Match heat to behaviour
Bearded dragons and water dragons bask under the sun, so overhead light-and-heat mimics nature. Pythons often take heat from warm surfaces and like a gentle overhead source. Thick-tailed and knob-tailed geckos come out at night and do well with a warm floor zone.
The thermostat is not optional
Every heater can overheat an enclosure on a hot Brisbane afternoon. Dimming thermostats suit visible lamps; pulse or on/off thermostats suit ceramic heaters, deep heat projectors and mats. Fix the probe where the animal actually sits, and check with a separate thermometer.
Guards and clearances
- Cage any overhead heater the animal can reach — pythons especially.
- Use ceramic lamp holders rated for the wattage.
- Never put a heat mat under deep substrate without a thermostat.