So my daughter is wanting to get a Western Hognose and I was wondering about enclosure setup. We currently have 3 Ball Pythons that are in 48x24x18 enclosures and heated with a radiant heat panel. I saw where some are using tubs to keep them in and I was wondering how they are heated. I like the way this one is setup with the tub but was curious as to if they put a mat under the tub or what. If so, how do you attach your thermostat probe? Any advice would be appreciated.
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Welcome! Yeah, you’d put the mat under 1/3 of the bottom of the tub. The tstat probe would be anchored at the bottom of the inside of the tub, over the center of the area the mat is under.
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That’s what I was thinking. Are heat mats acceptable for hog nose? I was reading the bulbs are better.
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It’s a matter of debate. But you don’t have both options for a tub anyway. 
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Oh hi there, welcome to the community! That’s actually a photo of one of my enclosures! I don’t actually use heat mats, I live in a home without central air so in the winter my snake room is between 69-75ºF (lower at night, higher during the day) and in summer it goes from about 71-82ºF.
As for if you use a heat mat, that particular enclosure size (sterilite 15qt tub) is a bit small for a mat (and they’re not the greatest for a thick substrate layer, though hoggies will burrow down to them), but you can try one of the very tiny ones. Probe actually goes outside of the tub, between the mat and the tub surface itself, there’s not really a safe and effective way to anchor it inside. You can use heat resistant tape to hold the mat onto the enclosure more securely.
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If the snake pees on the probe it can malfunction. Or if it’s not properly anchored and the hoggie moves it. Remember tape is a definite nono in any snake enclosure. Outside use only
Probe definitely gets sandwiched between the pad and the tub.
A melted tub is a serious issue. And can kill your animals. I learned that the hard way with a bad roommate as a teen.
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Thanks, I like the setup but now I am a bit worried about heating it. We may end up just springing for a glass enclosure or getting a small pvc. Thanks for the reply!
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They’re definitely not for everyone, and that’s totally okay. A glass or PVC would be great for almost anything you want to do, and have more heating options for sure. Plus with a bit more size, you can offer a larger variety of enrichment for the snake.
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