I personally usea oil filled one in my snake room it kept on 24/7 asll year long I do this to help maintain an more even temp. since it shuts off when it get ot the proper temp it no biggie. ( the young ball pythong think it something ot attack cause they strike at it some times. )

I never had aproblem with it and i only use it on the low setting anyhow. I am gonig ot make apc fan off a old cell phone power cord toand set that on the bottom to help heat he air a little faster lol..