Under tank heater question

[Jsilverback64]

Hello everyone. So I KNOW not to use a uth for my beardies basking spot or even anywhere underneath. I am customizing a viv for my new baby who is hanging out in a 20l quarantine atm. What I'm wondering is. To try and cut down on total wattage I was thinking of putting a small 10g size uth along the cool side top of my new viv and have it on an 80 degree thermostat setting. Instead of a che from above. Can anyone give me a reason why this would not work. And the direct area of where it will be will not be accessible to the dragon at all.

 

[Taterbug]

Heat mats work primarily by conductive heat - they warm things that touch them. They don't really work as a radiant source and won't give you the effect your hopeing for.

Lower wattage alternatives to a CHE would be a heat projector (reptileuv.com) or a radiant heat panel (reptilebasics.com pro-products.com) but both will be more upfront cost.

 

[Jsilverback64]

It is a copy diction us bit yes. But it will radiate off of the surface being warmed also. I use this exact method on my roach bin and keep the whole thing a toast 85 degrees always. So I know for a fact it works. I'm more concerned if there is any safety issues for my dragon really.

 

[Taterbug]

No safety issues if it's on a thermostat (no safety issues if it's on the floor with a thermostat either).

 

[Rankins]

I have a section of heat tape on the cool end of my enclosures. It's on a thermostat, and I use a sand substrate. When the dragons want to warm up they dig down closer to the heat tape. Sand holds heat well.
No issues with it at all.