The most commonly seen products
are heating pads or mats, heat rocks, and heat
lamps. Heating mats are a great heat source, if
used correctly. They sometimes need to be plugged
in to a thermostat to create the correct
temperature.
Using a good digital thermometer to
measure temps will help you decide if you need a
thermostat. Heat mats work well under glass or
plastic terrariums, but with a wood cage it will
need to be placed inside the cage, which will
affect the temperature created by the heat mat. It
will create a warmer temperature, since the heat
is not being conducted through the floor of the
cage.
Some heat mats can even be placed on the
side or ceiling of the cage to warm the air in the
cage. Make sure you read the directions on the mat
you buy and use it correctly. Misuse can cause
damage to the wiring and create a fire hazard.
Also make sure to routinely check the temperatures
in the cage, to make sure nothing has changed.
Sometimes room temps can affect the way heat mats
work, and if they get too warm they can burn your
reptile. Heat mats are especially good for
terrestrial animals that would normally get some
of their warmth from sun-warmed rocks or ground.
These include most snakes, and some lizards.
Research your animal’s needs and natural habitat
to get an idea of how they regulate their body
temperature in the wild.
Heat lamps are also
a good way to warm a cage, especially for arboreal
species, and to create a basking area. Again, they
may need to be plugged in to a thermostat, but you
can also try different wattages to achieve the
temperatures your reptile needs. There are a lot
of fancy basking bulbs on the market that claim
they are good for species that need UV light, but
in reality only self-ballasted mercury vapor
lights produce any usable UV light. These are much
more expensive than standard lights, but are a
great way to provide UV light for species that
need it, like most diurnal lizards, and turtles
and tortoises. If your reptile does not need UV,
or you choose to provide UV with a separate
fluorescent bulb, then a heat lamp can be as
simple as a chicken brooder lamp or a shop lamp
with a ceramic socket, and a standard household
incandescent bulb.
The incandescent reptile bulbs
on the market are mostly just nicely colored bulbs
and do not really affect the reptile other than to
warm it. Night time bulbs, which are usually red
or black, can be useful to warm the cage at night
without disturbing the animal’s normal day/night
cycle. There are also ceramic heat emitters
available, which are ceramic elements that produce
heat, but no light. These are good for animals
that need extra heat at night. With all these
products, be careful that your reptile cannot come
into contact with the heat source. They can cause
serious burns, and should be placed outside the
cage, or behind a screen or other barrier if used
inside the cage. Make sure you test the
temperature of anything your animal can come into
contact with before placing your pet in the cage.
If it’s too hot for you to touch, it can burn
your reptile.
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