Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am finishing up a rack Im building for some ball pythons.

Should I put strips of reflectix under the heat tape? Should I line the entire back with a piece of 2'x6' reflectix?

I think I might take up too much room under the heat tape, but I can test it to find out. How much heat would actually be saved/re-directed this way?

The only reason I can think of for not putting it under the heat tape (besides spacial considerations) is that it would heat up the shelves more and possibly even out the heat overall a little better

thanks

How would you go about putting Reflectix underneath? You can't exactly have the boxes slide on it, unless you built a hanging/track style rack?

Regardless, assuming you used melamine, MDF, or some other solid material you're actually better off using that to your advantage. Reducing thermal mass makes belly heat more dangerous. So your comment about evening the heat out a little bit is spot on.

I would definately put it on the back.
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Current snakes:

0.0.1 Gonyosoma oxycephala - Java locale

2.2 Gonyosoma janseni - Seleyar locale

Thanks for the response. I will go ahead with my plans, of using it on the back but not underneath the tape.

I was thinking of using foil tape to hold it down, but i hadnt really though about it much, that would actually put the heat tape directly closer to the tub , and probably end p making it a pain in the ass to slide the tub in and out.

Thanks,
bryan

i just finished my third rack this year with reflectix on the back,it works great and creates a perfect heat transfer to the front of the tub.i find the temp changes every 1.5-2" from front to back.the first rack i used this on was in a cool room and when you pulled a tub and put your face in the space i could actually feel the heat.

i use melamine and route a shallow channel on each shelf for the heat tape,after the channel is routed i place metal tape in the channel and then the heat tape on top of that.this will not only direct the heat upward but also covers the bare melamine from humidity.

on the back i run thin 1" wide plastic strips to stop the tubs and reflectix on top of that,attached with caulking,staples and metal tape.have fun!