Our factory produce ultra long wavelength infrared heat mat. This action of heating is very similar to the sun and it has the ability to heat anything that it strikes but with the air temperature remaining much lower. Reptiles absorb this at in a manner very similar to basking in a natural environment. Heat mats do get warm but provide a very gentle warmth which used under normal conditions the mats cannot burn the animal.
It should be noted that heat mats give a gentle background heat. If you are keeping animals that requires higher temperatures, then you may require additional supplemental heating. Tortoises require basking spots of rather high localised heat. Additional heat sources should then be provided for these species. Heat mats are excellent primary heaters for most applications requiring night time heating, as they emit no viseable light and are the most widely used heater for this purpose.
When using a heat mat for a tortoise it is very important that it is not placed on the floor of a vivarium or tortoise table.
The mat needs to be mounted on the wall of a vivarium or tortoise table so the tortoise cannot sit on the mat.