heating herp racks

[ashleynicole]

So now that I am getting a collection I need input on how to heat the steralite plastic containers we will be using for our snake racks. Ive always had glass Aquariums with under tank heaters, and I put the uth on a piece of ceramic tile. So with the racks I was going to get some sort of tape or cord heaters and I was wondering if you guys could provide links to the type of reptile tape or heating cords that are good to use. I was reading about one and it says you have to use some sort of insulation.

We love in fl and this is for corns so I dont have to worry about humidity or anything. Just a little extra heat, especially for the winter time since they are going to be in my garage.

[snake man12]

Use this:freakedout: Repti Heat Cable (http://www.zoomed.com/db/products/EntryDetail.php?EntryID=116&DatabaseID=2&SearchID=1)

[youngster]

Almost every breeder uses Flexwatt in their racks

[millertime89]

just keep using your UTHs

[ashleynicole]

I Like the idea of the heat cable snake man
can I get some more details on how it is set up within the rack? Just one line of cable under all of the racks or is it coiled?


youngster, I looked up flexwatt, it looks like a lot of work to wire it and buy all the extra pieces, not that I don't mind a little work, but theres gotta be something more user friendly.

millertime89- UTH's are a little more pricy, and I have to have one for each tub. I wanted something that would use less plugs actually, and that could be used for multiple tubs or wired together or something.

I am liking the heat cable idea most right now... :)

[Gungirl]

Flexwatt is the way to go IMO Once you do one you will see it's not nearly as difficult as you think it is.

[ashleynicole]

Flexwatt is the way to go IMO Once you do one you will see it's not nearly as difficult as you think it is.

yes but it involves cutting and stripping wires, not that I couldn't figure out how to do it, but wouldn't the heat cable do essentially the same thing?

[youngster]

Flexwatt is easy,
And you can wire a lot into one plug.
Also I've heard the heat cable is spotty, some places don't heat enough.

[ashleynicole]

but how do you know if you are overloading a plug with the flexiwatt? How many watts is too much for one plug? What if I do it wrong and it overheats and my house burns down? Electricity is not something I really want to mess around with. I've done a lot of DIY projects, but electricity is not something I mess with.

[red ink]

Heat cord/cable is better in my opinion. You can reduce or increase the temps simply by adding coils (unlike a flexwatt)..

Pic of a gecko rack using heat cords

http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/nn214/Red-Ink-Buldogs/geckos/P1020741.jpg

Larger image of how the heat cord is wired along the back wall
http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/nn214/Red-Ink-Buldogs/geckos/P1020740.jpg

http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/nn214/Red-Ink-Buldogs/geckos/P1020750.jpg

You can just do the same wiring configuration on the floor if you want to heat from underneath the tub, that's how the tubs in that rack are heated.

Cheers

[ashleynicole]

Thanks red ink! The pics really help me get an idea on how to do this. I did find a website that will wire the flexwatt for you, but I am still on the fence. I think I may try heat cords for one rack and flexwatt for the other and see which one I like best, ha ha. I really don't need a lot of heat. We live in florida and this is for corns, my oldest corn doesn't even have a heat pad when we put him in the tank in the garage, only in the house because we keep our house at about 76.

I guess I could put the heat cords on ceramic tile as well and coil it for more even distribution?

[stephanbakir]

Use this:freakedout: Repti Heat Cable (http://www.zoomed.com/db/products/EntryDetail.php?EntryID=116&DatabaseID=2&SearchID=1)
This stuff has a bad tendency to get REALLY hot spots and lots of cold spots... not overly reliable even with a thermostat.

Flexwatt is the way to go IMO Once you do one you will see it's not nearly as difficult as you think it is.
Flexwat is the way to go, you can control it with a thermostat simply, and it rarely has hotspots.

[ashleynicole]

This stuff has a bad tendency to get REALLY hot spots and lots of cold spots... not overly reliable even with a thermostat.


Flexwat is the way to go, you can control it with a thermostat simply, and it rarely has hotspots.

Thanks for this info. The website that cuts it and wires it seems like the best bet for me. I can tell them I want 16feet cut into 4x 4 feet strips and wired and ready to go. I can then put it on a rack with 4 x 4 foot shelves, hook it up to a thermostat and I will be good to go. And it is not very expensive either. We have a wire display rack right now that my husband got when he used to work in retail we are going to use for a shoebox type rack for babies, and we are in the process of getting ready to build a medium size and large rack as well. This site looks pretty good:

Reptile Basics Inc (http://www.reptilebasics.com/index.php?p=home)

[stephanbakir]

They are selling one sexy snake! http://www.reptilebasics.com/images/products/silvermale1.jpg

[millertime89]

I thought you said you already had a UTH or two? use those for the time being on the bottom two racks, or the bottom and the third or middle or something.
I'm gonna have reptile basics wire the flexwatt up for me when I place my order on Thursday of this week.

[ashleynicole]

I thought you said you already had a UTH or two? use those for the time being on the bottom two racks, or the bottom and the third or middle or something.
I'm gonna have reptile basics wire the flexwatt up for me when I place my order on Thursday of this week.

we have not built a rack yet, we have 7 snakes in individual tanks with UTH's. I am asking for when we build our racks since when the snakes get bigger, 10 gallon tanks aren't going to cut it. I have one in a 20 gallon long and our BP is in a 55 gallon.

[millertime89]

yeah, just keep using the UTHs you have now when you build the rack. Just make sure to provide a bit of an air gap between the heater and the tub.

edit: UTHs are pretty much just flexwatt in a nice presentation.

[snake man12]

With the cable you snake it around the hot side. [no pun intended

[ashleynicole]

yeah, just keep using the UTHs you have now when you build the rack. Just make sure to provide a bit of an air gap between the heater and the tub.

edit: UTHs are pretty much just flexwatt in a nice presentation.

yes... but we are planning on getting more snakes, that's why we are building the rack!

[millertime89]

what else are you getting? You can spider several identical output heating elements with identical enclosures with snakes that need very similar husbandry requirements to one thermostat. For example, when I get my rack built hopefully next weekend. My retic and my two boas will be in the same sized enclosures with the same heating elements and will all be on one thermostat while my BP will be on another.
The reason I ask is you've currently got 6 colubrids and one BP. I don't know about the milk and king, but the 4 colubrids can for sure be on the same thermostat provided their heat elements and enclosures are the same size.

[candyraver69]

Flexwatt isn't as intimidating as it sounds. There are maximum amounts you can use per run that can be found usually on the pages you buy it, but just in case here is a link to an instruction sheet with max feet and instructions for you: http://www.beanfarm.com/heating/flexwatt_userinfo.pdf
http://www.beanfarm.com/heating/Flexwatt_Wiring.pdf
http://www.beanfarm.com/heating/Flexwatt_connectors.pdf
http://www.beanfarm.com/heating/Flexwatt_parallel.pdf

The important keys to using it are not using too long of pieces all on one wire, using the proper guards and connectors they sell on the sites with them if you are not skilled at soldering and using electrical tape, and then using the right gauge cord. Then when using it with your tubs/rack/etc it's just like any premade heating pad- don't get it wet, don't smash it between a surface and viv with no airflow at all, etc.

I have basic wiring skills and was able to do a very complex flexwatt system for my racks far beyond what is show in those diagrams. If you would feel comfortable wiring speakers to a home theater system, you can handle flexwatt. It is equally as complex.

edit: oh and it's probably worth investing in the special $60 crimping tool meant for crimping the flexwatt connectors if you aren't soldering. The connectors are hard to clamp down into the heat tape with normal pliers properly.

[millertime89]

thanks for those links candyraver.