Heat mat temperature setting
I've got ZooMed ReptiTherm UTH heat mats regulated by Spyder Herpstat 1 thermostats currently set to 100 degrees. I chose 100 because the heat mats I've found claim to operate - when they don't overheat - at "about 20 degrees above room temperature" (95) or in the case of Fluker's (which looks like a re-branded Ultratherm) "at 100 degrees". On the glass I can't really tell it's running... it's only 1 degree above body temp. The infrared thermometer reads only 77/78 degree at top of the substrate, 1.5" of ReptiBark. I want to use the heat mat as a primary heat source but I'd like a basking spot of +/- 86 degrees.
It's for a Honduran and a Pueblan in a 74 degree room.
Should I turn the temp up, or switch to a lighter/thinner substrate like Aspen, or both?
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