Chris...it was my understanding that heatmats can go wonky and overheat more readily than a dome lamp...but perhaps I was wrong about that. I was thinking more of the tank getting too hot than a fire being caused. I have seen one of my lamps short circuit and basically the bulb just blew and broke the lamp causing everything to shut off. But you raise a good point. I will shut everything off at night until I can get a new thermostat. Richard, I have been keeping a night bulb and a heat mat on for Cee Cee at night because of her respiratory problems....keeping the temps up around the mid to high 80's on the warm side even at night. Do you think that is too much? Should I cut the lamp and just leave the heat mat on for her? I have noticed if the temps drop at all on the warm side of her tank...her breathing starts to act up again. Another question... Do those of you who use thermostats and timers plug the thermostats into the timers in order to use both? I can't figure out how to get my thermostat and my timer to work at the same time.