The ReptiRad is designed to be used without a guard. Testing showed guards act as a heat soak — absorbing output, forcing the panel to work harder, and creating a hot surface animals can climb on and get caught in. The panel’s ultra-slim profile (~18.5 mm) makes it very hard for animals to grip or wrap.As long as you don't have a basking site directly below the heat panel that is close enough the reptile can flex their body and hold against the heat panel it won't be burned

Use the screws to match the holes in your model: if it has 4 holes, use 4; if it has 6 holes, use all 6.

Place the probe directly beneath the panel to simulate ambient air temp. As a guide:

• 2 ft tall viv: ~3" off the substrate
• 3 ft tall viv: ~5–7" off the substrate
• 4 ft tall viv: ~8–12" off the substrate

Yes — always. Use a dimming or pulse-proportional thermostat with all ReptiRad panels.

Set up and run your enclosure 24 hours before introducing your animal. Turn on lights, heating, and equipment to allow temps to stabilize and make any adjustments.

Use this chart as a quick guide for enclosure sizing:

Note: Suggestions above are based on warm room conditions. Cooler environments or constant temperature fluctuations may require a larger heat panel to maintain consistent enclosure temperatures.

No. ReptiRad is designed as a from-above heat source.

Maybe — check your thermostat manufacturer’s maximum load capacity first.

Yes. The panel is IP64 rated: dust-tight and splash-proof from any direction.

When used as designed, ReptiRad is extremely safe. Panels are ETL and CE certified and manufactured in Italy to high standards.