Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Up until now, I have always used ceramic heat emitters as my heating method. They work great but look ugly (particularly the necessary cage around them).

I am in Australia, and there are no large scale herp supply stores like bigapple and beanfarm here. But, after logging onto their sites, noticed they export here.

So, now heat tape is an option. Can heat tape be used inbetween stacked malamine enclosures? Or does there need to be some sort of gap? If the enclosure was 3x2x2 feet long, in a room that is 68F in winter, would 3 feet x 11 inch heat tape be adequate to heat the enclosure to 85F? Or am I best to stick with emitters?

I would like to here from people that have had success or failures with the tape. Is it tricky to use? Or is there a better Under Tank heating method that could be used with no gaps in between stacked enclosures made of wood?

Cheers.

depends on what kind of snakes you have, heat tape is great for colubrids, if you have large boas, and pythons, I would rely on it as a sole heat source. If you have a large collection you might consider controlling the heat of the room they are in, rather then each individual cage. I've never had a problem with heat tape and melamine as long moisture wasn't involved.

Just realize that the floor area not heated with heat tape will remain cool like the air temp in the cage. That is why for large warm-climate snakes, heat tape alone may not be best. You need to heat the air some too. You can do that with a small wattage bulb usually along with the heat tape.

For small snakes, heat tape alone may be fine.

So how are all the Shinglebacks doing? Are they as common in areas as we are told? Must be real neat to see such different animals. Do you think your country will ever allow minimal export of some animals like Shinglebacks? Good luck with your heating. Bob.

I doubt AU will never allow import/export other than to zoos, etc. The introduction of the cane toad to our environment has had disasterous effects (particularly on our elapids which feed on frogs and skinks).