Reptile & Amphibian Forums

my question is how do you make a breeding rack that doesnt melt the containers?!?!?! my rubber made containers are like 4" off the heat taper cause they began to melt. can any one explain to me why i see these breeding racks with the containers almost sitting on top of the heat tape? i thought about lowering the, but that was only a split second, becasue then it wouldnt be warm enough for the herps. please help me.
thanx
nevin
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.1. green tree python-bates
.1 jungle carpet python-echo
1.1 brazilian rainbow baos-peace&chaos (rip sunshine)
.1 columbian redtail-trinity
1.2 leopard geckos-killer, narvana, sallean,
1. blizzerd lizzard-grim
.1 bell leopard gecko-ecstacy
.1 tremper leopard gecko-euphoria
.2. amazon tree boas-sweetness&carnage
0.1.0 kenyan sand boa-stimpy R.I.P.
1.2 bearded dragon-blaze&isis
1. uromastyx-chubby
2 green Dendrobates auratus-zoate, stricnine
.1 terquise Dendrobates auratus-acid
.1 blue Dendrobates auratus-toxic
.2. phyllobates terribilis-cyanide, arsenic
.1. pacman frog- MR belly
.1 columbian redtail-trinity
2.0 brothers
0.2 sisters
3 cats-fat max, spiderman, &toby
1 miniture mutt-brutis

all ive got is insane

"dont be afraid to die, only be afraid to not live"

"dont become classified. if you are nothing, then you can be anything."

You need a rheostat or thermostat to control the temp on the heat tape. Under tank heat sources should not be unregulated, as all of the ones I've used (heat pads, heat mats, flexwatt, heat rope) can run higher than I want my hot spots to be. I have 4 cages with flexwatt under them on a Ranco thermostat (spot check temps with a temp gun to make sure they are all within the range I need since I only have 1 probe on the thermostat). My Animal Plastic rack with heat rope/cable is on a Helix DB-1000 thermostat. I've never had a problem with any rubbermaids or critter keepers melting as long as everything is run through a thermostat to control power to the heat source.

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Lora

i do have a thermostat.
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.1. green tree python-bates
.1 jungle carpet python-echo
1.1 brazilian rainbow baos-peace&chaos (rip sunshine)
.1 columbian redtail-trinity
1.2 leopard geckos-killer, narvana, sallean,
1. blizzerd lizzard-grim
.1 bell leopard gecko-ecstacy
.1 tremper leopard gecko-euphoria
.2. amazon tree boas-sweetness&carnage
0.1.0 kenyan sand boa-stimpy R.I.P.
1.2 bearded dragon-blaze&isis
1. uromastyx-chubby
2 green Dendrobates auratus-zoate, stricnine
.1 terquise Dendrobates auratus-acid
.1 blue Dendrobates auratus-toxic
.2. phyllobates terribilis-cyanide, arsenic
.1. pacman frog- MR belly
.1 columbian redtail-trinity
2.0 brothers
0.2 sisters
3 cats-fat max, spiderman, &toby
1 miniture mutt-brutis

all ive got is insane

"dont be afraid to die, only be afraid to not live"

"dont become classified. if you are nothing, then you can be anything."

What temp are you running the heat source at? I would think rubbermaids would not melt at temps most reptiles thrive at (excluding desert basking lizards, which I usually see heated with overhead lamps). I'm not familiar with the husbandry of some of the animals on your list, what are you keeping in the rack? I keep snakes, mainly colubrids (with a few boids) and the warm cages run at 82-85 for a hot spot, ambient temp of 73-75. I know a rubbermaid won't melt at 85 degrees (or even at 110 when I tested the rack initially). Can you use a temp gun to test the temp directly over the heat tape? Maybe your thermostat isn't working correctly? Where is the sensor probe placed in relation to the heat tape? I put mine on the hottest spot in the cage (or in the back of the rack next to the heat source and adjust slightly for the desired temp at the back of the tubs.
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Lora

Nevin, your thermostat could be fried. i have rancos for my rack set at 85 and my heat tape doesn't get much higher than that. Also maybe you don't have enough heat tape to get the temps where you want them to be. My rack is 3' wide by 2' deep on one side i have 2' of 11" heat tape under the tubs, i also have a 11" strip running down the back of the rack for supplemental heat. I'm in wisconsin, so i figured better a little more tape, so the setup doesn't struggle to get the temps raised enough.
hope this helps, Clint

yuppers either a thermostat failure or the probe is in the wrong place. To little heat tape will cause the temp to rise away from the probe to try and compesate(s).. What type of tstat are you using..I use the Ranco and Johsnons too and never have any problems..
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www.mgreptiles.com
CBB Herps and Heating Supplies

ok, thanx guys. i think its the to little tape. i know its not the thermostats. they work i kno they do. but im just not getting the temps i want, with out melting the containers. thats the thing. ill just have to get bigger inch tape. thanx guys, i dont know why that never crossed my mind
nevin
-----
.1. green tree python-bates
.1 jungle carpet python-echo
1.1 brazilian rainbow baos-peace&chaos (rip sunshine)
.1 columbian redtail-trinity
1.2 leopard geckos-killer, narvana, sallean,
1. blizzerd lizzard-grim
.1 bell leopard gecko-ecstacy
.1 tremper leopard gecko-euphoria
.2. amazon tree boas-sweetness&carnage
0.1.0 kenyan sand boa-stimpy R.I.P.
1.2 bearded dragon-blaze&isis
1. uromastyx-chubby
2 green Dendrobates auratus-zoate, stricnine
.1 terquise Dendrobates auratus-acid
.1 blue Dendrobates auratus-toxic
.2. phyllobates terribilis-cyanide, arsenic
.1. pacman frog- MR belly
.1 columbian redtail-trinity
2.0 brothers
0.2 sisters
3 cats-fat max, spiderman, &toby
1 miniture mutt-brutis

all ive got is insane

"dont be afraid to die, only be afraid to not live"

"dont become classified. if you are nothing, then you can be anything."