Zoo Med ReptiThermUTH User Manual

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Use Zoo Med’s High Range or Analog Reptile Thermometer to monitor the temperature of
your terrarium. To properly monitor the temperature in your terrarium, it is recommended that you
use one thermometer per each 20 gallons (i.e. use 2 thermometers for a 40 gallon terrarium etc.).
Most reptiles sold in pet shops are tropical species (i.e.; boas, pythons, iguanas, water
dragons, etc.) requiring a minimum air temperature of 80ºF (26.6ºC). The average house
ranges from 65-75ºF (18-24ºC), and requires an additional heat source to keep the terrarium
in the safe 80-88ºF (26.6-31ºC) zone. Incandescent lamps, ceramic heat emitters, and heat
cables are also good additional heat sources.

Terrarium Top: The screen or glass top plays an important part in the overall temperature
control of your terrarium. If you are keeping desert type reptiles, small rodents or your
terrarium is in a particularly humid area, we recommend a full screen top. If you are keeping
a tropical species (i.e., iguanas, tree frogs, tree agamids, etc...), we recommend using a
glass top to cover a portion of the top of your terrarium. This will trap a certain amount of
humidity in the terrarium, which is necessary for most tropical species. This will also help to
increase the heat in your terrarium should it be placed in a particularly cold area.

Cleaning: Make sure the ReptiTherm® has been unplugged and cooled down before cleaning
the terrarium.

CAUTION: Please Read The Following Before Installing Your New
ReptiTherm® Heater.

Any of the following situations constitutes improper
use of the ReptiTherm® and can lead to stress cracks
and/or other hazards:

• A gravel or sand substrate deeper than 1.5” (3.81cm) when the heater is on the

bottom of the tank.

• A larger size ReptiTherm® on a smaller tank; i.e. 50-60 gallon heater on a 30 gallon

tank or multiple ReptiTherm®s under one tank.

• Placing the ReptiTherm® inside of a terrarium.

• Placing a heat bulb or ceramic heat emitter directly over the area where the ReptiTherm®

Heater has been placed, resulting in a high build up of heat.

• Any other use not described in this manual is not covered by the warranty.

• For indoor use only.

GUARANTEE: ZOO MED Laboratories, Inc., guarantees the materials and workmanship
of the ReptiTherm® heater for a period of one year from date of purchase. If heater
should fail during this time period, simply mail the heater back to us with a note
explaining failure. Please include your receipt. No other guarantees apply whether
expressed or implied.

LOOK FOR THESE OTHER QUALITY ZOO MED HEATING PRODUCTS

INSTR U C TION B O OK

ReptiTherm® (Product # RH-4, 5, 6)

ReptiTherm® Mini (Product # RH-7)

VERY IMPORTANT INSTRUCTIONS

PLEASE READ!

Not following the provided instructions voids

any and all guarantees and/or warranties.

If anything is unclear in this manual please feel free to contact us for clarification. You

can phone, e-mail or write us at our address listed on the back of this manual.

Ceramic
Heat
Emitter

Infrared
Heat
Lamp

Repti
Heat
Cables

Repti
Basking
Spot
Lamp

COLOR CATALOG: For a free color catalog or answers to any
questions you may have about our products, write or email us at:
ZOO MED, 3100 McMillan Ave., San Luis Obispo CA 93401, U.S.A
phone: [phone] (toll free)
email: [e-mail]

FOR MORE INFORMATION CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE AT: www.zoomed.com

Ca ut io n:

• Do not use cedar products, ground corn cob, or walnut shells as a substrate with reptiles

or amphibians.

• Do not place your terrarium where it will receive direct sunlight.

• If your house temperatures can rise above 80°F (26.6ºC) we recommend you use a reptile

thermostat (i.e. Reptitemp 500R Thermostat) to shut off/control the heat output of the
ReptiTherm® heater. If not using a reptile thermostat please unplug the ReptiTherm®
Heater if your inside house temperatures rise above 80°F (26.6ºC).

• The ReptiTherm® is not designed for use with water in any way. That means no turtle
aquariums, fish tanks, paladariums, or any other situation where there is any water
(with or without gravel or other substrates) on the bottom of the cage.

Please read the following before using

your new ReptiTherm® Heater.

War ni ng : Ri sk o f el ec tr ic s ho ck .

The ReptiTherm® Heater is for indoor use only.
Do not submerge the heater for any reason.

Do not rest tank on cord or plastic housing.
Discard pad if it shows any signs of deterioration such as cracking, blistering, melting, or

discoloration.
Follow all instructions.
Inspect cord periodically. Do not use if cord is damaged or frayed.

War ni ng : Ri sk o f fi re .

Never mount the ReptiTherm heater in a manner that would encapsulate heat. (i.e. mounting
it on the bottom of a terrarium and then setting the terrarium directly on any type of table or
the floor/carpet). Always use the enclosed rubber feet to elevate your terrarium thus allowing
the heat to escape. If unsure of bottom mounting, the side mounting of the ReptiTherm®
Heater is the preferred application.

Pl ac em en t of t er ra ri um :

Do not place on heat sensitive surfaces (i.e. antique furniture, plastic, etc...)

Do not place the terrarium where it will receive direct sunlight.

The ReptiTherm® is for use on standard glass aquariums only. We cannot be responsible for
custom or homemade cages and use of the ReptiTherm® on such cages will not be covered by
the warranty. Do not use the ReptiTherm® on anything other than glass terrariums:

NO ACRYLIC cages

NO METAL cages

NO WOOD cages

NO PLASTIC cages (Only the RH-7 Mini is suitable for use on “Keeper” type plastic cages

because of it’s low heat output. Always place the heater on the back or side wall of this
type of cage)

NO FOAM cages

NO FIBERGLASS cages

NO STONE cages

Ho t Wea th er :

ALWAYS unplug your ReptiTherm® heater if the inside of your house rises above 80ºF (26.6ºC).
(Unless using a reptile thermostat to control the heater.)

Wat er D is h pl ac em en t, s ub st ra te a nd c le an in g:

DO NOT PLACE WATER DISH ABOVE HEATER. Avoid spilling or spraying water on glass where
heater is attached; water spilled directly on the glass where the heater is could cause a stress
crack. Note: If the bottom of your terrarium can get wet this could cause a “stress crack”
with this type of heater. Always use a substrate that will absorb water and keep your water
dish on the opposite side of the terrarium from the ReptiTherm® Heater. Because of the
many variables involved in terrarium glass thickness, set up and husbandry, Zoo Med does
not guarantee against stress cracks in your terrarium. If you wish to maximise against the
possibility of stress cracks from water spills, ect., then we recommend side mounting of the
ReptiTherm® Heater. (See Diagram 2).

IN ST RU CT IO NS : PL EA SE R EA D CA RE FU LLY

Bottom Mounting: Clean the surface of the terrarium, peel adhesive paper off back of
heater and “stick” the heater to the bottom of your terrarium; remember to place heater on
either the right or left side of terrarium and gently rub heater to make firm contact. This
allows one side of your terrarium to be warmer than the other, providing a natural temperature
gradient. The ReptiTherm® must be stuck to the terrarium.

Rubber Feet: Remove adhesive paper and stick the rubber feet to each of the four bottom
corners of your terrarium. This allows slight
elevation of the terrarium thus allowing excess
heat to escape (very important).

Moving or Detaching Heater: DO NOT remove
the Heater once it has been attached to your
terrarium. REMOVAL of the heater once attached
voids all guarantees as this can easily damage the
internal wire connections.

Side Mounting: If your terrarium is located
on any type of antique stand or dresser or if there
is fabric (i.e; tablecloth, etc...) underneath your
terrarium then side mounting of the ReptiTherm®
Heater is preferred. To side mount, simply remove
adhesive paper from the back of the ReptiTherm®
Heater and “stick” to the lower right or left side
of your terrarium (see Diagram 2).

Substrate: If the ReptiTherm® is on the bottom
of the tank, you must use some type of substrate
material. Good substrate choices are Zoo Med’s
Repti Cage Carpet, Zoo Med’s Repti Sand or
Zoo Med’s Repti Bark. If using very lightweight
substrates such as pine shavings or sphagnum
moss, you must put a layer of Zoo Med’s Repti
Cage Carpet down first. This prevents snakes
and burrowing reptiles from pushing substrate
aside and resting on top of the glass directly

above the heater, resulting in possible burns!

Using newspaper, paper towels, or any similarly
light product in place of a substrate is not
appropriate with this kind of heater, and
such use will void any and all guarantees and
release Zoo Med from any liability for damage
to product, property, or animals. Also, some

liners or cage inserts have plastic or rubberized
backings that could melt; use such items with
caution. We recommend Zoo Med’s Cage Carpet
for safe use with a ReptiTherm®. When using
gravel or sand type substrates, it is important

to use no more than 1.5” (3.81cm) depth of
gravel/sand type substrates.

Plug Heater In: The ReptiTherm® is designed
to slowly heat glass, and then the air inside
of your terrarium. The heater will take a
minimum of six hours before you get an accurate
temperature reading in your terrarium. If your
animal spends all of its time near the heater it
means that there is not enough heat in the cage.
Supplemental heat should be added immediately.

DIAGRAM 2

RUBB ER FE ET

DIAGRAM 1