| Q: I'm confused about what kind of heater to buy. | | | | better off (and so is your pet) if you purchase |
| Where do I start? | | | | heating and lighting rather than trying to rely on |
| A: Always start with your pet. Every pet needs | | | | sunshine. Of course, you could take your pet out into |
| something different. Once you know how much and | | | | the sunshine for a walk, but there's that whole leash |
| what type of heat your pet needs, then you can | | | | problem we just haven't conquered yet. |
| look at the different ways to provide heat to see | | | | Q: Can I use a regular light bulb to provide heat for |
| what will make your pet happiest. | | | | my pet snake? |
| Q: What's the best kind of heater for keeping tropical | | | | A: Maybe. Regular incandescent lights do produce |
| fish in an aquarium? | | | | more heat than light. However, it's hard to get one |
| A: The best kind of aquarium heater for tropical fish | | | | to produce just the temperature range you need. |
| is (a) from a quality manufacturer, and (b) comes | | | | Secondly, your pet continues to need heat even |
| with a built-in thermostat to regulate the | | | | when it doesn't need light, so you'll need a heater for |
| temperature. After that, choosing a heater is mostly | | | | nighttime anyway. Additionally, if your pet snake |
| a matter of personal preference and budget. If you | | | | needs UV light, you'll need a bulb that produces UV |
| have a lot of money invested in plants and animals, | | | | light. |
| it's a good idea to have an emergency submersible or | | | | Q: Do I have to worry about my fish swimming into |
| immersible heater on hand. | | | | my aquarium heater? |
| Q: My pet lizard likes to bask under his heat light, but | | | | A: Contrary to that animated movie about the |
| he stays there all day. What could be going on? | | | | missing fish you may have seen, fish rarely find their |
| A: Most lizards like to bask, but if your pet is staying | | | | way into any heating or filtration system. Fish are not |
| there all day, you're right to think something is amiss. | | | | drawn to heat like other animals, say reptiles, are, |
| Most reptiles bask after eating for help digesting their | | | | and are unlikely to do any serious investigation of the |
| food, and there have been reports of reptiles who | | | | heater except as a place to hide behind. Additionally, |
| have been suffering from metabolic bone disease | | | | the levels of heat produced by an aquarium heater |
| spending additional time basking in UVB light as they | | | | for fish do not rival the intense heat produced by |
| were healing. In what you're describing, chances are | | | | some basking lights for reptiles. |
| either the basking light isn't putting out enough heat, | | | | Q:Any special advice for cleaning an aquarium or |
| or the rest of the cage is too cool. Time to use your | | | | reptile heater? |
| trusty thermometer and replace anything that isn't | | | | A: First, unplug the heater and leave it to cool for a |
| working properly. If the temperature is OK, then | | | | minimum of 15 minutes before you touch it or |
| your pet may be ill; check with your veterinarian. | | | | remove it from the aquarium. Use a cleaner that will |
| Q: I have a room that gets lots of natural sunlight | | | | be safe for your pet, and rinse thoroughly afterward. |
| during the day. Can I put my pet snake in that room | | | | Always inspect the heater and cord for damage |
| and let the sunshine heat the cage? | | | | before reinstalling it into the aquarium. Most aquarium |
| A: Sure you can, but you will closely need to monitor | | | | heaters used for fish do not need much cleaning, just |
| the cage to prevent overheating. Additionally, natural | | | | a simple wipe with a clean cloth. To avoid shattering, |
| sunlight that shines through glass or plastic will not | | | | be especially careful to let submersible or immersible |
| provide the UVB light your pet snake needs, so you'll | | | | heaters made from glass cool completely before |
| need an additional light source as well. Overall, you're | | | | removing them from the water. |