heat tape placement

[peterm15]

ok my ball python cage is 5/8 ply and im useing heat tape.. well i figured i probably had to put the heat tape inside ( all edges sealed with silicone) and put a peice of glass over top.. well i just doubbled checked it and the glass broke.. no harm done but what can i put on top that wouldnt break.. the cage is flat on a tabletop so i cant put the heat tape outside the cage.. any suggestions..

[BOAS_N_PYTHONS]

Maybe consider plexiglass, it takes more pressure than glass in most cases.
If scratched it can still be stronger than glass and less dangerous to the animal.
If you can I would place the tape on the outside and router out the bottom outside section for the heat tape. This also gives you a small area of ventilation for the tape underneath the cage. Its just an idea, I have done this to many melamine cages and racks. More work but in long run well worth it.

[peterm15]

well i put some tile on top.. you think this is good enough

[BOAS_N_PYTHONS]

If you mean tile on top of the glass method you mentioned and its placed like a house flooring it should be stong enough to prevent damage to the glass, but will the heat penetrate the glass and tile to give you maximum warmth value not to sure seems like alot of barriers to pass through.

If you mean tile over the tape and no glass then it might be strong enough still but is it layer like on a house floor with grout or just puzzled together, if yes then urine and other mess will find its way to the tape. Heat will pass through but how much I am not sure (same scenario as the glass and tile mixture).

I myself prefer a very natural cage look but because of the amount of work involved in cleaning and the animals and there ways i gfo with a more sterile system like paper towel or newspaper or cardboard. But its up to you with your design.

[peterm15]

its tile on the whole floor and newspaper on top of that.. it works fine for heating, actually spreads more evenly then glass.. but the tile is just to cover the floor so i can put the heat tape on bottom.. theres a substrate on top.. thank you for the help..

[SnakeyeZ]

Maybe mount the heat tape to the back of the enclosure...?

[peterm15]

through 5/8 ply??id have to heat the tape to like 120 to get the right ammount of heat

[SnakeyeZ]

Umm, On the inside.

[SnakeyeZ]

Then you can screw a thin peice of plexy too it..so the electrical isnt exposed to the reptile.

Or you can invest is some radiant heat panels. Your call.

[BOAS_N_PYTHONS]

Radiant heat best option indeed.
I love them.

But putting heat tape on back with heat that rises would not be efficient enough bottom is better.

[Linds]

What's wrong with putting it underneath? My cages are 5/8", 1/2" and 7/16" thicknesses, and the heat tape has NO problems getting through any of it, and is still only run on half-power.