Heating Mat 11×11 cm 5W — With Adjustable Regulator

Most ant species have a specific optimal range for activity and brood development. Tropical species need around 26-28 °C in the nest for normal brood growth, and in a typical European room at 19-22 °C that growth slows or stops without extra heat. A heating mat is the standard answer, and it is cheaper, safer and more controllable than a heat lamp. The mat lifts its surface roughly 5-15 °C above ambient depending on the dial; in a 20 °C room at maximum the surface reaches about 35 °C, and the nest interior above it sits lower than the mat surface. The same warmth helps in winter, when even Mediterranean species can drop below their hibernation threshold by accident, and it can carry a slow founding colony through its longest phase.

Keepers of tropical and subtropical species that need consistent warmth — most Asian, African and Australian ants, plus warm-climate Camponotus, Pheidole and Carebara. It also suits a heated terrarium, reptile or insect enclosure, or a plant-propagation tray, since the mat is not ant-specific. If you keep only temperate European species that thrive at room temperature, you may not need supplemental heat at all.

Place the mat under one side of the nest only, never the whole arena. That creates a temperature gradient and lets the ants choose the warmest spot rather than be forced into it. Start the dial at its lowest setting and raise it gradually over a few hours, checking the real temperature with a thermometer inside the nest. Aim for the bottom of your species’ preferred range first, then adjust up. Do not press the mat flat against acrylic: leave a small air gap of a few millimetres (cardboard or foam works) so the acrylic warms evenly and does not warp over months. The mat is made for continuous use, so you can leave it on; for species that want a day-night cycle, plug it into a simple mechanical timer.

Wipe the surface with a dry cloth now and then to clear dust, and never wet the mat or its connector. If it ever runs unusually hot, too hot to touch comfortably, switch it off and check the dial, since intermittent connector faults can cause this. Replace the mat if the housing cracks or the EU plug works loose.

A digital thermometer or a thermometer-and-hygrometer to verify the real nest temperature rather than trusting the dial alone. The probe thermometer for sealed or insulated setups where interior and room temperatures diverge. Tropical species from our live ant catalogue, most of which need this kind of supplemental heat in European keeping.

Does it come with a thermostat?
It has a manual dial regulator, not a thermostat. The dial sets output from low to high but does not hold a target temperature automatically. For precise control, pair it with a thermometer inside the nest and adjust by feedback.

How hot does the surface get?
Roughly 5-15 °C above ambient depending on the dial. In a 20 °C room at maximum, the surface reaches about 35 °C. The nest interior above the mat sits cooler than the mat surface.

Will it warp my acrylic formicarium?
Not at normal settings. Place it under only one half of the nest with a small air gap of a few millimetres. Uniform high heat pressed straight against thin acrylic can warp it over months.

Can I leave it on 24/7?
Yes, heating mats are made for continuous use. For species that need a day-night cycle, plug it into a simple mechanical timer.

It has an EU plug. Will it work in the UK?
Only with a plug adapter or a UK-compatible socket. The mat itself runs on standard 220-240 V.

Which formicarium materials does it suit?
It works under acrylic, gypsum, ytong and cork nests. Just keep a small air gap under acrylic so it warms evenly.

A note on care: each item is built for a specific job — please use it only as intended. Responsibility for correct, safe use rests with the keeper; ANTonTOP accepts no liability for misuse or damage from improper use.