Oh...Throw this in there....We were told it was better to go from a bulb to a ceramic heat emitter. So, I know he doesn't NEED it, but it was free...So should we get him into something smaller? Or would it work out? Both now are on a ceramic heat emitter......the larger one being 150watt. The smaller one being 100 watt.

While it could be burns, I would think a normal heat pad going through a tank and felt wouldn't give burns, would it? Should I change to a thicker substrate? Maybe go with a couple inches of bark?