Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am going to be getting a vision cage for some leopard geckos I will be getting soon. I was wondering what is the best way to heat this from under the tank? One of those Zoo Med Stick on UTH, Flexwatt Tape, Ultratherm Under Tank Heater? I dont want to burn the thing or melt it. I also use a small layer sand over wich I use tiles for substrate. I dont want to use sand where they can eat it but I dont want to use paper towels. At least the tile looks somewhat natural. Your ideas on how to best heat the cage.

All of the different heat pads work great.

It is always best to use a thermostat to control the power to the heat pad to control your temps.

Running the pads full blast is asking for problems.

My concern is if I use say a Zoo Med UTH, because I put a thin layer of sand then use tiles that the UTH will melt or burn the cage. I have a Herpstat II wich I will be useing with this cage. I need to use 2 pads to get the proper area covered. Is there a problem with uneven heating if I use a large and small UTH combined to get the proper area covered? I dont mean stacking them on top of eachother but putting them next to eachother, or should I find a brand that 2 equal sized pads will cover the required area?

I wouldn't heat up the entire cage.

I would heat up a portion of it to create a thermogradient.

As long as you put the thermostat probe near the heated area, you will be able to control the heat.

I am also concerned if I get another vision cage and stack them and they are both useing UTH will the heater warp or burn the top of the one that the other is stacked on.

Stacking them is no problem as long as you use the thermostat.

Is flexwatt not recomended or a bad idea? I ask because with that I can get the sized area I want heated without useing stick on UTH and they will wind up getting bent on parts or they would be sticking out. If its going to melt, burn or be a bad idea I will stick to somethign else. I do have a thermostat.

Flexwatt works fine as long as you use a thermostat.