Things To Consider
Size
As you’d expect, the size of your reptile heating pad is important if you want to effectively keep your scaly wee friend nice and warm!
You’ll need to consider the size of their vivarium/terrarium and also the reptile themselves when browsing for heat mats, as it needs to fit onto the enclosure and be large enough to create sufficient change in the atmosphere or create a warm spot for your reptile to rest their whole body on.
Wattage
Heating mats and reptile equipment can have serious effects on your leccy bill as they often require a heck of a lot of power consumption!
That’s why it’s important to pay attention to the amount of wattage a heat mat consumes as you ideally want something that provides a good balance between performance and cost.
But crucially you need to do some research about how much wattage your mat needs to be able to provide the correct amount of heat for your pet.
The wattage usually increases along with the size of a mat, but don’t assume low wattage means low performance – weigh up the features related to power consumption and decide if it’s the mat for you!
Mat Position
Where you plan on placing a mat can often have an effect on your final decision for purchase.
While most owners simply stick them to the floor of the enclosure, some burrowing reptiles benefit more from the pad being placed on the side of the enclosure. You then need to work out what size of mat will fit into the space you have chosen.
Mats are stuck down with a peel-off sticky back adhesive and so they can’t be moved around multiple times, so make sure you nail down where the best position is and stick with it – literally!
Price
Price is often affected by size and wattage, but even for the biggest most powerful heating mats, you shouldn’t really ever be spending over £40 for a good quality product. Similarly, it’s probably not too wise to pay less than £10, as you’re likely purchasing an inferior product in terms of heat output and material quality!
Thermostat
Standard reptile mats often don’t come with thermostats but they are still a necessary function.
They can help regulate temperature and prevent overheating in a reptile’s enclosure as well as allow you to fine-tune the exact measurement of heat your specific pet needs. So if a reptile heating mat includes a thermostat in the package – it’s automatically a better bet!
Recommended Heating For Your Reptile
From all your extensive research you should hopefully already know what level of heat your reptile requires to thrive, but if you’re a beginner still in the early stages of reptile terrarium cultivation, here are some of the figures you need to know!
Ball python: Day Temp – 82 to 86°F, Evening Temp – 72 to 78°F
Boa: Day Temp – 80 to 85°F (For Basking)
Bearded dragon: Day Temp – 85 to 95°F, Evening Temp – 68 to 77°F
Chameleon: 75 to 77°F, no lower than 60°F at night
Corn snake: 78 to 82°F
Crested gecko: 72 to 82°F (only need a heating pad if it’s cold in your house)
Leopard gecko: 77 to 85°F
