Flexwatt inside or out?

[Flatheadhunter33]

When using flexwatt, do you place it inside or outside and underneath the cage? If you use it inside, how do you keep it from being exposed to shortage from water contact or snake burn, electrocution etc...or am I over thinking this?

[Kaorte]

Depends on the setup. I would personally never use flexwatt inside the enclosure because the connections could become vulnerable to water. You could use a UTH or ultratherm heat pad in the cage as long as it was covered with something like tile or glass.

You shouldn't need to put the heat source in the tank unless you are doing a custom enclosure that has a very thick base.

For all glass enclosures and most reptile enclosures, the heating element goes outside the cage.

[Seru1]

Probably best to put the flexwatt on the outside of the cage and just have your thermostat like 2 to 4 degrees over your target temperature.

Make sure whatever you do you do have it hooked to a thermostat!


Oh and what are your tanks? Glass? Plastic? Wood? Rack System?

[2kdime]

ALWAYS outside

[Flatheadhunter33]

Sorry, I should have mentioned that I am wanting to do my own enclosure out of wood. Thinking of going with a melamine matierial. If it works out, it will actually be two tanks (one stacked on the other). Im wondering how flewatt for the top enclosure would affect the bottom one if I mount the flexwatt outside and underneath? I got this idea from an article I read online...since I have dealt with Flexwatt before I just want to know how it works for you all...also can someone elxplain how to run a rheostat and thermometer to it? Or would I even need both? Thanks.

[Kaorte]

Sorry, I should have mentioned that I am wanting to do my own enclosure out of wood. Thinking of going with a melamine matierial. If it works out, it will actually be two tanks (one stacked on the other). Im wondering how flewatt for the top enclosure would affect the bottom one if I mount the flexwatt outside and underneath? I got this idea from an article I read online...since I have dealt with Flexwatt before I just want to know how it works for you all...also can someone elxplain how to run a rheostat and thermometer to it? Or would I even need both? Thanks.

You would need to use a reptile thermostat. A good reliable one for multiple cages can be found at reptilebasics.com. You just put the thermostat probe right on the flexwatt tape and set the thermostat to the temperature you want. Make sure to put a thermometer inside the cage to measure the temps your snake will be experiencing.

If you are going with custom stacking enclosures, you might want to look into Radiant Heat Panels: http://www.reptilebasics.com/radiant...panel-faq.html

[Flatheadhunter33]

I am so glad that I found this place!! Im getting alot more feed back here than I did elsewhere! Thanks for your help. These heat panels seem to be signifigantly more expensive than the heat tape? Im going to read more on them and decide if i should hold off on my project until I can afford them instead...I thought the flexwatt was the good stuff that most collectors are using?

[Kaorte]

I am so glad that I found this place!! Im getting alot more feed back here than I did elsewhere! Thanks for your help. These heat panels seem to be signifigantly more expensive than the heat tape? Im going to read more on them and decide if i should hold off on my project until I can afford them instead...I thought the flexwatt was the good stuff that most collectors are using?

The majority of people who use flexwatt use it in a rack type setup (shelves with tubs). For a custom enclosure, you could use ultratherm heat pads or regular UTHs or a radiant heat panel.

If you are using a thick wood base, the heat pad is going to have to do a lot of work to maintain a hot spot of 90-92*. The hotter the heating device is running, the faster it will deteriorate.

I think radiant heat panels are great for custom enclosure setups (especially stacked ones) but you could probably use heat pads as well (or flexwatt as long as it is outside the enclosure).

[BPelizabeth]

If you are using tubs you will put it right on the melamine. If you are building like a viv type of thing....then it will not be able to heat through the melamine....someone had a great idea on another site. He put down the heat tape and then put something over it like tile/glass. I thought that was a pretty good way to deal with it.

The biggest thing is you do not want your snake to be able to burrow under anything and sit right on the heat tape...and they will!!

I hope that this makes sense. Sorry

[Flatheadhunter33]

Thanks. I know that another member here says that he made an enclosure that has a plexi glass floor which worked good for him for getting the heat thing take care of...Im thnking about doing that also...Just want to get a broader knowledge in general here before I purchase the BPs and realize that I didnt think it through enough.