Heating Mats: Kane vs Zoo Med ReptiTherm® Habitat Heater

[Maro2Bear]

Greetings all

I'm looking to add a heating mat to our enclosure for our 2.5 year old 30 llb Sulcata. I know a lot of folks use and recommend Kane pig blanket/mats, but I see the Zoo Med ReptiTherm Habitat Heater is also out there. Same size, same heating wattage, half the price. The 18x18 inch Kane is $85.00 whereas the ZooMed $49.00.

Any recommendations? @Tom @Yvonne G

I'm creating a Poll for this one, so, please vote!

 

[Tom]

The Kane mats have redundant safeties built in. More safety on an electric heating device that will be under my tortoise is well worth it to me.

I run mine on a separate thermostat too.

 

[Maro2Bear]

Thanks Tom, appreciate the fast response. I know Kane is the "go to" mat for most and has a great reputation in the Ag industry.

 

[Yvonne G]

I use Osborne Industries' Stansfield heat pads. Been using them for over 30 years. I've had a few of the controllers fail, but never a pig blanket failure, except for when one of my over 200lbs tortoises broke off an edge, exposing the wire inside.

 

[Len B]

iI have no experience with the Kane or the larger ZooMed mats. I have been using Stanfield mats with great satisfaction with my larger tortoises for years. I prefer using a rheostat over a thermostat. With a thermostat it's all or nothing, 0% or 100% constantly turning off and on to keep the temps where you want them,With a rheostat whether using inside, or outside in a well insulated house you can adjust the temps to a range where you them to stay. The Stanfield mats are set to run about 30 degrees above the surrounding temps if no controller is used. A big factor in it's efficiency is the base it is setting on. Also a second heat source like an incandescent light bulb a che or oil filled heater in the enclosure or house will effect how to adjust the mat wattage which is easy using a rheostat.

 

[Subersibo]

I've been using the zoomed habitat heater along with a Radiant heat panel in my leopard's insulated outside enclosure. Both devices are connected to a reptitemp thermostat. I have it set the low 80's. So far so good. Used it since May this year.

 

[janevicki]

I have a kane mat for my two burmese black mountain torts with a heat mat thermostat by Hydrofarm . It's working great too. I think any of the heat mats and thermostats mentioned before me will be fine. I picked the kane because it was available at the right size and price when I purchased it.
Good luck and best wishes on your final choice.

 

[Big Charlie]

I'm still really confused by all the choices. I have a radiant heat panel in the roof and this thermostat: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01486LZ50/?tag=exoticpetnetw-20
You can plug two things into it and they would both go on and off depending on the temperature set. I can't figure out which Kane (or other brand) heat mat to get for the floor: one with a rheostat, one with a thermostat, or just a plain one, and whether it is smart to have them both plugged into the same controller. I think the Kane mats at Tortoise supply don't have either a rheostat or thermostat. If I get one of those, do I need to buy a separate rheostat beyond the controller I already have? Do I want to be able to set the temperature on the Kane mat to a lower or different temperature than my RHP?