Reptile & Amphibian Forums

iv got a small rack only 3 shelves i was just wondering wot size cable i should get rack size is 60cmX92cm which is around 36'X18' and just 3 tubs high.
the cable i can get is........10ft(3meters) 50watt
20ft(6meters) 75watt

any help????

Sephuk,
...Welcome to the forum. Ideally you would want to use a router and route a groove into the bottom of each shelf towards the back end of the cage so that the cable would create a temperature gradient in the cage with it warmest towards the back end of the cage and cooler out towards the front end of the cage. If you do not have a router you coud use a dado vlade on a table saw to make th grooves or even do it using a regular blade and making several passes of the blade to get the width right. To make the installation look nice and not have any exposed cable for your cages to snag on when you slide them in and out you should also route a groove on the inside on one side of each cage to run the cable up to the next level. An easier method is to drill holes in the side of the rack and run the cable going up on the outside of the rack rather than inside next to the cage but this would not look like as professional a job. With the 3 meter length you would have more than enough length for one circuit through the rack. It is very likely that the cable will be too hot and will need to be controlled with a thermostat or rheostat type dimmer switch. You will need to carefully check floor temperatures at the warm and the cool end of the cage. You want a warm end temperature of the high 70s to low 80s and the cool end temperatue in the low 70s. It is okay if the hottest spot on the floor right over the heat cable is up into the low 90s so long as the floor temperature a few inches away is in the high 70s to low 80s.
Jeff

>>iv got a small rack only 3 shelves i was just wondering wot size cable i should get rack size is 60cmX92cm which is around 36'X18' and just 3 tubs high.
>>the cable i can get is........10ft(3meters) 50watt
>> 20ft(6meters) 75watt
>>
>>any help????

thanks for the reply Jeff! i have them in vivs at the moment but ive got someone going to Hamm, they are bringing me back another male if there is a nice one there so im going to get rid of the vivs and get some breeding underway in the rack ; ) i was just routering a shelf out today!!

do you reduce temps at night? i know sum do sum dont, i used to wen i had leo geckos in a rack

..I do not do anything with heaters or thermostats to cool at night. I do cool them 24/7 for 5 to 8 weeks during the winter.
Jeff

>>thanks for the reply Jeff! i have them in vivs at the moment but ive got someone going to Hamm, they are bringing me back another male if there is a nice one there so im going to get rid of the vivs and get some breeding underway in the rack ; ) i was just routering a shelf out today!!
>>
>>do you reduce temps at night? i know sum do sum dont, i used to wen i had leo geckos in a rack