All that substrate is a really good INSULATOR- meaning, it's preventing the heat (UTH) from rising into the tank. Over the UTH, the substrate needs to be really shallow, otherwise you're just overheating the UTH* & not getting the heat into the tank where you need it.(*& btw, make sure the UTH has a bit of ventilation for safety as specified in the installation instructions).
You DO want to take the temperature inside the tank right over the UTH & ON** the glass, to make sure it's not too hot & a safety hazard for your snake- some just don't seem to realize (maybe because BPs are heavy-bodied?) until they're injured ("burned") after laying there too long. (**In case your snake pushes the substrate aside, which they can easily do.) The substrate can be deeper elsewhere, just not over the UTH, for best results.
Reply With Quote