Heat pads.

Hi, my viv is 21x14x13. I have 2 heat pads that is 6x11 and is 7 watts. Using one Will that reach a temp needed of 90-95? The next size up was 11x11 which would cover more than half the viv. If it'll reach that temp. I'll buy a temp control box for it.

The 6x11 7 watt should be fine. What kind of viv? Wood or glass? If wood the uth will have to go inside under your substrait. You can add layers of cardboard sheets to keep the temp proper until you get a thermostat or rheostat. Also what brand is your uth? Ultrathrm, exo terra, zoomed, flukers, t-rex cobra?

Hey, it's a wooden viv. The brand is prorep. Was the only ones they had in the shop. I needed one ASAP as I need to remove the heat rock. So I thought that would be better than nothing. If it turns out to be rubbish, I can easily get a better brand. I'll leave the cardboard out to begin with and attach my temp probe to the substrate(fake turf) the adjust as nessacery?

I recommend ditching the fake turf, once it's dirty with feces and other things, you'll never get it truly sanitized. I use paper towels, but just for the efficiency of cleaning. I, and many members do, use tiles. Both fake peel and stick and slate tiles work, and they come in many colors.

But, yes, to answer your question plug the heat mat into what you're using to control it, set it to max and then slowly adjust down to the perfect temp's between 90-95 on the warm side.

So I got tired of my exoterra heat mat fluctuating too much so I took Kermits advice and ordered an 11x11 Ultratherm heat mat so I will let you know how it goes.

The reason it fluxtuates is because you probably don't have a rheo or thermostat controlling it. It will raise and lower with the ambient temps.

I have both. MY rheostat controls the temp and my thermostat acts as a safeguard.

At the moment I use lamp dimmers to control my animal's UTH (Ball Python and a Leopard Gecko.) They were only $10 each on Amazon compared to getting something that does the same exact thing for $20 each. I hope to get full on thermostats because I'm so OCD I'm constantly checking the temps with a heat gun.

A rheostat and a light summer are the same thing for the most part. They're only different when you buy one from a herp supplier versus a hardware store.

Let me know what you think of the ultratherm. I'm sure you'll love it

I'm running a dimmer also that I got over at Home Depot for $9. I just couldn't get my exo terra to stabilize. I got the same fluctuation as I did when running the thermostat.