I got 2 from reptilebasics.com, an 11x11 & 11x17. Why do they market those for use without a thermostat? I'm getting a 25 long set up for my boy after he gets out of shed & plugged it in & waited. Put the thermometer probe on top of the aspen substrate & looked at the temperatures. On top of the substrate, its a perfect range for BPs, 85-90. I then moved substrate aside & put the probe on th bare spot & it shot up to over 100°!

Don't panic, there is no living creature in this tank yet! I'm just concerned! That's dangerous for scale babies; if the substrate is thick enough he won't get burned, but for burrowing species like colubrids, that could really hurt them! Even though BPs don't burrow, they still like to thin down the substrate in their hides to get more warmth (at least mine does).

In the package directions, it says to not lay on the substrate too thick to prevent too much heat build up & put Styrofoam between the heater & the surface th tank is resting on to direct the heat into the enclosure....but damn, 100°+(????) This is crazy!

I know this isn't really a question thread, I just had to vent & possibly forewarn fellow herpers about this.