i suppose it depends on what temperature reptiles like ....

i got mine at a beer making shop .... i think they sprouted something or another for the process .... anyway .. it is a static 78 degrees .... very cheap for the size ....

higher priced mats have thermostats so as to vary the heat according to the use ... and they quickly become VERY expensive ....

so to specifically answer your question .... it depends on the level of heat.. as to whether or not they are identical ....

ken

I thought that might be the answer. Optimal temp for many reptiles would be ca. 85 degrees F, but I don't know what the mats actually produce. I've gathered that for Calif. native salvias I'll probably want something like 70 to 75. I suppose the question remains: what temp do the mats for plant propagation produce? I mean the ones without thermostats.

if you already have the mat... take a thermometer and lay it on the mat ... and plug it in .. and find out the temp of your mat ....

if it is too hot.. i don't know why you wouldn't be able to fool around trying to find a way to reduce the heat to the pots .... an inch or two of gravel?? a shelf that will allow the plants to not actually be touching the mat.... that way reducing the temp ... etc ....

half the fun is the experimentation ... good luck

ken

ken_adrian: Well, that's the approach I thought I might take -- just put stuff between the tray and mat to get the temp right. But I don't have the mat yet. At this point, I'm inclined to buy both a double-size mat (1 tray each of seedlings and cuttings) and thermostat. Might as well get the right stuff from the beginning.

well good luck ...

check out the link .... though i cant seem to link directly to any certain page .... find the search function and type in HEAT MAT ... and check out the blue mat for 40 bucks ....

also ... i happened to be shopping the nursery last week and picked up a brochure for hydrofarm ... here is the link:

http://www.hydrofarm.com/search.php?zoom_query=seedling+heat+mat&zoom_and=1&zoom_sort=0amp;zoom_per_page=10&searchbutton.x=0amp;searchbutton.y=0amp;searchbutton=Go

3 sizes .... you can see the price jumps fast ... all depends on what you want to spend ...

ken

Here is a link that might be useful: link

I've already ordered a Hydrofarm 20x20 mat and thermostat. Thanks.