Reptile & Amphibian Forums

So I'm not very well educated on heating. In my current setups I have screen top glass acquariums with undertank mats and heat lamps on top. I'm looking to upgrade to better enclosures but don't want to spend the money or time to install radiant heat panels.

Does anyone simply use flex watt on the bottoms and/or tops of your closed terrariums to heat them? Is it effective and/or recommended?

I'm looking for cheap alternatives for relatively good heating.

Thanks
-----
Adam

"I wish I were wise! I wish I were wise from the heart of me, like my serpent!"

"Does anyone simply use flex watt on the bottoms and/or tops of your closed terrariums to heat them? Is it effective and/or recommended?"
Yes, everybody. Literally, everyone.
-----
www.strictlyballs.ca

>>"Does anyone simply use flex watt on the bottoms and/or tops of your closed terrariums to heat them? Is it effective and/or recommended?"
>>Yes, everybody. Literally, everyone.
>>-----
>>www.strictlyballs.ca

-----------------------

I am going to faithfully assume that you are not being facetious.

Thanks,
-----
Adam

"I wish I were wise! I wish I were wise from the heart of me, like my serpent!"

If you read all of "mykee's" posts you'll see that's the kind of responses he gives. Makes you feel great for asking questions doesn't it?

>>If you read all of "mykee's" posts you'll see that's the kind of responses he gives. Makes you feel great for asking questions doesn't it?

-------------------

I actually thought his response was hilarious. But I'm also double checking to make sure he wasn't just being a smartass. I would probably have given a similar response on any given day.
-----
Adam

"I wish I were wise! I wish I were wise from the heart of me, like my serpent!"

Nope, not at all. I have found that all breeders who have a substantial collection use heat tape as their primary and only heat source, and 90% of hobbyists use it along with UTH's.
-----
www.strictlyballs.ca

>>Nope, not at all. I have found that all breeders who have a substantial collection use heat tape as their primary and only heat source, and 90% of hobbyists use it along with UTH's.
>>-----
>>www.strictlyballs.ca

--------------------

Thanks Mykee. You rock, man.
-----
Adam

"I wish I were wise! I wish I were wise from the heart of me, like my serpent!"

Thanks, I do what I can. Simple question; simple answer. I find there will always be people who like to fuss...
-----
www.strictlyballs.ca

so, mykee, your saying to use both UTH and Heat Tape? where would you put the heat tape? Would the tape be for the ambient air temp?

thanks for the questions and answers...

jen

Using both an UTH and heat tape would be redundant as they are both the same thing. These products are used to maintain a hot spot. Ambient air temperature is the job of a space heater, furnace, etc.
-----
www.strictlyballs.ca

most people use under tank heaters, flex watt, heating pads or radiant heat panels to heat ball python enclosures.

Overhead heating is rather useless for ball pythons who tend to go into dark tight places out of the sun. Thus under tank heat is best way to go.

Keep in mind that all undertank heaters, flex watt heat tape and radiant heat panels should be connected to a thermostat to ensure they maintain a proper temperature and don't over heat.

Flexwatt heat tape needs to be wired..either by soldering wire to the contacts at one end, or using the clip kits some companies have available.

Searching the forums for 'flexwatt' or 'heat tape' should produce plenty of hits on past posts relating on how best to set cages up using these heat sources.

The Bean Farm (see banner above the ball Python forum page) has wiring diagrams available on their site for viewing. Just look under reptile heating, flex watt in their products section.
-----
PHLdyPayne

HI,

You can also use a rheostat to dim down the heat. It works fine and one company that is a large breeder only uses them because when the temps change so does the heat which they think is cool for the snake. It kind of mixes it up a little and does not always keep the same heat day and night. You can find the rheostats pretty cheap if money is an issue. I do prefer a nice thermostat only because I am a cooler at night. And definitely get rid of the overhead heat source. I never had any descent sheds while using one.

Good luck,
Bill

Rheostats and thermostats in my book, are pretty much the same thing. Only real difference is one is 'on/off' the other proportional (increases or decreases amount of power sent to the heating device..so it heats more or less accordingly). Yet I am pretty sure you can get on/off style thermostats as well as proportional.

People have also used dimmer switches...basically the same sort you can hook up for lights to make them brighter or dimmer by moving a 'slide' up or down, or turning a nob to do the same.

A proportional thermostat is the better out of them all..as it adjusts for changes in air temperature (if the probe end reaches the set temperature faster than it did before because of a heat wave...it will keep reducing power to the heating element...and raise the power if its colder where the probe is). Then again, a on/off would just stay off... A dimmer switch probably end up overheating your snakes...as it won't turn down, it will maintain a constant flow of power whether temperature in the cage increases or decreases.

I myself use the on/off sort of thermostat.
-----
PHLdyPayne