Hi everyone. I'm trying to decide how to set up my tank before I get my first corn snake. I have read a lot of people say that an undertank heater with temperature control is much better than getting a heat lamp. Basically, I am wondering if some more experienced posters could let me know the positives and negatives of each so I get once is best for my first snake. Thanks so much for your help.
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Heat Lamp VS Under Tank Heater
- Thread starter zeus3007
- Start date
Jdog3131
(Not a) Senior Member
Heat Lamp----
Pros-
Dries air out if it is very humid in the tank
Cons-
Heats the air of the snake cage and corns need belly heat not back
Dries the air in the tank. Multiple problems that can happen with low humidity.
You can burn yourself on them.
If the bulb burst toxic fums leak out...(not likely though)
Hard to direct the heat to one spot of the cage.
Uses more power
Without temp control your snake could be backed
Heat Mats----
Pros-
Uses less power
Even if your temp control fails the mat it's self is not as hot and the snake can escape more easily.(but your snake can burn it's self
lower temp of the mat so you can't burn yourself
The heat stays on that on section of glass.
Doesn't dry the air out in your tank
If you have low humidity you can put your water bowl on the heat mat so it evaporates more and increases humidity.
Cons-
Risk of cage melting if you have a plastic cage.
These are all I can think of right now
Pros-
Dries air out if it is very humid in the tank
Cons-
Heats the air of the snake cage and corns need belly heat not back
Dries the air in the tank. Multiple problems that can happen with low humidity.
You can burn yourself on them.
If the bulb burst toxic fums leak out...(not likely though)
Hard to direct the heat to one spot of the cage.
Uses more power
Without temp control your snake could be backed
Heat Mats----
Pros-
Uses less power
Even if your temp control fails the mat it's self is not as hot and the snake can escape more easily.(but your snake can burn it's self
lower temp of the mat so you can't burn yourself
The heat stays on that on section of glass.
Doesn't dry the air out in your tank
If you have low humidity you can put your water bowl on the heat mat so it evaporates more and increases humidity.
Cons-
Risk of cage melting if you have a plastic cage.
These are all I can think of right now
Thank you very much. I do have one follow up. Regarding the need for belly heat instead of back heat, would placing a basking rock in the tank help with that? Not an electric one, just a rock. I used to do that with my leopard geckos and bearded dragons and it worked wonders. Or does that not work the same because the snakes are not desert creatures like geckos and beardies?
xStaticSnow
New member
Just measure the temperature on top of the substrate. Some people say you need a source of belly heat, but many other have had great success with using a heat lamp as long as the top of the substrate stays arounf 85-86F.
In my opinion heat mats are easier.. but I can understand have surcomstances where a heat lamp would be better. As long as you keep up the humidity and temps are good it will be fine. I would also suggest using a ceramic heat emmiter instead of a light since corn snakes are nocturnal and aren't particularily fond of light
also you won't have to put it on a time this way or have two seperate bulbs for day and night
In my opinion heat mats are easier.. but I can understand have surcomstances where a heat lamp would be better. As long as you keep up the humidity and temps are good it will be fine. I would also suggest using a ceramic heat emmiter instead of a light since corn snakes are nocturnal and aren't particularily fond of light
also you won't have to put it on a time this way or have two seperate bulbs for day and night
bitsy
Owned by Corns since 1991
Corns in particular aren't a basking species. Having a rock warmed by an overhead or back-sited heat source would require them to spend time out in the open, which goes against their natural instinct.
With a heat mat, you can place hides over the heated area of floor, allowing the Corn to thermoregulate whilst staying out of sight. If pushed into a choice, they will choose the perceived safety of staying out of sight, rather than moving to an area of appropriate heat where they would have to be exposed to potential predators.
With a heat mat, you can place hides over the heated area of floor, allowing the Corn to thermoregulate whilst staying out of sight. If pushed into a choice, they will choose the perceived safety of staying out of sight, rather than moving to an area of appropriate heat where they would have to be exposed to potential predators.
RepLover1022
i love my little alice
This was my question too. Thank you.
knox
New member
Each snake is different. My Corn is out a lot during the day, watching me even now as I sit typing this.
Heat mats and thermostats are wonderful things. I have used them a lot in my racks.
If I was going to keep just one tank, I would probably go that route. However, since I have 2 tanks - a 20 Long and a 40 Breeder, I am using lamps with standard light bulbs - 60 watt and 75 watt respectively.
I have no problems with sheds. In fact, my Kingsnake just shed about an hour ago as I watched - one piece, no problem.
I do mist my tanks twice per week. Snakes don't care where the heat comes from, as long as it is warm. Lots of people with snake rooms simply heat the room to 85 - ambient air temp, not belly heat.
I have no problems with feeding, no regurges, regular poops. I didn't want to spend $220 on 2 Herpstats, so I spent $30 on two dome lights. Much more economical, and works very well.
I take NOTHING away from belly heat. But I disagree with the religion that it is the ONLY thing that works for Colubrids.
Heat mats and thermostats are wonderful things. I have used them a lot in my racks.
If I was going to keep just one tank, I would probably go that route. However, since I have 2 tanks - a 20 Long and a 40 Breeder, I am using lamps with standard light bulbs - 60 watt and 75 watt respectively.
I have no problems with sheds. In fact, my Kingsnake just shed about an hour ago as I watched - one piece, no problem.
I do mist my tanks twice per week. Snakes don't care where the heat comes from, as long as it is warm. Lots of people with snake rooms simply heat the room to 85 - ambient air temp, not belly heat.
I have no problems with feeding, no regurges, regular poops. I didn't want to spend $220 on 2 Herpstats, so I spent $30 on two dome lights. Much more economical, and works very well.
I take NOTHING away from belly heat. But I disagree with the religion that it is the ONLY thing that works for Colubrids.
dwyn127
Cinderazzo
You're right, it's not the only, but given the option it's definitely the better of the two especially if you live in the north.
knox
New member
With the lower humidity up there, I can understand that.
knox
New member
Ali, what kind of bulbs were in those lamps you saw blow up? Ceramic? What exactly caught fire?
And I have seen whole collections of snakes lost to fire because of Flexwatt failing - failing as in short circuit/over heating, catching the racks on fire. Such a sad thing.
I use standard incandescent bulbs in UL listed dome lamps such as Zoo Med or even the Home Depot dome lamps. If I used ceramic heat bulbs, I would definitely go with a heavy duty lamp.
And I have seen whole collections of snakes lost to fire because of Flexwatt failing - failing as in short circuit/over heating, catching the racks on fire. Such a sad thing.
I use standard incandescent bulbs in UL listed dome lamps such as Zoo Med or even the Home Depot dome lamps. If I used ceramic heat bulbs, I would definitely go with a heavy duty lamp.
AliCat37
Michelle's Candied Corns!
No, they were not ceramic. I am not sure what bulbs they were as they were not mine. They did produce light though. The lamp itself popped loudly and the entire unit began to burn rapidly, we had someone unplug it quickly and were able to use the fire extinguisher before any more damage was done. The snake was alright too, thankfully. I just wonder what would have happened had no one been there. I have also personally lost animals (not reptiles) to a heat lamp that was accidentally knocked over and started a large fire. Another friend of mine lost their entire house.
I do not use flexiwatt because I do not trust having to have it wired myself. I use zoomed uth, and the few times I have encountered issues they completely shut off. Each time they had a single "pin head" spot where a burn appeared, and they shut off completely without issue.
Yes, there is risk with any electrical heating device, but I personally feel that UTH are much safer as they only need to be placed once and never touched again. There is more risk, in my opinion, with lamps.
Since my lizard requires a heating lamp, I built a special area for the light so I never will need to touch it except for when i need to change the bulb. This also means none of my cats can get to it and knock it over haha.
If you're not using an aquarium of some sort and have an area specially built to handle a heat lamp, I think the risk of lights is less. But I still think that UTH is the way to go.
AliCat37
Michelle's Candied Corns!
o.0 I have all of my heat mats on a single thermostat. It only cost me $40 or $50. It came unwired, so my friend who recommended it to me wired it for me to a power strip. I can plug in 8 UTH into it. BUT they all have to be the same wattage and size. If I need a smaller mat I would need a different thermostat.
Is this seriously even a debate?
How can anyone justify the use of a heat light as better than an UTH? For the amount of heat a standard even low wattage bulb puts out- it's much more than a corn snake needs in general.
On top of that, heat lights to a terrific job of heating up the air so much as to dry out the entire enclosure. Congrats on wasting time on now wasting so much time misting to keep humidity up. Add in the fact if you seal the top of the cage to keep the humidity in, you will now overheat your snake in many situations.
Now I know you mention flexwatt causing fires- I don't deny this. Most times it's put together by someone with little electrical knowledge and it ends up being a huge danger, not that the construction of heat tape is overly safe in and of itself. That being said, I've also seen properly used heat lights completely burst for no reason what-so-ever. I've had it happen in all sorts of lights, in all sorts of lamps. Hell I've had regular light bulbs burst here and there.
Now, considering the animals optimal husbandry requirements, where do you find the need to the heat from the heat light? Do you enjoy stressing the animal when you are forced to mist him several times a day to maintain proper humidity? The snake doesn't need that much heat, unless you live in, like Alaska and have no heater in your house. Look at the native range of corn snakes, and tell me why you justify the use of such a high level of heat.
I strongly suggest you do some looking at corn snakes in a natural setting. You'll find they are rarely rarely active at the temps you provide with a heat light, and more active with the lower level of heat and higher level of humidity provided with a covered top and heat mat.
How can anyone justify the use of a heat light as better than an UTH? For the amount of heat a standard even low wattage bulb puts out- it's much more than a corn snake needs in general.
On top of that, heat lights to a terrific job of heating up the air so much as to dry out the entire enclosure. Congrats on wasting time on now wasting so much time misting to keep humidity up. Add in the fact if you seal the top of the cage to keep the humidity in, you will now overheat your snake in many situations.
Now I know you mention flexwatt causing fires- I don't deny this. Most times it's put together by someone with little electrical knowledge and it ends up being a huge danger, not that the construction of heat tape is overly safe in and of itself. That being said, I've also seen properly used heat lights completely burst for no reason what-so-ever. I've had it happen in all sorts of lights, in all sorts of lamps. Hell I've had regular light bulbs burst here and there.
Now, considering the animals optimal husbandry requirements, where do you find the need to the heat from the heat light? Do you enjoy stressing the animal when you are forced to mist him several times a day to maintain proper humidity? The snake doesn't need that much heat, unless you live in, like Alaska and have no heater in your house. Look at the native range of corn snakes, and tell me why you justify the use of such a high level of heat.
I strongly suggest you do some looking at corn snakes in a natural setting. You'll find they are rarely rarely active at the temps you provide with a heat light, and more active with the lower level of heat and higher level of humidity provided with a covered top and heat mat.
knox
New member
The one thing I DO like about using lamps is that they are always as hot as they are ever going to get. I control the heat by wattage - no risk of over heating as long as the temp in my home is stable.
Granted, thermostats and heat mats are VERY reliable, but in the rare occasion one fails and the snake can't get far enough away from the mat, it wouldn't be very good.
Again, i am very pro UTH. I am just also pro Heat Lamp. Both have their place.
And I would never argue against anyone's personal experience. That is never my intention.
Granted, thermostats and heat mats are VERY reliable, but in the rare occasion one fails and the snake can't get far enough away from the mat, it wouldn't be very good.
Again, i am very pro UTH. I am just also pro Heat Lamp. Both have their place.
And I would never argue against anyone's personal experience. That is never my intention.
AliCat37
Michelle's Candied Corns!
It was TERRIFYING when that lamp exploded (it was in one of my classes at school). I am sure if it was a lamp that did not get moved all the time to get the snake out that it would not have had issue. I have not had an issue with my lizard, and I am not expecting to have one simply because nothing can get to it and it is left alone.
It also is very comforting to me that my UTHs just shut off if something malfunctions, sure the snakes may be a little chilly for a couple of hours, but it's better than dead haha.
It also is very comforting to me that my UTHs just shut off if something malfunctions, sure the snakes may be a little chilly for a couple of hours, but it's better than dead haha.
Considering the heat bulb fails and breaks- you're looking at a fire and tons of damage. UTH breaks, it either dies or it heats up slightly, they don't get overly hot even broken, and if used properly, it won't even come close to cooking your snake.
Heat lamps have next to no place in snake husbandry. At all.
knox
New member
I have been keeping snakes for over 30 years. In addition, for over 50 or more years, people have successfully raised and bred snakes using overhead lamps.
My Corn is very active during the day, WITH the light on. She comes out, watches me, crawls around, hides, all with the light on. Same with my Cal King. They are active, healthy, shed well, eat well, and show no signs of stress.
How many heat mats do you see in the forest? In the desert? In the jungle? What do you see? A huge overhead heat source in the sky. Burning brightly, all day long. Right over the planet. The overhead heat source warms the earth and the ambient air, exactly the way a heat lamp does.
I don't want to get ugly, but please, show me the equivalent of a UTH in nature. The closest you will get is a slab of rock, heated by an overhead heat source, with light shining down all day long.
Before you advise someone to do research, be sure they are not 42 years old with 30+ years of successful snake husbandry.
And it takes 10 seconds to mist a tank. You might want to see my thread on my Corn sipping the droplets off her water bowl from me misting. It rains in nature, as well. My snakes come out soon after I mist, drinking water and seeming to enjoy the new sensation of dampness. Much like in nature itself.
I welcome criticism, and don't claim to know everything there is to know. But I WILL dispel any information touted as "fact", when it is merely opinion.
Also, I don't hold grudges. So no harm, no foul.