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The design and implementation of a hot stage for control of the sample temperature in atomic force microscope (AFM) imaging in fluid is described. This heater design is optimally suited for AFM studies that are biological in nature, where the sample needs to be held near physiological conditions. The ease of assembly, simplicity of design, and low cost makes it suitable for implementation in any laboratory for both research or teaching purposes. The small size and self-contained nature of the device allows it to be incorporated into any AFM system. We demonstrate the ability of the heater to function reliably at elevated temperatures where clear, high resolution images of plasmid DNA under water can be routinely obtained.