Exo Terra Heat Mat PT2015 Mode D'emploi page 7

3. Mark the position on the background or wall with a wax pencil or
other marker.
4. Remove the white protective backing and carefully fit the Heat Mat
to the tank wall. Do NOT remove the clear film backing on the other
side of the mat. Once in place, the Heat Mat Terrarium Substrate
Heater should not be removed.
5. Place the tank in its final location.
6. Plug in the Heat Mat Terrarium Substrate Heater.
7. Add the substrate and decorative accessories (see Substrates and
Decoration).
SUBSTRATE THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY
Material
Granite
Sandstone
Wet Desert Sand
Wet Soil
Glass
Water
Wet Peat, Bark, Coconut Fiber
Dry Desert Sand
Dry Soil
Dry Peat, Bark, Coconut Fiber
Substrates
When mounted under the tank, the Heat Mat should not be used
without a substrate in order to prevent reptiles from being burned. The
efficiency of the Heat Mat depends on the kind of substrate used and
the thickness of the layer, as some substrates are more conductive than
others (see table).
Moistened substrates increase the humidity in the tank rapidly when
heated by a Heat Mat. This is ideal for damp and warm-loving reptiles
and amphibians. Make sure to use warm (30ºC) water when adding
it to the tank to prevent cracks in the bottom glass, as it reacts to
temperature changes.
Decoration
Always place the water bowl on the opposite side of where the Heat Mat
is positioned. This prevents the water from overheating and evaporating.
Hiding boxes or caves should also be placed in the cold zone of the tank
to promote natural behavior. Reptiles seek these hiding places to cool
down and hide from warm substrates or the sun. Other decorations
like rocks or wood can be placed in the warm zone (on the Heat Mat
Substrate Heater) to create even more temperature zones.
Additional heat sources
Next to the Heat Mat several types of heating devices can be applied
to create the ideal environment. In nature heat is transferred in three
different ways from its source to the animal. Heat can be transferred by:
(W/mK)
2.90
1.70
1.55
1.50
1.38
0.60
0.33
0.21
0.20
0.08