Will a reptile heating pad melt plastic?
I have heard a lot about reptile heating pads and how they keep reptiles warm.
I also know people who have them for their pets to make sure they don’t freeze during the winter.
This blog post will take a look at whether or not a reptile heating pad will melt plastic, which seems like it would be pretty dangerous.
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Will a Reptile Heating Pad Melt Plastic?
So, will a reptile heating pad melt plastic? It depends on the type of reptile heating pad you use.
There are three types of reptile heating pads made on the market, but only two work properly.
The first one melts plastic and is not recommended by us at all because it has major risks associated with its use.
The second type breaks down into carbon monoxide, which is another dangerous gas that can kill your pet due to build-up in the terrarium.
Even though this sounds very bad, if you know how to install it, there aren’t any dangers for pets!
The third type of heater, however, does NOT work properly! It doesn’t melt plastic or emit, but it DOES break down into carbon monoxide after some time.
It is very dangerous to use because the carbon monoxide build-up in your terrarium can kill any living organism.
Can I Use a Reptile Heating Pad in a Plastic Cage?
Reptile heating pads are equipped with a temperature controller that should prevent them from melting plastic.
If your reptile under-tank heater melts plastic, it means that the temperature controller doesn’t work properly and you should not use it to avoid any risks.
If, for some reason, you still want to use a reptile under-tank heater in a terrarium made of plastic, we recommend using a ceramic infrared heating panel instead.
The panel is much safer because even if it breaks, it does not release dangerous gases into the terrarium.
Temperature Variations in Summer and Winter
- Summer: maxium 28°C, minimum 18°C
- Winter: maximum 22°C, minimum 10° to 12°C
There is no unwanted light penetration in such enclosures because all windows are opacified, which means that windows could have been made of any transparent material including glass, perspex, Plexi, etc.
If a terrarium is small enough, then one can go for manual control over temperature, which means that the heater is switched on when required.
But for larger aquariums, one can have a thermostat and thermometer installed to achieve better control over temperature. In such cases, it will be better to use an incandescent lamp as these give out heat even if they are not glowing brightly.
For those who would like to go in for fluorescent lamps, then the only option is of installing ceramic electrical heaters because normal fluorescent lamps do not produce any significant amount of heat and thus cannot serve as a good source of heating.
This is because the main reason behind using a terrarium/aquarium is to provide natural habitat conditions similar to those found in forests on Earth.
These enclosures will make your plants happy!
What Reptile Heating Pad Mats Are Available?
There are two types of these heated pads: They can either be made of thin metal or a thick plastic that is several millimeters in height.
The metal type is more efficient, but it has some disadvantages, too. Reptile heating pad mats made of metal can be quite large and some species may not like it.
The wire, on the other hand, is easily bent and you should pay attention to that. If your reptile’s any part of its body touches the sheet, it will get hurt!
The plastic ones are not as efficient, but still suitable for all lizards and snakes.
Usually, the underside of these mats is covered with a thin layer of aluminum foil to make sure that your pet can’t touch the heating element.
When you’re getting a new reptile mat for your terrarium, you should pick one that is large enough to cover most of the area inside it.
In that way, your pet will stay comfortable and you will save electricity.
The best place for the mat is next to the glass, preferably right in front of it, so that your reptile can see its favorite decoration from a really close distance without any obstacles interfering.
How Much Does a Reptile Heating Pad Cost?
This depends on the manufacturer, the size, and the features of the heating pad.
A large reptile heating pad can be worth up to $100 while there are smaller models that you can buy for under $10.
This heating pad is ideal for turtles (for example, red-eared terrapin) because it has a special plastic coating. The ‘heat’ comes from the bottom of the cage and warms up all four sides of the aquarium.
It can be placed directly under the water. But this is not necessary if you use an aquarium heater.
I use the Aspen Pet Heating Pad LWH20 for my turtles and it’s great. Since I often neglect to turn off the heater, I appreciate the fact that these pads (for reptiles) come with a high and low or automatic switch-off function.
You can place it underneath your aquarium glass about 15 centimeters from the animal. With some animals, such as tortoises and turtles, you can also put it directly on the floor of your aquarium (for example, under substrate).
For lizards and snakes, I use a thin heating pad that is about 15 centimeters long and 2 centimeters thick.
It costs less than $10 and is often available in the pet store. Before you buy a heating pad for your reptile, make sure that the mat is not too thin or thick. Otherwise, your animal might burn or freeze.
For smaller animals such as geckos and lizards, you can also use a small heat mat with a cord wrapped around it. Just place it under the perch or directly under the vivarium.
Note that it is also very useful for small animals to have a temperature gradient in their enclosure so they can regulate their body temperature themselves.
For example, place the heating mat at one end of the terrarium and put some branches on top of it so your pet has a choice.
How to Install a Reptile Under-tank Heater?
Heating pads do NOT work properly if not installed correctly! The most important thing is to make sure that it is completely covered by the substrate. If there is a gap, carbon monoxide will be able to build up in the terrarium and kill your reptiles.
The most common mistake is when people don’t use the thermostat at all! A heating pad can be used without any additional equipment, but it will often overheat the terrarium and you will have to replace your reptile under-tank heater very soon.
The second major mistake is putting a mat underneath the tank.
If installed incorrectly, carbon monoxide build-up may occur because there are still gaps for CO to get inside your terrarium.
The last fatal installation error occurs if you put a heating pad on the walls of your terrarium instead of underneath it. This way, even if installed correctly, carbon monoxide build-up can still happen due to non-uniform heating in the terrarium.
How to Heat a Plastic Terrarium?
Plastic aquariums have become a popular substitute for terrariums because they are very easy to clean and maintain.
But it becomes difficult to heat a plastic terrarium, especially during winter, because of the low conductivity of plastic.
In such cases, one has to install a heater within the tank or use other means to keep the temperature constant.
A simple method is to put sand at the bottom, which can trap some amount of heat from the lamp and also provide favorable microclimate conditions for plants growing in the sand substrate.
It should be kept in mind that sand cannot make up more than 1/3rd of the total volume as this will create anaerobic conditions leading to the death of the plants.
Apart from this, one can place a large rock at the surface, which can trap solar radiation and release heat slowly.
The light intensity required for heating the terrarium is low as most plants will not grow or flower under such conditions.
This means that wattage should be around 40 to 50W, although it depends upon the type and location of the lamp used.
The temperature should range from 22° to 26°C during winters and fall down to 18°C in summers but can go as high as 28°C if proper ventilation is provided for cooler air to enter the tank.
The best option would be to use a cholesteric liquid crystal display (CLCD) heater having a relatively small wattage available in the market since these produce almost negligible heat and can be placed inside the tank without getting hot.
Any other heater should be kept at least 20 centimeters away from plants, and land areas should not be heated directly by the bulb since it will provide an extremely hot spot that will cause damage to the roots of terrestrial orchids.
Are Thermostats Suitable for All Reptiles?
Thermostats are not suitable for all reptiles.
If you want to set the temperature of your pet’s terrarium at 29°C, 27°C, or 26°C, you’ll need to buy a separate thermostat for it.
Their problem is that they are too precise and often regulate the heating pad below or above the required temperature. It can be quite frustrating if you wake up early in the morning and see that the heating pad is switched off.
Reptile heating pad mats are much more suitable for your reptile’s needs because they heat it evenly and won’t allow the temperature to go below/above what you set it at.
Although, you should not set them above 40°C! If you have a snake or lizard species that need warmth, you should not use a reptile heating pad mat with your pet.
Reptile heating pad mats can be used together with thermostats and heat controllers and they give them more control over the temperature than if you just use one or another of them separately.
You can also buy a dual probe controller, which would allow you to regulate the heating pad and ambient temperature at the same time.
Conclusion
Will a reptile heating pad melt plastic?
Don’t worry, a reptile heating pad is not going to melt your plastic. The heat from the pad will help keep them warm but it won’t be enough to generate that much heat and cause any damage to their enclosure or toys.
It’s best if you use an appropriate judgment on how long they should stay in front of the heater, though, because every animal has different needs for warmth and comfort!
In general, we recommend 5 to 10 minutes at a time with breaks between sessions. If you have any other questions about using a reptile heating pad, don’t hesitate to reach out!
