A reptile enclosure needs a heat source that runs constantly rather than one that switches on and off with a light cycle, and a heat mat is built precisely for that quieter, always-on job.

Komodo's Advanced Heat Mat produces long-wave infra-red heat to warm reptiles from scale to bone, running at 7W across a 14x27cm mat. It can be fixed to the base or the side of a terrarium, and it's designed to run for 24 hours a day, either as the sole heat source for species with lower heat needs, or alongside another heat source for species that need more. Komodo recommend pairing it with an appropriate thermostat.

• 7W power rating
• 14x27cm mat size
• 24-hour infra-red background heat
• Can be fixed to the base or side of the terrarium
• Emits no light, so suitable for bedrooms
• Komodo recommend using it with a thermostat

On thermostat control. This mat is not sold with a thermostat, and Komodo's own recommendation is to use one — running it without temperature control is a real risk to the reptile inside, not a corner worth cutting to save the cost of a separate thermostat.

Who it's for: reptile keepers needing gentle, 24-hour background heat — particularly for species with lower heat requirements, or as a night-time source alongside a daytime lamp — who are set up with, or buying, a thermostat to run it safely.