BLUE TONGUE SKINKS

Hey y’all! This is my first post here so sorry if I mess anything up! But at this most recent repticon in Jacksonville we picked up a 4 year old blueie we named Kahlua and he’s staying with us in southern Georgia for a few more days before we head back to kentucky. However, we have him in a big tub for now with heat tape underneath. The heat tape is very hot and it’s making his belly pink. I keep moving him to the cooler side, but he seems to keep making his way over to the heat tape. I’m just afraid it’s too hot, but I know they’re smart enough to thermoregulate so I’m just wondering! Any suggestions are appreciated! Thanks

What type of bts is it? His belly may be naturally colored. If the tape is too hot to the touch it is dangerous. I would do away with that heating option and figure out a way to have overhead lighting. I have an extra large tub for extra space or quarantine that I put an old oven grate over the top and a light atop that.

Builtin temperature limiting circuits in some heatpad , tapes are often a bit cheap nasty and dodgey and prone to failure resulting these overheating. Not wise to rely on them.

At the very least control the temperature of the current heat source (pad / tape (?)) by connecting it to a thermostat with it's own thermometer and maybe set the thermostat temperature to about 36 degC for an indo or northern , 32 degC for an eastern BTS.

splashy07 wrote:What type of bts is it? His belly may be naturally colored. If the tape is too hot to the touch it is dangerous. I would do away with that heating option and figure out a way to have overhead lighting. I have an extra large tub for extra space or quarantine that I put an old oven grate over the top and a light atop that.

It’s a northern and we’re gonna be in Georgia for a few days is why I don’t have him in a tank with an overhead light

kingofnobbys wrote:Builtin temperature limiting circuits in some heatpad , tapes are often a bit cheap nasty and dodgey and prone to failure resulting these overheating. Not wise to rely on them.

At the very least control the temperature of the current heat source (pad / tape (?)) by connecting it to a thermostat with it's own thermometer and maybe set the thermostat temperature to about 36 degC for an indo or northern , 32 degC for an eastern BTS.

Hm. I’ve heard the opposite (in the US at least), that heat tape is the best option as an under tank heater and don’t have the fail rate like heated rocks or heat mats do. Either way we have it under a towel and the tub so it’s a lot better for the BTS!

I've personally seen heat tape overheat and cause dangerous conditions. I absolutely wouldn't place it under a tub without a thermostat. Agree that using overhead heating from a light is the safest and more practical method.

mb606587 wrote:I've personally seen heat tape overheat and cause dangerous conditions. I absolutely wouldn't place it under a tub without a thermostat. Agree that using overhead heating from a light is the safest and more practical method.

Absolutely …. I go further with my heatpads in my rearing tubs and my water skink's tub.
I sandwich my 7W heatpads (I only trust the film types) between two layers of ceramic floot tiles , and the thermostat's probe is taped using cloth tape dead centre on the top of the top tile. I have the glossy side of the tiles in contact with the path, the non-glossy side is the side the lizard can crawl on , helps I think with wearing down the nails.

No heat source is safe unregulated. Even if it's a product with a 'built-in' regulator, put it on a thermostat. That is the only thing that will prevent serious burns. I picked mine up for $50, I'm sure they're probably cheaper in your countries.