General Care Discussion :: covering heater

[CRUSHH]

I have a 100W visi-therm stealth heater...my question is will my turtles get burned by touching it? Or do i need to cover it with something?

[cam722]

It already has a protective covering to prevent it from being broken. Do your turtles hang out on the heater that you are concerned about them being burned? My turtles have rearranged the heater and one used to hang out on it with no ill affects. Maybe others have different experiences with a different kind of heater.

[Turtleboy]

if u try it yourself, u wont get burned instantly when u touch the heater. it takes a while for u to feel the heat, that being said if u hold it too long you could get burnt, but i've seen some of my plecos sleep on the heater when its on! btw, make sure you dont touch it when its out of the water, or when u drained the tank!

[marisa]

The heat is quickly dissipates into the surrounding water, so the heater never really feels hot. I don't think your turtles will get burned if they touch it. (I have a 110-watt Visitherm Stealth and my turtle has had no problems.)

[steve]

If you wrap your hand around the end, then you will feel the heat. Is it positioned vertically or horizontally? I keep mine horizontally and my turtles like to rest on it. If they sleep on it (or get trapped on it), then there is a potential to get burned - though its rare.

[CRUSHH]

My turtles dont hang around it at all but they bump into it here and there. I have my heater positioned vertically b/c i dont like to see the wire in the water...looks unnatural...thanks for your input guys...i feel more relaxed now

[missibsu]

I don't like the wire either! If someone wanted to make a lot of money, they would figure out how to get rid of that wire!

[cam722]

I believe I saw somewhere that someone manufactured a battery operated heater. Not sure I'd rely on that for long term but it would be nice during emergencies. Can't find the darn thing online now though .. haha.

[missibsu]

Well that's the thing...to make any money it would have to be more reliable than batteries. I can't imagine how long batteries would last in a heater, especially for a larger tank. It probably eats them like candy.

[CRUSHH]

yea i know...i think i will make a wireless rechargeable batter heater=)

[robm]

Eheim sells canister filters with built-in heater. You don't have to worry about the turtle breaking the heater as well with such a heater.