Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I noticed that I have to keep my flexwatt tape at a considerably higher temperature in order to keep the hotspot inside the tub around 95 degrees for my ball python rack. Using my temp gun the heat tape is usually around 108 Degrees for me to achieve the 95 degree surface temp inside the tub. Does anyone know how to remedy this so I won't have to keep the flexwatt temp so high? I understand it may be because the sterilite tubs I'm using have a slight gap between the tub and the heat tape because of the feet, but is there a way for it to absorb more heat? Running the tape at high temperatures like that makes me somewhat worried. Thanks for your time.

Understand your concern. My heat tape usually runs around 101 degrees to produce 92 degrees inside the tub (the back edge of the tub may read 97 or so, but where the snake will actually be laying needs to be 92).

I'm not entirely an expert, but I would say that 95 degrees inside of your tubs for balls may be a bit warm, typically people run them from 88-91. Anyway, that's a side note, just something you may want to consider.

Back to your original question, there are several things you can do to improve the efficiency of your rack, although 8 degrees of separation is probably about as good as you can expect (as you noted due to the 1/2" gap from the 'lip' that touches the heat tape to the tub itself). For starters, I always recommend inside walls versus outside walls. Secondly, you can either improve the material (generally thicker is better) on the back of your rack. I recently went from 1/8" plastic to 1/4" plastic for my backs and saw about a 2 degree temperature increase. If replacing the back isn't feasible, then I'd recommend using some insulation (I prefer 1/2" or 3/4" silver-backed insulation that you can buy at most hardware stores). Cut it to the size you need and either sandwich it between the wall and the back of the rack or tape it to the back of the rack. This will let less heat out of the back therefore pushing more heat towards the tubs.
Hope this helps. If you have any other questions, feel free to let me know.
Take care,
Jason @ Jason's Jungle

Jason,

You use backheat on the racks, right? What do you normally keep the ambient temperature in the room at?

I shoot for 80 degrees but it varies anywhere from 78-82 depending on the time of year. I don't actually use anything to control the ambient air temps, I let nature run it's course
Jason @ Jason's Jungle

If I'm reading correctly, is the heat tape under the boxes?

If under the boxes, why 95 degrees? 90 is plenty, even for BPs.

The solution is to raise the ambient air temp in the room. Then, to get 90 deg under the box, the heat tape will need to be only a few deg higher than that.

If the heat tape is run down the back of the rack, then read Jason's response and insulate the back of the rack with styrene foam insulation.

FYI - a buddy of mine that breeds BPs keeps his in a room set at 80 deg with a small strip of heat tape only for the females set to about 90 or so. That is it. Ambient temps are critical. A 65 deg ambient temp with a 90 deg hot spot is not the answer.

I would see about heating the room, or else build a plywood box around the rack and line the interior of the box with heat tape to raise the ambient air temps. Or, get some cages and mount radiant heat panels and be done with it.

Yes I am using belly heat. My ambient room temps are fine, they range 78-82 degrees 24/7. My concern was that the heat tape still had to run at around 10 degrees hotter than what the hotspot surface temp was in the tub itself, where the python would lay. So I'd have to have the tape running at around 104-105 to get a hotspot of 94-95 on the hotspot. I said I wanted 95 degrees because that is what the Sutherlands (Snake Keeper) use as their hotspot with their ball pythons, they also stated it on the Ball Python Breeding video/DVD. I'm thinking its more of the tubs fault, probably because it is so raised off the tape.