Keepers and breeders of large reptiles and amphibians have been an under-served group for years. Equipment and supplies sufficiently large to serve the special requirements of juvenile and adult boas, pythons, monitors, tortoises and other large animals were not generally available. Their needs could not be safely or efficiently met with products generally designed for smaller enclosures and animals. Now, the need for large basking areas for larger animals is being met with Stanfield Heat Pads, designed and manufactured by Osborne Industries Inc.
Stanfield
Heat Pads provide the proper thermoclines required to maintain and ensure the
good health and well-being for these ectothermic (cold-blooded) species. These
robust, low-profile heat pads are available in 12 different sizes to provide
from three to eighteen square feet of uniform supplemental heat. A range of heat
pad controls is also available to select the level of heat output.
Herpetological studies show that behavioral thermoregulation (seeking a warm basking spot) is a natural instinctive drive for all reptiles after feeding. They need a safe, reliable thermal zone in their environment to avoid digestive and respiratory stress. Heat lamps and small "hot rock" heaters, used in the past, are inferior alternatives to the uniform zone heat provided by Stanfield Heat Pads for these large animals. Both earlier alternatives can cause behaviors that are dangerous for the animals and may lead to injuries when they attempt to satisfy their instinctual need to bask after meals. Heat pads, however, provide a large, uniform warm zone that is ideal.
Osborne has been the leading supplier of heat pads for farm animals and warm-blooded pets for over a quarter century. Their Stanfield brand of heat pads for farm animals was "discovered" by professional breeders, zookeepers, and research scientists about a decade ago. Keepers and breeders quickly spread the news that when a large, durable, and economical source of basking heat was needed, Stanfield Heat Pads were the preferred products, used by professionals and unmatched in performance and safety by any alternative.
Decades of experience has shown that the industrial-grade, fiberglass-reinforced construction of the Stanfield Heat Pads has no equal when it comes to serving and surviving in a day-to-day exposure to heavy-weight and/or sharp clawed animals. Stanfield Heat Pads meet and exceed the strict standards of UL, CSA, and CE certification for safe operation. The material of construction is a fiberglass-reinforced plastic, which is formulated to be both extremely fire-retardant and very resistant to both water and bacteria. After power is disconnected, Stanfield Heat Pads can be washed and disinfected with the same soap, water, and chemicals used to clean and disinfect animal enclosures. Stanfield Heat Pads are made of a dense, non-pourous plastic so that harmful bacteria do not have any hiding places to avoid disinfectants or from which later they may attack your animals with life threatening infections. After thorough cleaning and drying, reconnecting power to the heat pads provides your animal with a hygienic, comfortable zone of warmth.
Stanfield Heat Pads
provide even more value with their versatility, ease of use, and exceptionally
low-cost of operation. Most installations require nothing more than a standard
110-volt household outlet protected with a ground-fault interrupter circuit (GFI)
in which to plug the controls and heat pads. Stanfield Heat Pads can be placed
inside enclosures or be placed under or attached to the outside of enclosures
which are built of heat conductive materials. They can even be placed in the
outdoor shelters commonly used to house large tortoises, turtles, and amphibians
if carefully protected from direct exposure to the elements and standing water
and if the power cords are fully armored against chewing or biting.
Of course, power use is proportional to the size of the heat pad chosen for the task, but all heat pads are very low power devices compared to heat lamps and similar alternatives. The cost of electricity is only pennies a day for popular sizes, especially using Stanfield Heat Pad Controls. Controls reduce and regulate the use of electricity to the minimum that is needed for optimum comfort.
With installation and use according to the instructions provided with each product, Stanfield Heat Pads provides these unique and valuable animals with life-sustaining warmth for years and years. All Osborne products have a one-year warranty against defects in material and workmanship. Call Osborne Customer Service at 1-800-255-0316 for more information about Stanfield Heat Pads and the location of your preferred equipment distributor.