Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi, i am preparing for the arrival of 1.1 Leopard Geckos and i want to be completely set up before they get here. So I have read up on their habitats, and i got myself an undertank heater. Everybody says to control the heater with a rheostat... what size and type do i need? I know nothing about electronic components. How do i attach it? Next thing that comes to mind is; If i can control the temperature of my undertank heater with a rheostat, why can't i prevent burns from a hotrock with one? I have an old zoomed heatrock, which i have been told not to use because they can cause burns, but if i put a rheostat on it, couldn't it be used at a lower temperature? Thanks alot for your help!

K!LOS

I use an inline slide dimmer switch that I got at home depot for $14. You just cut the cord, stick the ends in and push down the locks and it's installed. They seem to work really well so far. I've been using them for about 2mos.
I think the problem with the hot rocks are that they heat unevenly. Just throw it away and resist the temptation. I threw away about nine of them a few years ago and I'm glad I did. Once you see an animal that's been burned and scarred by them, you'll never risk them again.

Don't forget with an UTH you are heatting the glass that will transfer heat to your substrate. Then your temp. can be read at the surface of your substrate. This heat will be nice and even above the UTH. The rocks don't allow for the heat to work by conduction so you really can't keep a reading of your temp on the rock. One spot maybe 90 another spot maybe well over 100. Don't risk it.
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Have a Nice Day
Andy
www.thegeckosecho.com