Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Ive used both now, and have heard conflicting stories on which is better.

I started out with a heatpad under one side of the tank, but it didnt really raise the temps enough, so I switched to a heat lamp. I now currently use a 60w daytime bulb which keeps the air temp around 78, and a 50w moonlight bulb for night, bringing the temps to around 75.

I just want to know the majority of this community uses. Ive heard anywhere from heatpads can burn your pacman and that heat lamps will dry him out.

When using a heat pad, remember that the substrate will be warmer than the ambient air temp, so you were probably fine. I always used a heat pad on one side of the tanks and a few inches of soil so they could find the temp they wanted. As for lights, I only used a UVB 2% fluorescent light to create photo periods and my Pac-Mans always did well. Good luck
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RFX~
3 D. auratus
2 D. leucomelas
2 D. tinctorius
1 P. adspersus "Chompy"

It's important to protect your Pacman from burns caused by heating pads. I've found it very helpful to place a piece of terrarium carpet on the glass bottom of the tank just over the heating pad, then covering the carpet with substrate. (heating pad outside tank..carpet inside)
I live in a Minn and the winters are cruel here. The heating pad worked nicely with a 40 watt daybulb then switching to a 40 watt nite light in the evening. During the winter, Vern ( my Pacman) is always buried in the soil on the heat pad. I disconnect the heat pad in the summer, sometimes using just a 15 or 25 watt day bulb for the plants. For the most part Vern does not like the heat of the summer. Despite air-conditioning, the tank gets warm ..so he mostly has just the natural light from the windows.