Heating (up) a small exo terra for my new pacman

[Manwell]

He's now in a small Monkfield terrarium with a fitted slot underneath for the heat mat, the heat mat itself only covers half the enclosure my probe and thermometer probe are just above the substrate and it's slowly climbed up to 31.6 - at last!!

[Bedore]

Is the heat mat on the side of the enclosure or underneath? It needs to be on the side and not underneath. Glad you got the temps where you need them.

[Manwell]

It's underneath, the terrarium is purpose built and has a built in slot for the heat mat, it only takes up half the floor, I could not raise temperatures any other way

[Bedore]

It's underneath, the terrarium is purpose built and has a built in slot for the heat mat, it only takes up half the floor, I could not raise temperatures any other way

These frogs burrow to cool down and regulate temperatures. If you have the heat mat on the bottom they could burrow down into it right to the glass and burn themselves (the heat mats do run hot). You should move it to the side of the tank and if you cannot regulate temperatures correctly with the heat pad there then you should consider adding a ceramic heat emitter and a thermostat.

My Exo-Terra enclosure also has accommodations for a heat mat to be placed underneath but it's a bad idea. I placed my heat mat on the side and added a ceramic heat emitter and a thermostat. No issues with temps at all.

[Manwell]

He won't burn my heat mat is already attached to a thermostat which shuts the heat mat off at 30 degrees, most people here in the UK heat and successfully maintain pacmen in this way

[Bedore]

He won't burn my heat mat is already attached to a thermostat which shuts the heat mat off at 30 degrees, most people here in the UK heat and successfully maintain pacmen in this way

Even if it's attached to a thermostat the probe has been placed above the substrate. So the heat mat will get very, very hot to regulate temperatures at the probe since the probe is above the substrate and not near the heat mat. Once the frog decides to burrow he will burrow onto the hot glass and could burn himself. This is not really the correct way to heat a pacman enclosure and I doubt many on this forum will disagree with me but if this is the setup you want to run then so be it. I hate to come off as being preachy about pacman care, but this is one area where there is very little debate on whether its OK or not. But as I said, I don't want to sound too preachy so I just hope it works out ok.

[Manwell]

this is from another thread (on this forum) "Hi Im in the UK too , heat mat at bottom is fine. I have been doing this over a year . As long as you use thermo to keep temps set You are fine. On another UK forum there are peeps saying They cannot get temps with heat mat on side, and frogs move around. As long as you are checking frog wont get harmed. Temps should be 80-85 day 76-79 night as a guidline. Having mat on the side wont get this in the UK . I even have to use a ceramic heat bulb on top of mesh of exo terra he is in, or my temps are under 80"

[GrifTheGreat]

He won't burn my heat mat is already attached to a thermostat which shuts the heat mat off at 30 degrees, most people here in the UK heat and successfully maintain pacmen in this way

You do realize that the heat pad has to still become hot enough to push the heat through the substrate and THEN begin to warm the ambient air within the enclosure where the probe for the thermostat is located. How often do you uncover the area where the heat pad is located and test the glass temp?? My guess is never.

You do not place a heat source under the tank for burrowing frogs. Not only can they be overheated if they burrow over it, but the heat pad can actually crack the glass from getting too hot. Just because one person assumes it is fine does not mean that it is. To ignore experienced keepers in favor of a less experienced person who's ideals support yours is not a smart idea.

People in the northern US with much lower temps than where you live manage to maintain proper climate without placing the heat pad on the bottom. Place the heat pad on the side and get a low watt infrared heat bulb with a lamp that has a dimmer switch to maintain the climate. It can also help to raise the ambient air temp in the roo where the frog is kept to help maintain the climate.

[Manwell]

You deleted my last comment but in short I said (and I'll say it again) I think you're very rude; I have 3 probes one of which is UNDER the substrate and fyi I check him every 15/20 mins at the moment

DO NOT make assumptions you may one day be very surprised who you are talking to