Types of heat pads

[nita]

I'm just wondering what types of heat pads are available. I have an UTH for my 33 Gal tank but it states only for glass tanks. How do you heat your rubbermaids?? I know that some people use the regular heat pads from walmart that are used as bed heaters etc. but how do you install a rheostat or dimmer on them I'm not electrically inclined. Also I have heard of heat tape being used for rubbermaid containers but have never found any in the local pet stores and not sure where else to check. The home my bp's are going to be moving into in the spring is wood on all sides but the front being plexi and it has a heat lamp in it but I want another heat source on the bottom. The bottom and about 6" up on the sides and back are tiled for easy cleaning but I'm wondering what would be the best heat source to use as substrate heat here. Thanks for any and all advice/info. :D

[crazyboy]

you can use any heat pads with rubbermaids. You will not be able to find heat tape anywhere in canada. It isn't CSA approved. and being that your not elictically inclined you probably woulkdn't be confident in using this because you have to wire it yourself. you could use heat rope too. but noite any of the above need some type of contorl for the heat. ie: rheostat/thermostat.

[sapphire_moon]

I use the pet store UTH's on my rubbermaid containers. I use a lamp dimmer to keep it at the proper temps. The ones I used also stated that it is only for glass cages. I have no problems with them at all. Just make sure there is enough air flow underneath rubbermaid.

[nita]

Saphire_moon, the UTH isnt' the kind then that attaches to the bottom I'm guessing, as for the lamp dimmer does it plug into it or do you have to wire it in?

[Linds]

It's best to avoid sticking UTH to any surfaces, because usually once they are stuck somewhere they don't come off without getting totally ruined. Some people just leave the paper it comes with on, I just put parchment paper on it. It shouldn't be of any concern since it should be controlled so it won't get too warm. They can be used on any surface though, they just say they can only be used on glass as a disclaimer because they fail to mention that they get excessively hot on their own and need something else to regulate the output on them. You can purchase ready-wired dimmers that you just have to plug-in for $20 at Home Depot or Ikea (actually I picked up a bunch at Ikea on sale for $9 each), or you can wire your own for a couple dollars.

[sapphire_moon]

what linds said! lol, I have one that is "supposed" to stick to the underside, but I never took the piece of paper off.

What I did is, I have 4 snakes, 2 snakes require the same temps, and the other 2 require around the same temps.

I took the lamp dimmer (from wal-mart, like 9.00$) and plugged it in, took a good extension cord and plugged that in, then plugged in the 2 bp heat pads to the extension cord. I don't plug anything else into that specific extension.

I did the same for my corn and w.hognose (w.hognose temps stay at about 88 and my corns stays at about 84-85)

[mykee]

Crazyboy, heat tape is UL Listed, which is just as good from a legal/insurance standpoint here in Canada. Also, it is readily available in Canada, just know where to find it. I'd say 75% of all serious reptile owners have heat tape in some form or another in their snake rooms, myself included.

[sapphire_moon]

Hey now, I'm a serious reptile owner, and I don't have any heat tape. Maybe you meant serious breeder? Seeing as how it's cheaper to buy a strip of heat tape than buy like 20 UTH's.

[MouseKilla]

I think he meant that most seriously compulsive reptile owners own some of that stuff. Once the size of your collection gets to a certain point heating with bulbs and petstore UTHs ceases to be an option. I don't currently use any heat tape myself, instead I have a heated room and some human heat pads. Whatever gets the job done...

[sapphire_moon]

Ohhh, great, now I have to become an electrition *sp?*!?!!!? lol. Anyone got pics/instructins on how to wire up heat tape? lol I don't want to fry myself!

[mykee]

Sapphire, so you want on the heat tape train now? It really is much easier to work with then most people think. If you go to www.arbreptiles.com/cages/flexwire.shtml. There is a great step by step from Clay on the site, and if you have any questions with it, just PM me and I'll follow you through it if you need.

[sapphire_moon]

Great :)! I plan on making a rack for our snakes once we get all settled down. I will keep that site, and if a year from now I pm you asking for help I hope you won't mind. lol :)

Edit:

Although after looking at the website it seems simple enough that even I could do it! Thanks for the site :)
One question, what are the different size heat tape for?
I have 4ft long iris containers (like rubbermaid) what size would I use for those?

[crazyboy]

sorry mykee i didn't now it was available in canada.

saphire: heat tape comes in 4in. 3in. and 11 in. wide peices and you can cut it to any length.

[Auskan]

Nita, unless I read you wrong, it sounds like you are, or plan to, house your BPs together? There are a lot of reasons why this isn't such a great idea - perhaps before you move them you might consider this and plan on getting enough enclosures that they can each be housed separately.

[sapphire_moon]

And I wouldn't put any UTH IN the cage.
Ok but do you use the different sizes for something specific?

[mykee]

Sapphire, I try to cover 25-33% of my floor with heat. I use the 34x16x6 rubbermaids, and I use 11" for these guys, I also have a few racks that house 26x16x10 rubbermaids, and for those, I use 4". You should roughly aim on covering the above mentioned %'s with heat. Note: heat 'leaks' out the sides, so a strip of 11" will heat an extra 2-3 inches on either side, giving you a 'heat width' of roughly15-17". Same with 4"; you'll get maybe 1-2" of heat leakage from the sides, so your 'heat width' for 4" would be in and around 6-8". Hope that helped, even I'm confused now....

[sapphire_moon]

got it, lol :)

Whats that model number on the rubbermaids?

[snakemanj7]

I called a Home Depot here in Calgary and they have heat tape. Now I need to find a place to get thermostats for cheap...

[nita]

I will be looking into putting in a false floor into my enclosure to allow for the heat tape at first I thought the heat lamp would work but after having that with my glass tank I had to reevaluate that. Even a 150W bulb probably won't heat 30cubic ft space enough. I do think the wood will hold the heat better than glass and a screen top though. When I finish it I will leave it set up for a week or so and monitor everything before making the move and make sure everything is mainting right. Thanks everyone for the help.

I will most likely be switching (yuck) to rubbermaids within a year or so when mine reach breeding age/size, but I'm not fond of them, I like to have mine out in my living room on display in my home, the 5ft enclosure I was talking about doubles as a coffee table. I like the nice looking stuff and a rubbermaid rack just isn't attractive, but it is cost effective when housing many animals.

[mykee]

Nita, rubbermaids are also cheap, easy to modify for virtually perfect husbandry, light, easy to clean....

[mykee]

Sapphire: 2119-87's are what you're lookin' for.

[nita]

Mykee, I have a 2 bedroom house, no basement, 3 children and a husband who says "we don't have room for more snakes" LOL, then I showed him the racking systems and he could no longer argue!! I can have all the snakes I want using rubbermaid racking systems, that is why they are going to win out, not to mention as you stated easy to maintain proper husbandry. Just planning on waiting a year or so before expanding. Bp's are my favorite but I also eventually want Bloods GTP's and a few select Boas, (Namely the pastel that a friend has or one like it love the color)

[Linds]

Originally posted by nita
I will be looking into putting in a false floor into my enclosure to allow for the heat tape

Why a false floor and not just put it directly on the underside of the enclosure?

[sapphire_moon]

Also they do have clear rubbermaids that you can set up to be very attractive. And if not just get a specific one snake to put in your "display" enclosure. And one species of that kind (though usually when you get ONE species it turns to 2, 2 turns to 3 etc...etc...lol)

I personally hate having all my snakes just scattered around. A rack system looks so nice and orgainized.

[nita]

Why a false floor and not just put it directly on the underside of the enclosure? [/QUOTE]

Would it work to put it underneath? This is a wood enclosure 5/8" chipboard with tiles on top of that. Would any heat get through if I put it underneath also wouldn't that be an additional fire hazard having a heat source like that directly on a wood surface?

SaphireMoon, I'm already thinking of getting a pastel boa for my large enclosure and moving my bp's into racking systems, LOL. I agree that they look organized and my home sure could use that look.

:D

[sapphire_moon]

see rubbermaids can have a nice look! Be carefull now! One leads to 2, 2 leads to 3........lol...so addicting!

[Linds]

I don't know about tiles, I do however know that it will have no problems at all heating through 5/8" chipboard. Try posting in the General Enclosure forum, there are a fwe people that use tiled floors that may be able to give you better advice.