Repti Heat Cable (zoo Med)

[ydnic]

is this as bad as heat rocks?

Optimum heat source to achieve temperature gradients inside the terrarium. Multiple applications: use inside terrarium to wrap around wood branches, etc... or use under terrarium. Perfect for heating multiple tank applications such as reptile "breeding racks"Can be used in high humidity terrariums. Not to be submerged in water

[Double J]

Originally posted by ydnic
use inside terrarium to wrap around wood branches, etc...

Good lord, I hope nobody ACTUALLY does that!!!!!!!! That heat cable can get REALLY hot! I imagine that somebody will fry their poor little treefrogs by doing that.

Now, as for use UNDER tanks, this isn't such a bad idea so long as it is carefully controlled by a rheostat. A friend of mine using a similar product (actualy meant for melting ice on roofs) with a rheostat, underneath enclosures finds it works fabulously, and has used it for over a year.

[Invictus]

I know a guy here in Calgary who picked up the Zoomed heat cable, and he says it's excellent stuff. Only 1/4" wide, so he basically routered it right into the bottom of the cage. I need to find out about cost though... if it's cheaper than heat tape, I'm switching.

[Ptindy]

Ken, I've seen it at the Petsmart by chinook for 40 bucks. You get 20 feet I believe so it's not cheaper then heat tape after you've routed it on the bottom of an enclosure. One thing I could see it useful for is heating PVC perches for arboreals. I'm considering this optoin for a Morelia Viridis I plan on getting in the future. It's is the same idea as heat tape, just not prefabricated into a pattern like heat tape. Both are basically just a shorted circuit and the dead end for electricity makes it conduct heat. I believe that's how it works. We could make a heat pad out of a extension cord and aluminum tape if we wanted to, but that wouldn't be too safe unless you coated the stuff very well.

Mike

[clint545]

I use the heat cable for my rubbermaid, with Hatchlings. No problems as of yet and hopefully none in the future!!
Yah, I had to cringe when I saw the suggestion to use it inside the cage.

[Invictus]

Mike - I wouldn't use it for a cage, I'd use it for a racking system. And keep in mind, even a 1/4" cable would heat up the wood surrounding it, so you'd get a warm area of about 3-4" at least. So in that case, at $2/foot, it is WAY cheaper than heat tape.

[Ptindy]

Well in a rack yes, I meant routing them so they cover the same surface as a heat pad.

Mike