Heat tape question?

You can't use heat tape with a rheostat can you? I wanted to build a snake rack sometime soon an wanted to know if that's possible. I can buy a thermostat but if I could use my rheostat that'd be great.

I wouldn't. Heat tape runs pretty hot and is more difficult to regulate than a UTH. when a rheostat fails it fails on and heat tape can and will burn your animals if left to run at full power.

Alright thank you