While these are a safe low cost and generally effective way of providing artificial heat they re not without their weaknesses.
How to install heat mat in vivarium.
Heat pads are typically applied on the bottom or side of the vivarium.
Undertank heat mats.
When applied to the side heat pads can be an effective way of creating a horizontal heat gradient.
The problem with heat mats.
Well in this video i go through each step on how to do just that.
Place your substrate on top of the.
Most invertebrate keepers and even many snake owners use low wattage heat mats to warm their vivariums.
Connect the heat mat power cable to the heater socket on the thermostat.
If used under the tank the tank must be raised on the rubber feet provided or some other arrangement.
Helpful if you own reptiles.
They re a good way to provide gentle warmth and they heat the floor of your vivarium much like the sun would heat the ground in your reptile s natural environment.
Place the heat mat on the bottom of your vivarium on either the left or right side.
The heat mat should ideally cover one third of the floor space but as this vivarium is quite small and will be situated in a hot area we are covering a quarter of the floor.
This is called a heat mat and is one part of the heating system for this tank.
The main problem being that they only produce a gentle warmth.
In a plastic glass vivarium heat mats should go outside the cage and the heat will be emiited through the vivarium walls.
This will be the warm side.
Heat mats are used to maintain a constant temperature throughout your vivarium.
Plug your thermostat into the mains electricity source.
Basic diagram instructions for leopard gecko heating setup.
Undertank heat mats are low wattage heat mats that can be used under the tank as well as on the side of the tank.
If placed inside the vivarium under some sand or substrate your animal.
When used on the bottom they are more effective raising the overall temperature of the vivarium as they will heat any water standing in the false bottom drainage layer.