Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Has anyone used the type of heat cable/tape used to keep pipes from freezing in cages and racks. Its much cheaper then the "reptile" stuff, and can easily be hooked to a dimmer or thermostat. Just a idea.

thanks

That is the stuff that heated many a reptile cage back in the day before Flexwatt and all the new heat pads came available. I purchased mine online first, but when that source dried up, I found it at hardware stores when on a trip to the local mountain areas.

For hatchlings, it is fantastic.

One thing, you either need to get the kind that does NOT have the built-in thermostat (stops heating at around 45 deg) or else carefully bypass the thermostat (pretty easy to do if you can solder.)

I find that the 4 watt/foot stuff is great, but I've also used the 2 watt/foot heater with success if the room isn't too cold.

Today, soil heat cable (the round stuff) is more available to pet hobbyists and is also very good, but I agree that the plumber's heat cable is even easier to put into shelving.
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Mark

I bought some heat cable to try to use it for heating cages - unfortunately, the only kind I could find anywhere (locally or online) had "built in thermostats".... that's fine and all for helping pipes stay thawed but only turning on when it's really cold, but makes the cable absolutely useless for using as cage heating, since the built-in thermostat turns on only when it gets to be less than 40 degrees out.

I tried "disabling" the thermostat, but the stupid thing was molded into the beginning of the cable (between the power cord and the beginning of the heat cable) and was so incorporated that I couldn't rewire it. I blew a ciruit breaker in my house trying... heh.

So, if anyone sees plumbing (or soil!) heat cable that doesn't have a built in thermostat, I'd be interested in learning where to get it.
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Lauren Madar - OphidiaGems.com | CageMakers
1.0 BP, 1.0 Hog Is., 1.1 Hypo BCI, 1.1 Surinam BCC, 0.1 GTP