Terrarium animals, whether in rainforest or desert terrariums, have one thing in common: they only feel really comfortable at temperatures above the average room temperature. When simulating the natural habitats of your animals, the heat in the terrarium is an important factor to consider. The appropriate technology exists for raising the temperature to the right level for each individual animal. You can find heating equipment for terrariums in our online shop from manufacturers such as  ZooMed, Hagen and Exo Terra.

Ideally, the terrarium heater or the heating medium simulates a day/night temperature gradient during the course of the day corresponding to the natural habitat of the animals. Corresponding information can be sought using the weather information of the countries of origin. Some examples of the temperature requirements of popular terrarium animals:

• Bearded dragon: day 30 – 35°C, night 18 – 20°C
• Tarantula: day 26 – 28°C, night 21°C
• Corn snake: day 25 – 28°C, night 24 – 26°C
• Leopard gecko: day 28 – 30 °C, night 18 – 23 °C
• Emperor scorpion: day 29 – 31°C, night 20°C
• Panther chameleon: day 28 – 32°C, night <18°C

These examples illustrate the sometimes considerable temperature fluctuations that are fundamental for the health and well-being of the animals.

You need a terrarium heater to create the desired temperatures. In our online shop, you can find various heat sources for keeping reptiles warm in the terrarium:

• Heat radiator: A heat lamp for the terrarium is not an artificial sun. As an infrared radiant heater, a terrarium heat lamp does not emit visible light, but heat.
• Ceramic radiant heater and certain daylight lamps are also common sources of heat in the terrarium.
• Heating mats: A heating mat is not placed inside the terrarium, but below it, or for tree-dwelling animals at the side of the terrarium. This setup is generally not recommended, as the reptiles like to burrow in when seeking protection from heat. At most one-third of the floor area should be covered with such a mat, if at all. In addition, the animals need a reduction in heat at night. Therefore a heat lamp or spotlight is always better for the terrarium than a heating mat to provide species-appropriate heating for reptiles.

You can control the performance of your terrarium heater or heating element with thermostats and thermometers. Continuous monitoring is absolutely necessary to prevent heat peaks or overheating of the terrarium due to a malfunction that has gone unnoticed. In addition, the animals must always be able to escape the heat and retreat to a cooler zone of the terrarium, if it becomes too hot for any reason. Even desert dwellers like bearded dragons like to escape the midday heat by being buried or in the shade.