Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi, does anyone know if I can use heat mats on plastic containers? My concern is that it will melt.
I plan on keeping an arboreal, and placing a heatmat against the wall. Is this a good idea?

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Alex

You might think about a human heating pad - at least that's what I use for my rubbermaid tub that I use as a quarantine tank. No real danger of melting plastic with these - especially if you use the cloth cover they come with. My experience with the 2 reptile heating pads I've bought is that they get waaaayyyy too hot even with a dimmer. I've had to resort to a thermostat with these.
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All heating pads should me controlled be a digital thermostat.

if you look on the box of most of the reptile heating mats, they say for use on glass only...so I wouldn't trust them. I use a human heating pad for my small sterilite container for my hog and that keeps the warm end right around 80 with the pad on low, and I turn it off at night. seems to work fine though sola stays in the cool end most of the time. since it's a small box I just put half on the pad and half off it
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Sue Barnett
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they work just fine but you need raise the cage off the mat by about 0.5 inch

>>Hi, does anyone know if I can use heat mats on plastic containers? My concern is that it will melt.
>>I plan on keeping an arboreal, and placing a heatmat against the wall. Is this a good idea?
>>
>>Any help would be appreciated.
>>
>>Thanks,
>>Alex

Well, if you have it on a rheostat or dimmer then you can regulate it down to whatever you want. And think about it....if it is so hot that it melts plastic it is gonna sear your snake........So you are gonna want to regulate it anyway.
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Sonya

Haven't we warned you about tampering with the structure of a chaotic system?
Mrs. Neutron

Thanks!

If I use a thermostat...do I place the sensor in the plastic bin or do I place it outside right next to the tape or mat?

I place mine right on the heat pad, I set mine at 93 degrees. I do not like to use reostat because it restrics the wattage going to the pad so on cold days you must turn them up and on hot days turn them down. A thermostat will raise up to the temp. you set it at and shut off (saves on electric bills) and when the temp starts to drop it will pulse electic to it(if its a good one).

I'm thinking of either the Thermostat sold at Big Apple or the one by ZooMed. Price is about the same. Any recommendations?
Thanx again!

I would go with Ranco. Very very good.