Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am thinking about wiring up Easy Heat home flooring heat wire to a thermostat to heat a boa cage. Does anyone have experience doing this? Thanks in advance.

I believe this product needs to be set in a mortar bed for safety reason. That could make the cage quite heavy.

But no, I've not used this product in any application. I have read a bit about radiant floor heat as I'm considering remodeling a home.

Let us know what you find out.
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Current snakes:

1.1 Gonyosoma oxycephala - (Silver/Yellow)

3.4 Gonyosoma oxycephala - (Green)

2.1 Gonyosoma janseni - (Black)

This product does not have to be in mortar. It is simply a heat cable that should be used in conjunction with a proportional thermostat. I have used this in conjunction with my Helix thermostat for years with success in my large incubator. The incubator size is 72" tall x 30" wide x 24" deep. The temperature varies max .5 deg F.

Zoo Med now also has a heat cable that is much thinner but this one can be used in terrariums, even wrapped around branches for different species to have the ability to thermoregulate.

Peter

Is a proportional thermostat really needed? I would think you would be fine with a standard probe thermostatfor a cage. I was looking at the alife thermoatat from LLL. I would like to think that the easy heat wire is safer solution than flexwatt for heating cages.

i use heat rope from big apple...its waterproof and very good stuff...you can wrap it around whatever you want...but it does need some type of control...it can get well over 100 degrees

Jason

A proportional thermo isint needed. I use Johnson controls for all my heating. Some people even use dimmers I I wouldent advise that(not enough control for me). What ever you do do not get a alife or the zoomed thermostats. The other brands like johnsons or ranco might be a little more but they will not stick and overheat the cage...
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www.mgreptiles.com
CBB Herps and Heating Supplies

I agree a pulse proportional thermostat is not needed unless you are trying to maintain a precise thermal/temperature gradient. The reason not to use a ZooMed heater is not because of sticking, but because these heaters do not do well with the constant on/off cycle. As justcage also mentioned, a dimmer works well, especially if your herp room maintains a constnt temp. I always recommend a back up thermometer to keep your herps safe. I am still a big fan of helix but I just purchased one of the Big Apple thermostats with the built in night drop. Does anyone have info on these?

Peter

I had one of the BAH pro thermos and sent it back..Its nise they have the biult in night drop. If I was going to use a proportional thermostat that would be the one i would go with. Alife and zoo med thermostats do stick on the on or off position. They are not made with the industrial grade componients(sp) like the ranco or the johnsons. I have seen them stick first hand and would never buy another one..But that just my opinon..
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www.mgreptiles.com
CBB Herps and Heating Supplies

Why did you have to send it back? I also have had some bad experience with the ESU thermometer not coming on at the set point. I went to Helix but they are expensive when yoy need to buy up to 100 of them. I still have not hooked up the BAH one but I may set it on my A. papuana this weekend.

Peter Kriz
Aquarist/Biological Programs
National Aquarium in Baltimore

I just wasant happy with it. I had it on an animal plastic s11 and could not get 95 on the hottest point in the tub.I had the unit turned all the way..So I sent it back and bought a johnson controls..
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www.mgreptiles.com
CBB Herps and Heating Supplies