Heating ASF cage

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Originally Posted by Mike Cavanaugh

Can't you put them in a warmer part of the house? If not, get a space heater. Dont see the heat tape or the heat lamp being the answer.

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I agree. Heat tape will cause issues with pinky piles that are nested deep, and a heat lamp I think would be too harsh, and just upset them with the constant bright light. A space heater would be the best option if you cant move them to a warmer part of the house. Also, insulating the tank with some foam board may help a bit, as well as just offering some better nesting material. If you really cant get them some more ambient heat, I would make sure they have a decently snug hidey box with some good insulating bedding. Some ideas would be simple aspen shavings (the finer, thinner the better, it holds heat better), or some carefresh (I do not recommend this as a total substrate, just a little handful to nest in the box).

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Mike Cavanaugh

Can't you put them in a warmer part of the house? If not, get a space heater. Dont see the heat tape or the heat lamp being the answer.

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I was going to say the exact same thing! I got a space heater from Home Depot that has a digital T-stat on it for $45. i keep mine at around 80 I get upset if it drops below 80. I have had it go below a few times I even had it as low as 65 but that was for a very short period of time so they may not have had a chance to get cold.... I would recommend figuring out how to heat them with a space heater. I do not know the lay out of your basement but you could build a room down there to heat... I mean something really basic nothing extravagant just something to hold in the heat!

Mike

I lost a litter (not sure if it was due to the cooler temps since I keep my house at about 65 degrees)...but I put my 17" flexwatt under their tub and haven't lost an entire litter since... I have a thermometer on the flexwatt and run it at about 82 degrees...

Thanks for your replies everyone. Unfortunately, relocating the ASFRs is not a possibility as I have a wife who is VERY uncomfortable with these little critters in the house. This colony is feeding my very fussy dumerils. Everything else I have, is on f/t. Additionally, we don't keep our house temp. much higher than 70F. Anyway, I thought I'd do a little bit of a test. I have a heating pad (human variety) with a temp. adjustment dial, so I placed in on the outside back wall of the tank. I measured the tank's temp with a heat gun, and it hovered around 76F with the back wall around 89F, so all in all, pretty reasonable. The activity of the ASFRs is way up all around. Overall they seem happier. I think I'll tape a strip of 4" heat tape along the outside top of the back wall, and control it with a dimmer. Now I hope the parents get busy on another litter...

you could also look into radiant heat panels

I don't breed ASF's, but I do breed rats. I keep them in the garage, and it can get very cold in there. I run a heater if it drops below 32F to keep the water from freezing. They breed fine and are all healthy.