Melting plastic???

[Rebecca]

Sorry bout the double post but not sure if this is the right place. Ok I want to use some tupperware containers to house some geckos. My question is will the heat tape melt the plastic if left on 24/7??

[Them and Us]

hmmm i don't really know. I've seen rack enclosres that use heat tape on this ite but its always been taped to the rack and the bin slides out. or it is inset into the wood. see if the rubbermaid has a caution about melting . like what the melting point is.

[Jeff_Favelle]

Use something to dissapate the heat if you're worried about it. Tin foil. thin wood, thin metal, etc etc all work fine.

[Them and Us]

what about the tin duct tape for actual duct work? i would thin that might work too. or Jeff's ideas too. im not sure on mne though.

[Big Mike]

Your heat tape should be controlled by either a rheostat or a thermostat so it's should not get very hot. I don't know what temperature the plastic will start to melt at...but any gecko would be roasted long before the plastic melted.

As long as you keep it at a safe temp for the gecko, the plastic should be fine. If you are worried about it...use something to disapate the heat.

[Rebecca]

Thanks!!

[depressor86]

yea if its hot enough to melt plastic its probably not too good for the geckos ;)

[Rebecca]

Kinda seperate question, would it be cheaper for me to buy a UTH of go with the tape for my glass aquarium?? One more thing what is a rheostat?? Also is the heat tape a fire hazard at all??

[Ryan]

A rheostat is basically like a dimmer switch that you use for lights. I have a rack setup for ball pythons that uses rubbermaids, and a dimmer switch wired to the heat tape and it works great, even if it is turned all the way up it won't melt the plastic.

[Grant vg]

a uth pad is definately better if your using just one aquarium.
technically u could use the same thermostats, if you hook up the heat tape or uth to a power bar, as well as the heat tape from a rubbermaid rack.
however, depending where your probe is. it will either heat the rack properly and supply the same amount of energy to the aquarium (which might not be the correct temp) or vice versa.
you could obviously try it and see. but i would think different temps would arise between heat tape and plastic and heat tape/uth and glass.
Many ppl say heat tape is a fire hazard, but really anything electrical is a fire hazard.
Especially those tall house lamps from ikea :p

[Justin]

heat will melt plastic