Quote Originally Posted by into View Post
Eeerrr... umm I use a small reptile heating pad on the side of Dumper's (WTF) tank to get the temps up to the mid 80's. I was hoping it would get up to 90, but no luck. He's sleeping on it right now. So is this a problem? I've been using it for 3 weeks now.

edit: I pulled him off the glass opposite the heater and pissed him off... he kicked at me (he doesn't like to be woken up) I snagged a thermal camera from work and his heating pad rates at 100F. Dumper's skin registers at 80F. Is that too warm for him?
The risk, especially with heating pad type units and those horrid hot rocks is failure of the thermostat. Many have no thermostat and rely solely on a single resitior in parallel to the circuit for control. Believe me when I say, the risk of failure, and even fire is high. A good rule to follow is just like with aquarium heaters- use one size smaller than what the manufacturer suggests.

I feel the safest way to use these products is to try to avoid direct contact with the animal. In Dumper's case he has the glass as an insulator, so I would not worry too much. The good thing about amphibians, unlike reptiles, is that they are often smart enough to move when they get too warm.



I am very sorry to hear of the loss of your pet, Tyler. (Do not tell anyone, but I get pretty choked up, even by normal, natural losses.)