There are a large variety of snakes kept as pets, from large snakes like boa constrictors or pythons to smaller snakes such as king snakes or garter snakes. Some people keep a snake or two as a household pet, while others keep large amounts of snakes for breeding or research. While each snake has its own needs or environment, all captive snakes have the same basic needs of food, water and heat.

When keeping a snake captive, you are limiting its natural ability to seek heat or basking spots. Snakes are known as exotherms, which means they are unable to regulate their own internal body temperature and must rely on an external heat source to warm themselves.http://www.thefreedictionary.com/ectothermic Snakes in the wild will seek out sunny rocks, pavement or hard ground to bask in the suns heat, or seek warm sand or burrows. Snakes in captivity are unable to do these things, so you must provide heat sources for them. If not provided with heat, snakes could become unable to digest food, shed properly and can become susceptible to a wide range of sicknesses related to improper heat, such as respiratory infections.http://www.swanimalhospital.net/html/infosheets/snakeinfo.html

There are two types of heat to consider when setting up your snakes cage. A primary heat source and/or a secondary heat source. The primary heat source such as heat tape or lamps is where the main source of heat will be coming from, while secondary heat sources such as heat mats or cables are where supplemental heat will come from.

Heating your snakes cage is dependent on your snakes cage size, and your snakes environmental requirements. Snakes common to desert environments require more heat than snakes common to temperate forests. Large cages will require more heat sources than smaller cages. There are several options on todays market for heating equipment and this page will guide you through the ways on how to heat snake cages.

Heat tape is one of the most commonly used heat sources for snakes. It is a specially designed tape in which heat elements are run inside a piece of adhesive tape which can stick to the surface you wish to heat, such as glass, wood, or rack systems. It is sold in different wattages and you should select your wattages according to your snakes environmental needs and tank size. Large cages or rack systems will need a higher wattage, and small cages need lower wattages. Heat tape must be used with a thermostat or rheostat which which is connected to the tape with clips and wires and regulates the heat levels.http://www.reptilebasics.com/flexwatt-faq.html

When using heat tape to heat a single cage remove all substrate and objects from the cage and apply heat tape securely to the inside bottom surface of the cage, covering about one third of the bottom surface. The tape should be underneath the substrate.This tape is not water resistant and could cause an electrical shock to your snake should water come in contact with the tape. Ways to prevent this are to place the water dish on the opposite side of the cage from where the tape was applied, and replace wet substrate should your snake spill its water dish. Once the tape is secured in place, plug in the thermostat or rheostat. Make sure everything is working properly and temperatures are steady, then replace the substrate and cage furnishings.

When using heat tape to heat a larger cage or rack system, you may use more than one strip of heat tape, but make sure your thermostat or rheostat is able to handle the wattage. Heat tape can be placed on any side of your cage and in larger cages you could place one on the bottom and one near the middle or top of the cage.

Heat cable is a specially designed heat source in which heat elements are placed inside an insulated coated cable. It is used as a secondary heat source and may be placed along the bottoms or sides of cages and secured in place with electrical tape. It can also be wrapped around cage furnishings such a climbing logs or basking rocks. Heat cable is more water resistant than heat tape, but is not completely waterproof so it should never be submersed in water.http://www.reptilesupply.com/product.php?products_id=689

Heat bulbs, also known as emitters, are bulbs mounted within a lamp and are used on the top of the enclosures. They provide a direct source of heat or light for your snake to bask under, as well as providing ambient heat. Heat bulbs are special light bulbs which mount into a dome lamp or clamp style lamp and can be placed on top of the enclosure lid or clamped onto the side. They should be placed outside the cage, but can be used inside, if the lamp is placed a safe distance from your snake and enclosed within a wire cage. Heat bulbs come in different wattages and emit heat for different distances. They come in packages with the distances printed on them. If your snake is a tree dweller, the lamp should be placed a proper distance from the snakes range within the cage.

Heat emitters are specially designed bulbs to emit little light through high heat waves. They should only be used with a lamp that is enclosed within a ceramic socket rated to the proper temperature, as heat emitters give off high temperatures. They also come in different wattages and should be placed outside the cage or inside only with the proper distance and barriers.

Heat mats or heat panels are square or rectangular adhesive pads designed to stick onto glass tanks. They have heat elements encased within the mat, and heat the surface that they are mounted to, thus heating the ambient air within the cage.

Heat mats are commonly known as Under Tank Heaters, in that they are used on the outside of the tank on the bottom. They can also be mounted on the side walls, but heat mats should always be placed outside of the tank and should only be used with glass cages http://www.reptiles.swelluk.com/reptile-supplies/reptile-heating-equipment-414/heat-mats-450/exo-terra-heatwave-rainforest-mat-26267.html . If using a heat mat on the bottom, you need to use a proper heat conducting substrate, or the heat will not reach the interior air within the enclosure.

As heat mats will heat the surface they are mounted on, it is possible for the glass to crack should it get water on it, so place the mat away from water dishes.

Heat panels are a mat as well, but give off more direct heat from the surface rather than heating what it is mounted to. They are also heating elements encased within a mat, but are thinner than heat mats and are designed to be mounted within the enclosure of desert environments. When placed within the cage on a side wall, they emit a heat source outwardly, heating the ambient air within the enclosure. Heat panels should be kept away from water and should be mounted on a wall above the substrate to get the maximum amount of radiated heat.