Flexwatt vs. radiant heat panels

Will0W783 · 04-24-10, 03:36 PM

I am going to need to redo the heating in my snake room, since the current method is not stable enough with the crazy fluctuations in weather this year. I am wondering if Flexwatt heat tape can be put on the floor of melamine cages? Will it burn the snakes, and if I turn it down enough not to burn them, will it not be heating the cage sufficiently? I will also have a room heater, but need to have more regulated basking areas and can't use individual lights with my melamine cages.

I know radiant heat panels will work, but they are very expensive. I am prepared to buy them if I need to, but I'm wondering if there is a way to make heat tape work since it is far more economical and I plan to get new cages in a few years anyway.

bighog85 · 04-24-10, 06:42 PM

You can use flexwatt on the bottom, I would just silicone it to the bottom so the snake can't move it. I've not heard of a snake getting burned as long as it is maintained with thermostats. You can set the probe for the thermostat right on the flexwatt so you get really accurate temps and it should be fine. I have switched all of my animals to RHP's simply because they seem to do better with them. They provide a much more natural heat source and the snakes seem to bask less which to me means that they are working more efficiently. They are more expensive but I find it worth it.

kaorte · 04-24-10, 07:42 PM

I wouldn't put flexwatt in any cage. unless there was going to be something permanently sealed over it.

You could put the flexwatt on the outside of the cage but you would need to turn it up a little higher to get the right temp in the cage. How much you need to turn it up depends on the thickness of the melamine and your average room temperature.

marvelfreak · 04-24-10, 08:04 PM

Kane heat pads are the only one i know of that can be put in the cage. They are sealed to be water proof if water were to spill in cage or a wet snake were to lay on one. Kind of pricey, but if you shop around you can find them reasonable.

Will0W783 · 04-25-10, 08:30 AM

I ordered 3 Helix mini radiant heat panels yesterday to put in with the warmest climate snakes and see how I like them. Wow, the Kane pads are even more than radiant heat panels!

steelheadchris · 04-25-10, 07:13 PM

I also like the heat panels better but still have 2 enclosure with flex heat,and 600 watt dimmer switch ,to adjust and control temps,but you really have to keep yur eye on the temps with a dimmer depending on the inside house temps, constantly adjusting them,heat panels give an ambiant temp and a basking temp,with a thermo,i use johnson controls thermostats A419 s . flex really doesnt give off a ambiant temps in larger enclosures,just belly heat,in the wild they get warmth from above.

Will0W783 · 04-26-10, 08:00 AM

Thanks everyone for your advice. I think for me the best bet is to slowly start getting radiant heat panels. I bought 3 for the hottest temp snakes, and will try to buy another 2-3 every month, more if I can find them used. They are really expensive, but I figure I can take them off of these cages and put them in new ones when I replace everything in the room. I have one dimmer switch and intend to buy a few more when I get more heat panels so that I can keep everything at a good temp in each size cage.

I have another question: some of my cages are 5' melamine cages divided into two. Is it possible to cut a slot in the plywood dividers and put the heat panel in the middle so that one can heat both sides, or will it burn the divider even if I leave a little gap?

shaunyboy · 04-26-10, 08:37 AM

i use ceramics in all but one of my set ups,in which i use a basking bulb.i stopped using mats because a snake once trailed its self through its water bowl,then lay on the mat which heated up the water and caused a burn on its belly.i have found ceramics to be 100% reliable and gives a consistant heat souce.
cheers shaun

Will0W783 · 04-26-10, 09:33 AM

I can't use light-type fixtures in my cages because of how they are built and stacked. I light the room with a multi-level lamp, but I need heat sources that will heat the cages without causing burns or potential fires, since the heat source has to be mounted inside the cage, so I doubt ceramics will work for me.

shaunyboy · 04-26-10, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Will0W783

I can't use light-type fixtures in my cages because of how they are built and stacked. I light the room with a multi-level lamp, but I need heat sources that will heat the cages without causing burns or potential fires, since the heat source has to be mounted inside the cage, so I doubt ceramics will work for me.

my ceramics are mounted inside attatched to the inside of the vivarium roof.they have heat guards round them so the snake cant get at them.our local rep shop has over 100 vivs like this all with no problems.i'll grab a pic and post it to show you what i mean pal.
cheers shaun

shaunyboy · 04-26-10, 10:07 AM

i stack my tanks 3 high.i always put the ceramic at the right side of tank.that way when you stack them all the hot ends are at the same side.that stops one tanks hot end interfering with another tanks cool end.

shaunyboy · 04-26-10, 10:24 AM

hope this explains it better for you.if you look at the top inside right corners of my tanks you will see a white guard on bottom tank,then a black on middle tank,then white guard on top tank.there are either 100 or 200 watt ceramics in each odf the guards.as said my local reptile shop has over 100 tanks,all stacked 4 high.my tanks are 3 high.never heard of any problems regaurding these set ups.it costs roughly £50 for the bulb,guard and bulb holder thats $73.5 in your money pal.

in the picture are 2 4ft tanks and a 3ft on top.
cheers shaun

Will0W783 · 04-26-10, 10:04 AM

Ok I'd appreciate that a lot! It will cost me about $3,000 USD to get all the heat panels I need.

bighog85 · 04-26-10, 10:50 AM

You have to figure in the price of replacing lights or even CHE's which can add up. That is probably the biggest thing about the RHP's that I like. They may be more expensive up front but they use less power so that will lower your electric bill, and they last forever. Where Shaun is using at least 100 watts per cage, you would probably be looking at 40 to 80 watts per cage depending on your room temps. When you have a ton of cages, that can make up a pretty hefty power bill. And for $75 that it would cost you to set that up, only a bit more gets you a superior heat source that you never have to replace. Also, go with the Pro-Products panels if you can. Much better warranty than anything else out there and they are absolutely the safest, most efficient panels anywhere.

Will0W783 · 04-26-10, 11:01 AM

Yeah I dont think Shaun's setup will work for me. My cages are not that tall, and the electric bill from all those bulbs will be astronomical, not to mention that it sounds like they will end up costing as much as, if not more than, the RHPs. Seems I will just go with RHPs and have to slowly amass them.