Reptilearium heaters are an important part of any reptile tank. The best choices are usually reptile basking bulbs, Reptile heat pads and under-the-sink heaters. Reptile heat pads provide warm, glowing heat directly above the animal. They are ideal for heating your pets immediately before or after coming out of the water or recovering from an activity. And the warmth they provide keeps your iguana or snake comfortable and active all day long.
While most reptile heating pads come with pre-installed bulbs, it’s a good idea to choose a brand that is compatible with the pet’s natural heat. A good Reptile Heating Pad will have a minimum of a wattage rating and will be rated by the number of hours it takes to heat the average sized reptile. You should find a pad that is rated by the number of hours it takes to warm the water. This will ensure that you purchase a pad that can adequately heat the water without over-heating it. Also, a Reptile Heating Pad that has a high wattage rating and can hold a reasonable number of bulbs will give you many hours of continuous light so your pet will not go unnoticed during daytime.
Once you’ve chosen a reptile heating pad and researched its wattage ratings and its bulb type, you should learn as much about your pet as possible. Identify if your pet is cold-blooded or warm-blooded. Cold-blooded animals must maintain a certain temperature in order to function normally. Reptiles with warm-blooded genes retain warmer temperatures than cold-blooded animals. In a properly controlled environment, your pet can remain at a comfortable temperature for a very long time, allowing you to enjoy a long life together.
You should also choose a reptile heating pad that is made of a hypoallergenic rubber or latex. These types of pads are generally preferred by most pet owners. This is due to the fact that the rubber feet allow the pad to adhere to the bottom of the terrarium or other acrylic containers that your pet will be kept in. The rubber feet allow the bottom of the pad to conform to the shape of the container, preventing the bottom of the pad from becoming loose and thus allowing the adhesive side of the pad to adhere to the bottom of the container. Proper adhesion is important because if the adhesive wears away from repeated use, your pet may soak in the adhesive and become sick.
The next thing you need to consider when purchasing a reptile heating pad is whether to purchase a model with a temperature knob or one without a temperature knob. With a temperature knob, you can set the temperature of your pet will be heated to. Without a temperature knob, you will need to constantly monitor the temperature in order to make sure that it is safe for your pets. Some reptiles do require a certain temperature in order to thrive, so having a temperature knob is very important to these pets.
Durability is another factor to consider when choosing a reptile heating pad or a nichrome heating unit. Both units are made of heavy duty materials, but the heaters used by veterinarians are often covered with a tarp and are placed inside of terrariums. Reptiles can be placed anywhere in the terrariums, but these units do require more maintenance than many of the smaller models used for warmters. Many times a reptile owner will clean out all of their terrariums and replace the units once a year, but owners of amphibians or other non-interactive pets may not have this much responsibility.
Reptiles also require a high wattage bulb in order to function properly. Many times, reptile heating pad models will be labeled with the watts required for the unit itself and the wattage needed for the bulbs within it. The higher the wattage rating on the unit, the warmer the pad will get. Some people will choose a lower wattage bulb in order to save money, but these people usually end up purchasing a pad with a shorter lifespan due to the fact that the lights are not as bright as they could be for the amount of energy it requires. It is always a good idea to check the specs on any reptile heating pad or bulb before purchasing it to ensure that it will adequately provide warmth without being too costly.
Many times, owners will purchase a reptile heating pad instead of a larger heater simply because it is a smaller unit that they can place next to their aquarium for convenience. A larger heater will take up more room than a smaller one, but not all reptile owners can afford to place a larger unit next to their home. A smaller pad is much easier to store, which is great if you do not have a dedicated space for an aquarium. In order to maintain the proper temperatures, it is best to turn the heater on and off several times throughout the day, just like a large electric heater. If you use a Reptilizer with a thermostat, it will be very helpful, but there are times when we want to turn it on only when we feel it is necessary.
