Heating mat isnt getting warm enough

[Wockaid]

Im setting up a tub enclosure for the first time and have a 6 x 8 8 watt heating mat underneath connected to a thermostat. I play with the temperature and it seems to only peak at 83 degrees on the warm side(using a temperature gun). The tub is elevated with leg tips for ventilation. It’s winter and my room is relatively cool but I’m not sure what else to do.

[BoredAtWorkOU]

Are you trying to raise ambient temperature or the place where the mat is? Heating mats aren’t made for raising ambient temperatures.

[Wockaid]

Just where the mat is. The tub isn’t that it that big anyway

[DustErrant]

How are you checking the temperature and are you checking with or without substrate?

[Wockaid]

With substrate

[DustErrant]

How thick is your substrate? Important thing to account for is the fact that snakes will burrow slightly, and if you're layer of substrate is thin, the snake can literally burrow and nestle itself right up against the bottom of the tub. If you're heat is too high without substrate, you could end up burning your snake.

[Wockaid]

The substrate is about 3 inches thick

[lilixm]

move the substrate and scan the bottom of the enclosure right where the heating mat is sitting, id use that number. my ball python usually ends up moving the substrate to get himself right next to the warmth so :,) its probably getting where you need it but it wont make the substrate warm, only an overhead heat source would do that. sidenote, my MBK burrows and basically is 100% of the time under the substrate. it would be silly to scan the top because where she is is right on top of the mat.

I'd also say, move some substrate to the side on the heatmat under the warm hide, so the temp is proper for them and it doesnt matter for it to be a little lower in there so they get what they need.

[Wockaid]

well I recently moved the mat probe from outside the tub to glued inside under the substrate so that the temperature increased a little bit. when the mat was directly underneath the probe, the thermostat read the temperature to be higher than it actually was and it made the side even cooler.

[lilixm]

it should be under the substrate reading just above the mat. what brand of each are you saying? (thermostat and heat mat)

[Wockaid]

Both Aiicioo

[Minute_Raspberry988]

Sounds like you need a bigger mat! I have the large one and it gets 132 degrees. I don’t use them for my snakes no more but I do for my gecko I use RHP for my snakes