duct tape OK in cage?

[Ginevive]

Is it safe to put duct tape directly in the cage of your BP? I need something to tape the bottom layers of newspaper substrate down, since one of my BPs (little, obnoxious Octavia) has taken a shine to burrowing under all the papers. I do not want her lying where only glass seperates her from the heatpad.
I should describe the cage she's in. it's made of glass, with a perforated metal lid that I cover with contact paper to retain humidity. The cage opens via sliding plexiglass doors in front.
Is it OK to use duct tape to hold down the bottom layers of newspaper? I still will leave a few upper layers untaped so she can get lost among them; she never goes in any hide I provide, but always burrows in the paper!! And it isn't like the cage is too cool; the readong on top of the layers of newspapers is 92 degrees.

[Smulkin]

IT can be really bad news if they get caught up in it though - I've read a few horror stories concerning snakes and tape.

[Marla]

Ginevive, you could, but you will end up with a lot of sticky residue on your tank doing that. With Sir Not I use a few strategically-placed rocks to keep him from getting under the bottom layers of newspaper (and fold some over to give him a happy newsprint hide). You could use masking tape just as effectively and with a lot less residue and easier removal. Alternatively, you could get a piece of pegboard or cardboard for your bottom layer as they won't bend and give her access to underneath.

[Kara]

If your snake is frequently burrowing beneath the newspaper, there's a very good chance it causes her to feel safer & more secure than her hide box. A better solution would probably be to put down multiple thick layers of newspaper so that she has opportunities to burrow & will likely find a place to do so before hitting the heat pad.

Another option would be to put 3-4 sheets of newspaper on the bottom of the cage & then cover them with a piece of plexiglass cut to fit the dimensions of the bottom of the enclosure. Cover the plexiglass with a few more layers of newspaper & you should have enough padding between the heat pad & the snake not to cause any problems.

Then again, an even more simple solution would be to put the heat pad on a thermostat & set it around 90-92 degrees so you don't have to worry about the pad getting too hot to burn your snake should she decide to lay right over it.

K