Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I built a wood cage that is 4x4x2.Its partitioned into two 4x2x18 in tall cages and one 4x2x12 tall cage = 4x4x2 total..
I was thinking that if I put the heat cable on the inside back wall it would help take the edge off the cold winter weather.
The 18 feet length weaved throughout the back of all three cages.
I would still have flexwatt for a basking but need something extra to bump the ambient heat up.Would this work to raise the over all temps by 5/10 degrees?(on a dimmer or rheostat of course).

Does anyone know if I should use more then 18ft? The room is around 70 degrees.The wood is 3/4 sides 1/2 back.But I am putting foam insulation on the outside back and underneath.

Too many variables to know if the heat cable will do enough heating for you during the coolest days.

The easiest way to do what you want to do is to use a ceramic heat emitter (CHE) or a radiant heat panel (RHP) in each cage.

In fact, depending on what type of reptile you are keeping in those cages, you can use just RHPs and nothing else. Simple, effective, easy to control.

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Mark

I cant afford that many of them.CHE dont work on the lower cages unless I put them in from the back.
Im struggling right now just to keep the snakes with finances not quite up to par.I know things will get better so I am really trying not to put them up for rehoming.But at the same time condensing them into the one area would help with heating a bunch of separate tanks, bins and enclosures like I am now.
So heat cable is cheap and would heat all the cages(at least that is what Im hoping for).I just dont know how much rope Ill need and dont obviously want to waste money.

I understand. RHPs are expensive up front.

I think you will need alot more than 18ft of cable. Figure the 4ft x 18in high cages will need a good 10ft or more of cable snaked on the back wall to raise any temps appreciably. And then what about adhereing it? Tape? Fine if in a dry cage, but snakes seem to always find tape and get stuck (if you are housing snakes).

You may want alternatives. A room heater is one alternative if that is possible for you. An oil-filled radiator type is awesome and costs maybe $60-$70. I use a small $30 ceramic room heater for a 10ft x 10ft room and it keeps the temps from dropping too low. Works really well. Makes it easy - all I have to worry about is a small basking spot in each cage.

I would run the 11 inch Flexwatt along the back wall before cable if you really need to up the temps. You can staple the clear edge part. Probably your cheapest method.

Another alternative is to get outdoor security light fixtures - just the light fixture part sold separately. You mount them through the back or side of the cage. You can run up to a 60 Watt heat bulb in them. They are cheap too, like $7 each. You can do two per larger cage and use 40 watt bulbs and dim down a bit. That will heat the cage better than cable.
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Mark

Yes those oil filled heaters are great if you're on a budget. I've also found something that works great for me and even better than oil filled heaters. These heaters are lower wattage and just blast out heat when you need them.

Soleus Air MS-09 Oscillating Reflective Heater 800W Fan Heater

I got one just like this brand above for $40 as Home Depot.

These guys are really safe too, they turn off if they tip over and it is radiant heat.

They look like fans but they are not fans at all they just push heat out. In a pinch these guys will keep your animals warm for a low price. I highly recommend them.

Copy and paste this link and check it out:

http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=radiant heaters&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-a&cid=17652062897673707451#p

Let me know if that link doesn't work.