Glass tank-heat mat.

Hi guys.
Its my birthday next saturday and today my mum and dad ent out and bought me a lovely 30 by 12 inch glass vivarium for my snakey who is too big for his current tank. I just want to as a quick question regarding the heat mat.

Will it be best to put it underneath the tank or attach it to the back wall of the tank?? i have heard that if you put it underneath a glass tank it can crack the glass or burn the snake?? is this true?? which will i be best off doing, and if i put it on the back wall will it have the same effect heating the whole of one side of the tank including inside the hides and what not???

thanks in advance for any replies.
:cheers:

I put mine on the bottom of the tank. There really shouldn't be a problem of burning the snake if you plug the UTH into a thermostat. That way, you can control the maximum heat in the viv. Just assemble everything a day or two before you put your snake in. Put a digital thermometer probe on the glass directly on top of the UTH. Make sure it doesn't get more than around 30 degrees. Slowly adjust the thermostat until you get the right temperature. Make sure you give it enough time between adjustments to let it properly cool/heat.

Good luck!

I usually attach mine to a seperate piece of glass before placing under the tank. For what it's worth, I've never had a glass bottom crack from a uth being attached to it, even without a thermostat. Attaching to a seperate piece is a lot easier though. It makes it easier to take the tank out for cleaning and if you ever get another sized tank, the UTH is still good to go under the new one.

if i was to stick it on the side of the tank instead of underneath would it still heat the tank sufficiantly? and would it make the hide on that particular side warm for the snake?

Having it on the side of the tank isn't that great of an idea for a couple reasons...
1. The only substrate that will be warmed will be that right against the glass, forcing your snake to rub against the glass and get burned.
2. The hide will be warm either way, whether the heater's on the side next to it or on the bottom.
3. It's more important to have the substrate warmed than the air. Heat rises, so having the heater under the tank allows the heat to rise up into the substrate. Having it on the side would heat a little bit of substrate, and the rest would heat the glass and air in and around the tank.
4. They're UNDER the Tank Heaters. They are designed to be placed on the bottom of the tank, not the side.
5. It's easier to put it under the tank anyways.

Hope this helps with your decision.

ye thats what i was thinkin as well. the guy in the shop said to put it on the side so it doesnt crack the glass or burn the snake but i dont really think either of them will happen anyways.
al put it underneath.
thanks for everyones help.

Well it can burn the snake if you don't have a thermostat or rheostat controlling it. But under the tank is better, as long as it is controlled.