When I first joined here, I was using heat mats for my 2 pythons under their click-clacks and I was convinced / persuaded to ditch the heat mats (due to being an apparent commonly malfunctioning fire hazard) for a heat cord / tile setup, basically just a DIY project involving a few leftover tiles from a bathroom reno and a heat cord.Heat mat for a childrens python worthwhile? Are they only really useful on glass bottomed enclosures? Reading so many confusing things! Thanks
They are only be used on glass bottomed enclosures as said above. One correction to the above is that they don't have airflow between it and the glass. They stick to the glass and must have an air gap between the heatmat and the table etc. that the enclosure is sitting on. They come with little rubber feet to raise the enclosure to achieve this. Depending on where you are putting the enclosure and the aesthetics of the area your use of heatmat or heatcord is purely a personal choice, they will both do the same job.Heat mat for a childrens python worthwhile? Are they only really useful on glass bottomed enclosures? Reading so many confusing things! Thanks
That way is a serious fire risk. All the ones I have used state clearly in the instructions to setup the way I described above. Not to mention the waste of heat by not having contact with the glass. The are a conductive heating item and not radiant.I always used my heat mats sitting flush on the wooden cabinet with a 5mm gap between the heat mat and the glass bottom of the enclosure (thanks to the little feet on the enclosure) for air flow. Not the other way around. The heat mats never made contact with the glass or stuck to it.
Believe me The radiant heat from a few mm was more than sufficient to achieve what I was aiming for. Also, both sides of the heat mat get hot so I don't see the difference as to whether the air flow is above the mat itself or below it. Your description suggests air flow below the mat, mine allowed air flow above it... either way, it always worked fine for me and I never had a fault or bad experience with them.That way is a serious fire risk. All the ones I have used state clearly in the instructions to setup the way I described above. Not to mention the waste of heat by not having contact with the glass. The are a conductive heating item and not radiant.
It is the placing of the heat mat on a table that causes the risk. The glass doesn't retain the heat like a wooden surface and can't burn if there is an issue.Believe me The radiant heat from a few mm was more than sufficient to achieve what I was aiming for. Also, both sides of the heat mat get hot so I don't see the difference as to whether the air flow is above the mat itself or below it. Your description suggests air flow below the mat, mine allowed air flow above it... either way, it always worked fine for me and I never had a fault or bad experience with them.
Yeah that's fair enough. Thankfully I only ever used 5 watt ones. Maybe that's why my method never caused any issues.It is the placing of the heat mat on a table that causes the risk. The glass doesn't retain the heat like a wooden surface and can't burn if there is an issue.
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