Snake Heating

Question
For heating for all my snakes I use a zoomed basking bulb I know they are not baskers or sit out in the open I have the heating light bulbs placed on top of the snakes log hide aways.  I use the basking bulbs to keep the air temperature warm.  I thought this was better.  But someone told me to use just the undertank heaters these are better as they warm there bellys up and snakes just lay around.  But I always heard undertank heaters are bad from some people and saw pictures on the internet of burns from such heating devices on the belly of the snakes and other reptiles so who should I believe?  They seem fine.


Snakes I own are Blood Python, Ball Python, Hogg Island Boa, Cornsnake, Kenyan Sand Boa

Answer
Hi Thomas

heat bulbs or other overhead heating devices are always better than undertank heaters. heat mats etc can cause burns like you have seen in the internet and dont heat a snake up properly on their own. snakes need an ambient air temperature not just a warm belly. heat mats can also cause scale rot in snakes with larger belly scales like most boas and pythons.

so simply put, stcik to heat bulbs and youll be fine,

thanks for your question,

Andy