New at Pangea: The Reptile Systems Eco Mini Heater

Reptile Systems Eco Mini Heater: Compact Heat for Small Enclosures

Reptile Systems just launched the Eco Mini Heater product line, and for a limited time, it's available exclusively at Pangea Reptile. We've been loving it as a heat source for smaller enclosures and for creating a gentle heat gradient for species that don't need strong basking bulbs. Here's a closer look at what makes it stand out and how we use it.

What Makes the Eco Mini Heater Great?

The Eco Mini Heater is an extension of the Reptile Systems Eco Halogen line. It uses the same 25W and 50W filaments as the Eco Halogens but swaps the focused reflector bulb for a low-profile, low-output fixture.

The fixture measures just 4" x 4" x 1.5", so it fits comfortably on small enclosures like the Exo Terra Pro X-Small Tall or Pangea's Small Arboreal PVC enclosure while still leaving room for a heat gradient. It's also the same height as Reptile Systems' Eco Pro T5 UVB fixtures, making it a good fit for setups where a traditional dome takes up too much headroom, such as baker's rack setups or stacked enclosures.

Because of its low output, you may not need a thermostat to reach safe, healthy temperatures, depending on the species and enclosure size. As a halogen light, it can also be used with a dimming thermostat for added safety. Halogen lights have the added benefit of providing IR-A and IR-B, similar to the sun.

Each Eco Mini Heater comes with one filament in the wattage you choose. When that filament eventually burns out, you can easily replace it with an affordable Eco Halogen filament.

How We Use the Eco Mini Heater

We primarily use the Eco Mini Heater in two ways: as a primary heat source for small enclosures, and to create heat gradients for reptiles in larger enclosures.

Small enclosures

For small enclosures, we typically use a 25W heater positioned toward the back of the enclosure. Depending on the enclosure height, we also pair it with a dimming thermostat for safety. Within the full lighting setup, we place it close to an appropriate UVB bulb so the animal can bask in heat and UVB as it likes.

We like this setup for juvenile crested geckos, small mourning gecko colonies, and chameleon geckos. Results will vary based on ambient temperature, humidity, and decor, but we see temperatures of around 91°F directly next to the fixture, 81°F about 2" below it, and 73°F at the bottom of the enclosure. This is a safe vertical temperature gradient for these geckos.

Larger arboreal enclosures

For larger arboreal enclosures, we also tend to use a 25W heater, since arboreal geckos can get much closer to the fixture than terrestrial animals can. We position it in a back corner near the UVB light so the geckos can regulate their temperature both vertically and horizontally.

In these larger enclosures, heat from the Eco Mini Heater typically doesn't reach the bottom, so temperatures at substrate level usually sit around 69°F, depending on your ambient temperature. We'd use this setup for adult New Caledonian geckos, larger mourning gecko colonies, and some chameleon species.

Larger terrestrial enclosures

For larger terrestrial enclosures, we use a 50W heater instead. This provides a temperature gradient for species that like a warm basking spot but don't need a lot of extra heat. In these setups, we'd mount the heater inside the enclosure, which lets it sit a bit closer to the ground since there's less concern about the reptile getting too close.

As with the arboreal setup, we'd pair it with appropriate UVB toward one end of the enclosure to provide heat and UVB in a single basking spot or warm hide that your reptile can move in and out of. Depending on the distance between the fixture and the basking spot, this setup can create a warm zone between 80 and 95°F.

Reptiles we'd recommend the 50W for include leopard geckos, hognose snakes, ball pythons, and kingsnakes. All of these species need additional heat, but you don't want their enclosures getting too hot, which makes the Eco Mini Heater a great choice.

Get Your Eco Mini Heater Today

Whether you're heating a small enclosure, building a gentle gradient for arboreal geckos, or creating a warm basking spot for a terrestrial species, the Eco Mini Heater delivers reliable, low-profile heat in a fixture that fits where traditional domes can't.

For a limited time, the Eco Mini Heater line is available exclusively at Pangea Reptile, and it's 5% off through November 16. Pick up the 25W or 50W version today and give your reptile a cozy, well-balanced spot to bask.