[drache]

Thanks James and Roy for all the good info on heat mats
the reason I'm looking into this is partially for energy efficiency
right now mostly for my non-garters, who don't bask
I too like giving the garters warmth that comes from above, like the sun does
they seem to appreciate it and with the branches I give them they can choose how close they want to get
the bulb is always in a dome fixture sitting on top of the screen top, so there's no danger of a snake getting any closer than the hot screen
I do set it up that the hottest spot, calibrated for their top range, is at the highest basking spot in the tank
the coolest spot is usually somewhere beyond the water dish
with that much ventilation it's not that difficult to maintain a cool end
I also don't worry about night time temps, since they live in our appartment
it's a terribly wasteful system, though
also
there are a couple of tanks I'd like to turn on their sides and then the heat through the glass thing . . . - too risky
so I need to learn about some other options
I'd also like to learn more about other heat producing bulbs, that might be more energy efficient
I think that I get more focussed heat out of the spot bulbs than a regular household bulb
but what about mercury vapor and halogen?
I know nothing about them, but I believe they're more efficient as well, but is that in terms of heat or light?