Another HEAT question

I live in buffalo NY and due to the cheap homeowner of the aptartment of which I live my main room is as cold as 62 degrees F in the winter months, and winter lasts a while here!! I know not to put a heating pad underneath the enclosure and my current heating source is actually from being nearby a ceramic heating element that I'm currently using for my ball python. While this creates a warm area and I'm sure heating pads placed behind an enclosure provide a warm "area", they hardly keep the rest of the ambient air in the enclosure where it should be. Should I be concerned with keeping the entire enclosures ambient air warm or is it not absolutely crucial? I mean, I don't think I'd be comfortable if I was at a cozy 80 degrees and a sudden draft of 60 blew in whenever I enter to feed and change water. Species is Pandinus Cavimanus. What say you?

Well heat mats are great for ambient temp as well - but the thing everyone forgets is that you need to buy the right one.
Buy an exo-terra heat mat and it will be exo-terri-ble. Likewise with some others.

I'd recommend buying an appropriately sized heat mat by the brand "habistat". Stick one of those on the back side of your tank and you'll be fine.

Otherwise, another option would be to invest in an infra-red bulb.

Thanks..I may end up running both and I actually already have a bulb in hand.Just not keen on leaving it on for the long periods I'm not home,even if on a timer,due to fire hazards.

Do you recommend the heat mat be on a thermostat? If so,what kind have you had success with? I'm running a Herpstat PRO for my snakes but I don't have any additional outlets available.

I use a "mat-stat" thermostat by "livingearth" for my leopard gecko but have never needed to use one for any of my scorps.
Also, when choosing mat size, its better to get one slightly too big than too small. You're looking for it to cover around 2/3 of the back side of the tank.

OK..very helpful! these creatures are easier to keep than I'd ever imagine!!

Whats wrong with the Exo Terra HP? I use a small one on my 15GL for my Leo Gecko and it doesnt seem to give off much heat. Whats the difference with the one you recommended?

Nev wrote:

Whats wrong with the Exo Terra HP? I use a small one on my 15GL for my Leo Gecko and it doesnt seem to give off much heat. Whats the difference with the one you recommended?

lol you kinda answered your own question there, they are rubbish and dont give off enough heat the others tend to be much better quality and reach better temps, however i still find a heat lamp works much better myself

Great... Now to get another heat pad and somehow rip off the old ExoTerrible (for my Gecko).

ya it stays about 68 in my house and i got a large tank to warm... i use a combo of heat pad(largest size) with an infra red and it gets about 84-86 in my tank on warm side and 78-80 on cool side.