
Unlike CHE's, the surface temperature of the Reptile Basics RHP is not hot enough to instantly burn you! At full power our RHP will reach approximately 190 degrees on the lens surface. While this temperature sounds very, very high- you can hold your hand on it for 10 seconds or more without getting burned. I have done it myself and so have several of my human guinea pigs. When installed properly it would be nearly impossible for your reptile to stay on the heat for even that long. At worst the animal may bump into the panel while exploring the cage. If your RHP is properly set up on a thermostat you will not generally see even these temperatures. Our tests of three other RHP manufacturers products show very similar, sometime greater, surface temps. A higher surface temperature will project the heat farther BUT it is a trade off on burn safety. We carefully tweaked our wattage density of the custom manufactured element to get a safe compromise between surface temps and effective range.

It has a thermostat on it and I never turn it up all the way.. I go three quarters during the day and down to about half to just under during the night... during the day she curls right up beside it never ontop... During the night she will stretch right over it... I think shes alittle more intelligent then we are giving her credit... Also noticed during the day if she does touch it the head is the only part that does so. she likes this pose alot which by far is my favourite so far lol... http://i1325.photobucket.com/albums/...ps617aa0c4.jpg

Honestly id move it to the top. Not sure how itd really work on the bottom