[aSnakeLovinBabe]

the reason there is so much heat under there is because of the massive amounts of compost that are packed together, preventing the heat from espacing right away. Since the heat cant get out right away, it gradually adds up and gets warmer and warmer. that's why the surface isn't as warm as the middle, because the heat is always slowly seeping out. if you take that pile of mulch and spread it out in a thin layer on the ground, it will not feel warm because the heat can escape too quickly. You would need a very deep pile of compost in order to produce enough heat to be effective. It's a nice idea, but trust me, if it worked efficiently, people everywhere would have their reptile tanks on compost.