Undertank heater
Encyclopedia
This is a heating device created by the pet industry for husbandry of reptile
s and amphibian
s. It is a flat piece of metal and plastic similar to a heating pad
which adheres to the underside of a glass aquarium
or terrarium, which then must be slightly elevated to avoid pinching the cord.
Plugged in, undertank heaters provide even warmth under the pad. A substrate must be used, and the device should always be connected to a thermostat
or rheostat to prevent it from overheating and burning the animals.
Aquaria can also be heated by the use of heating mats which are placed beneath aquaria. Glass is, however, a poor conductor of heat and thus reduces the efficiency of this method of heating.
Undertank heaters should be checked regularly for discoloration or wear, and temperature
s should be carefully monitored as well. Malfunction in an undertank heater could result in higher temperatures which might burn or kill animals, or even start a fire.
Reptile
Reptiles are members of a class of air-breathing, ectothermic vertebrates which are characterized by laying shelled eggs , and having skin covered in scales and/or scutes. They are tetrapods, either having four limbs or being descended from four-limbed ancestors...
s and amphibian
Amphibian
Amphibians , are a class of vertebrate animals including animals such as toads, frogs, caecilians, and salamanders. They are characterized as non-amniote ectothermic tetrapods...
s. It is a flat piece of metal and plastic similar to a heating pad
Heating pad
A heating pad is a pad used for warming of parts of the body in order to manage pain. Localized application of heat causes the blood vessels in that area to dilate, enhancing perfusion to the targeted tissue...
which adheres to the underside of a glass aquarium
Aquarium
An aquarium is a vivarium consisting of at least one transparent side in which water-dwelling plants or animals are kept. Fishkeepers use aquaria to keep fish, invertebrates, amphibians, marine mammals, turtles, and aquatic plants...
or terrarium, which then must be slightly elevated to avoid pinching the cord.
Plugged in, undertank heaters provide even warmth under the pad. A substrate must be used, and the device should always be connected to a thermostat
Thermostat
A thermostat is the component of a control system which regulates the temperature of a system so that the system's temperature is maintained near a desired setpoint temperature. The thermostat does this by switching heating or cooling devices on or off, or regulating the flow of a heat transfer...
or rheostat to prevent it from overheating and burning the animals.
Aquaria can also be heated by the use of heating mats which are placed beneath aquaria. Glass is, however, a poor conductor of heat and thus reduces the efficiency of this method of heating.
Undertank heaters should be checked regularly for discoloration or wear, and temperature
Temperature
Temperature is a physical property of matter that quantitatively expresses the common notions of hot and cold. Objects of low temperature are cold, while various degrees of higher temperatures are referred to as warm or hot...
s should be carefully monitored as well. Malfunction in an undertank heater could result in higher temperatures which might burn or kill animals, or even start a fire.