Do heating mats need a thermostat?

[Josh P.]

Hello everyone.

Do heating mats need a thermostat in a leopard gecko terrarium?

A product like Exo Terra Heat Wave Desert (Medium) 26.5x28cm.

Thanks in advance.

 

[marauderhex]

They are helpful. I use a rheostat on my heat mats combined with an IR temp gun, that way I don't have to run temp probes into all of my enclosures.

 

[Designer Geckos]

Hello everyone.

Do heating mats need a thermostat in a leopard gecko terrarium?

A product like Exo Terra Heat Wave Desert (Medium) 26.5x28cm.

Thanks in advance.

Absolutely. UTHs can vary in temp from 90-135! You need to use a stat and a good digital themometer to validate your temp. We like the 90-93 range for our warm hide surfaces.

 

[Dakota314]

Either a rheostat or a thermostat are definitly needed. I use rheostats on all my tanks, and in my opinion they work just as well as thermostats, you just need to slightly turn them up or down sometimes, unlike thermostats that you can leave alone.

 

[Josh P.]

I asked since I have used Exo Terra heating mats before on my snakes and the temperatures weren't high enough to require the need for a thermostat. They are always on, one of them for over 7 years.

 

[GeckoGathering]

Heat Control

I asked since I have used Exo Terra heating mats before on my snakes and the temperatures weren't high enough to require the need for a thermostat. They are always on, one of them for over 7 years.

This won't be the first time I'm "out opinionated."
8 years hobbyist, as many as 40's geckos.
Never used reo or therm and geckos seem to thrive eating.
Never a burn issue.
Heat always on.
Probably a bit about the set up comes into play.
All glass housing here, individual UTH, with tanks resting on open aired
braided wire shelves. Habitats give the geckos many choices
for control of temps, as they have tile/slate/rock in many locations.
Temp gun supports hot at 90 to 103 with never a problem.
Room temperature fairly constant year round.
Take care. HJ ​

 

[Josh P.]

Thanks a lot for presenting another view, HJ. Much appreciated.

Considering the setups I also use all glass terrariums with individual UTHs.

Is anyone in here experienced enough with the Desert and Forest UTHs from Exo Terra to know how much degrees each of them normally reaches? I might do some testing on this soon, but right now I can't.

 

[TranceZ]

Id use one just to be safe you can also use a dimmer switch too i used a dimmer switch on my heat mat back when i had a tank kept the temps consistant