Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Does any one have anything to say about the differences between overhead basking heat lamps and undertank heat pads. i know that torts prefer the lamps to the pads, but i use so much less energy when using the pads to heat my yearling sulcata and leopard. is there any significant difference in the way a tort will develop if one source of heat is used versus another (i.e. pyramiding)? all things considered, which is better? thanks.

I've always recommended top side heating but in certain situations I use underside heating and there is no difference in development. There is a difference in behavior patterns. The top heating gives a better range for self regulation.
Ed

I think the pads are useful as a last resort for heating very
large tortoises. Overhead lighting heats the air all around
it which I think is important. It's also more natural.
I've read of concerns that using a heat pad will "bake" the
bacteria into the shell underneath which is unhealthy, and
of course we know how much poop they often have under their
shells that they're laying on. Also you will still have to
provide plenty of UV lighting which must come from overhead,
and it's very practical to use a combination bulb to provide
both heat and UV at the same time.