Gecko question - reptile heat pad

[Popstoat]

Can anyone help me with some questions about reptile heat pads?

We are planning on getting my son an African fat tail gecko - paid a deposit today for gecko & tank, including a reptile heart pad that goes under the tank.

I planned to put the tank in the chest of drawers in my sons room, but am now wondering if the heat pad would damage the furniture or even be a fire risk!

Had anyone used this kind of set up & could let me know their experiences? Thanks!

I had this for my leopard gecko on a wooden cabinet it never marked it and I honestly didn't even consider it to be a fire risk. I was on my cabinet for 6 years

Our heat pad goes slides between 2 bits of glass so not directly on the wood

Wow, 2 super quick replies, thank you both.

Do the heat pads get hot, or just warm? Also do you guys use a thermostat with the heat pad to regulate the temperature?

User21 is your tank a wooden or glass one? The one I’ve ordered is glass.

I’m probably overthinking this a bit - feel a bit nervous about the whole thing now I’ve finally committed (after months of dithering😱)

It’s wooden base, sides and back but glass top and front.

Yes I use a thermostat to control the heat. The heat pad covers about a third of the base of the vivarium

the African Fat Tail is similar to a leopard gecko. Nocturnal, ground dweller, eats live food.