UTH and belly burns

[Eric Alan]

I would say the true problem is with the UTH companies not having good quality controls than owners not buying thermostats.

If there were a significant problem with malfunctioning equipment or quality control, there would be recalls to attest to this fact. To my memory, the only Zoo Med under tank heater to be recalled was the BettaTherm (the mini one intended for fish), which means the rest of their heaters function largely as intended. What does "as intended" mean according to the manufacturer?

I'm not sure how many people have actually read the Zoo Med product manual, so I'll quote a portion of it here (and then discuss the critical points that are reiterated over and over on this site):

Substrate: If the ReptiTherm® is on the bottom of the tank, you must use some type of substrate material. Good substrate choices are Zoo Med’s Repti Cage Carpet, Zoo Med’s Repti Sand or Zoo Med’s Repti Bark. If using very lightweight substrates such as pine shavings or sphagnum moss, you must put a layer of Zoo Med’s Repti Cage Carpet down first. This prevents snakes and burrowing reptiles from pushing substrate aside and resting on top of the glass directly above the heater, resulting in possible burns! Using newspaper, paper towels, or any similarly light product in place of a substrate is not appropriate with this kind of heater, and such use will void any and all guarantees and release Zoo Med from any liability for damage to product, property, or animals. Also, some liners or cage inserts have plastic or rubberized backings that could melt; use such items with caution. We recommend Zoo Med’s Cage Carpet for safe use with a ReptiTherm®. When using gravel or sand type substrates, it is important to use no more than 1.5” (3.81cm) depth of gravel/sand type substrates.

First, Zoo Med claims that using either their bark substrate or placing a layer of their cage carpet under a lightweight substrate will prevent snakes from resting on top of the glass. We know to not be true for our animals. Quite simply, a ball python will pretty easily move these substrates aside in their search for proper thermoregulation. What happens, according to Zoo Med, when a snake does find its way to the bottom of the enclosure directly on top of a normally functioning heat pad? Possible burns! What happens, according to Zoo Med, when other common lightweight substrates are used in their enclosures in combination with a normally functioning heat pad? Possible burns! What happens, according to Zoo Med, if you use their product other than a method as described in these instructions? They're not liable for anything (including possible burns)!

Zoo Med makes a good quality product intended for a large number of reptiles. The caveat here is that not all reptiles are created equal (different behaviors and husbandry requirements). We need to be able to recognize this and make appropriate decisions for our pets when the original product doesn't quite fit in with their specific needs. For ball pythons, an unregulated, normally functioning heat pad, in combination with an appropriate substrate, will never be considered a safe option. Zoo Med recognizes this and puts appropriate verbiage into their manual to protect themselves. We need to recognize this as well and put appropriate safeguards in place to provide the best care possible.