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Heating. What's YOUR opinion?

Lestette

Lestette

New member
I was jsut curious. I know that some of you here have a great number of snakes and I was wondering... how do you heat them all? Do you use heat pads? Heat lamps? What do you find works best for you?

Also, for those of you who keep your snakes is plastic containors, what do you use to heat those that won't melt the plastic?

Thanks very much!
 
The glass vivs have heat mats on high-quality proportional thermostats, with probed thermometers at least in the warm side, and sometimes in the cool side.

The racks have heat cable with high-quality proportional thermostats with probed thermometers directly over the heat cable, in the viv, and a couple inches out from it, in the viv.

My bearded dragon is the only animal with a light for basking which is on a timer, with the temp regulated by the height of the light from the basking surface. Additionally, she has a ceramic heater for winter. She has probed thermometers in her hot side and in her cool hide.

Heat lamps make me very nervous. They are definitely hot enough to start a fire if they fall, and definitely hot enough to burn an animal.

A heat mat can and will reach a temp of 120F or higher if unregulated. Just this morning I found one of mine at 107F and climbing because the thermostat probe had become dislodged.
 
I have freedom breeder and ARS racks, and really like their heating systems.
I use 'double ranco' thermostats on all my racks, and try to have not only a good way of regulating the temperature, but also a backup system, to keep it regulated if the first control device fails.
I also use 2 sections of tape, in case 1 section of tape fails, or one control device goes cold.
On homemade racks, I prefer back beat rather than belly heat, as the tubs aren't really made to have heat on them, and the tape isn't really made to have stuff sliding over it.
I have many animals in these racks, and there's just too much at stake to risk over a simple mechanical failure.
Then again, I'm diagnosed OCD, if it matters.
 
Lestette said:
I'm sorry, I'm not familiar with heat tape... What exactly is that?
Click to expand...

http://www.beanfarm.com/store/agora.cgi?&product=Heating&xm=on

Not trying to speak for everyone, but I use flexwatt heat tape.
It comes in different widths and wattages, I like the low wattage 11" wide tape.
You buy it in rolls or by the foot, cut it to length, crimp fittings or solder wires directly onto the tape, or you can buy it cut to length prewired.

It requires a thermostat with a probe, to regulate the heat, otherwise it will get too hot for your snakes.
 
ive got 1 3ft viv and 1 2ft viv in the 3ft viv there is a 100wt bulb & the thermostat sensor and in the 2ft viv there is a 60wt bulb and the temparatures are fine
duno if that helps
 
Cordon1 said:
ive got 1 3ft viv and 1 2ft viv in the 3ft viv there is a 100wt bulb & the thermostat sensor and in the 2ft viv there is a 60wt bulb and the temparatures are fine
duno if that helps
Click to expand...

You just use light bulbs and that works for you? That is kind of what I want to do. I like having lights on my tanks so I can see. :) That sounds really awesome. Do you just use normal light bulbs or something special?
 
caz223 said:
I have freedom breeder and ARS racks, and really like their heating systems.
I use 'double ranco' thermostats on all my racks, and try to have not only a good way of regulating the temperature, but also a backup system, to keep it regulated if the first control device fails.
Click to expand...

Can you explain this more? You have the thermostats piggybacked?
 
I have 14 snakes, (13 Corns). I use undertank heatmats with thermostats.

Any heat source will be safe for plastic tubs when used with a thermostat. A Corn's safe maximum is around 90 degrees, which is way too low to melt plastic. If left unregulated, a UTH can easily reach 120 degrees (I've tried it myself in an unoccupied viv). Your main worry would be a deceased Corn, rather than a melted tub.
 
That's too bad we can't get it here. :S Maybe I will have to make a trip over the boarder some time soon, lol.
Thanks for letting me know though. ^_^
 
Lestette said:
You just use light bulbs and that works for you? That is kind of what I want to do. I like having lights on my tanks so I can see. :) That sounds really awesome. Do you just use normal light bulbs or something special?
Click to expand...


i use red bulbs because apperently reptile cant see red and i dont have to change the bulbs at night
 
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