Back vs. belly heat

I wondering what is more effective belly heat or back heat.

Effective at what?

I believe this depends on many things, but how cool your room gets is a huge factor, as is the type of cage. If the room is usually pretty warm, belly heat works great. If you have a cool room, belly won't heat a large cage well. Also, real thick cage bottom makes belly more of a challenge.

Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk 2

Keeping the ball pythons properly heated/ emitting enough heat.

I'm building a rack and don't know if I should use belly or back heat with flex watt heat tape and my rooms in the basement and it's usually stays really cool down here.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Adin

I'm building a rack and don't know if I should use belly or back heat with flex watt heat tape and my rooms in the basement and it's usually stays really cool down here.

---

How cool?

I think the question is to use UTH or heat lamp. Answer is UTH...if the room is cold, use a lamp too to get the ambient temps up.

No, when you're heating a rack you don't use heat lamps. If it's really cool you might have to go the more costly route of tanks or vivs.

72-75 degrees

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Adin

72-75 degrees

---

Thats fine. You want belly heat.

Under what conditions would back heat be more beneficial?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Mike41793

Thats fine. You want belly heat.

---

Alrighty thanks.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by TheSnakeGuy

Under what conditions would back heat be more beneficial?

---

If you have a dedicated herp room thats already pretty warm then you wouldn't necessarily need belly heat.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by TheSnakeGuy

Under what conditions would back heat be more beneficial?

---

I have no idea lol exactly why i was checking on here.

belly heat when your ambient temperature isn't as high. back heat when the room temp is already in the 70ish. belly heat use more electricity and rans a little hotter. i have back heat on my rack and my room is at a constant 75-78f and its works perfect. any colder than back heat would not be able to create the optimal thermal gradient

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by threezero

belly heat use more electricity and rans a little hotter.

---

No, back heat runs hotter. Belly heat is in direct contact with the tub and creates a hotspot. Back heat has to warm the air to create a hotspot. Back heat (flexwatt) usually isn't right against the tub either.

It depends on your ambient room temps.
Back heat is easier if you can maintain room temps high enough. If your house is cooler, belly heat is more effective and safer.
Back heat uses more power since it's heating up the air compared to belly, which is creating a specific hot spot.


Back heat is only easier if your ambient temps are around 77-80+. Since it's heating up the air, the actual flexwatt is hotter than if you were doing belly heat.
It's not effective if your room temps are low.

I used back heat for a while. I loved it, but the flexwatt had to maintain 120 degrees in order to get a 90 degree hot side and 80 cool side in the tub. My room temp was 70-75. Flexwatt isn't designed to safely run over 100-105 degrees, so I wasn't comfortable with that hazard. I switched the belly heat, and the flexwatt runs at 98 degrees to achieve a 90 degree hot spot and 80 cool side.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Inarikins

No, when you're heating a rack you don't use heat lamps.

---

You can use a lamp with a rack system. Animal Plastics has a rack designed for lamp placement. (This rack and lamp use will kill humidity though)

http://www.animalplastics.com/BEARDED-RACK.jpg

Well, I suppose I should have qualified that with a 'mostly'. Usually people that need setups like that are working with things that need the light and BPs don't, so it doesn't make much sense to use a lamp for a BP rack unless you really have to. /shrugs

Thanks for all the input everyone!

I'm building my rack today, it's going to use back heat and its enclosed on 3 sides, only the front will be open. With I hope will hold in heat great

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Trackstrong83

I'm building my rack today, it's going to use back heat and its enclosed on 3 sides, only the front will be open. With I hope will hold in heat great

---

If you find that your ambient temp or cool side aren't warm enough, you could try adding a plexiglass door on the front. I simple hinge and latch with many holes drilled in it will help hold in more warm air. Post pics too!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by TheSnakeGuy

If you find that your ambient temp or cool side aren't warm enough, you could try adding a plexiglass door on the front. I simple hinge and latch with many holes drilled in it will help hold in more warm air. Post pics too!

---

I've actually thought about doing that! I'll see if my temps are good and ill add a door if its too cool. I've heard some people having ambient temps in the low 70s, but with a door it stays nice and toasty in their racks.

I have a door on my rack. It works amazing for heat retention. When the door is open or closed, there is a large difference in temp.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by satomi325

I have a door on my rack. It works amazing for heat retention. When the door is open or closed, there is a large difference in temp.

---

Awesome, I might go ahead and build a door why I'm at it. I don't need it now with summer approaching, but maybe as it cools down.
How cool do you think the room would have to get before the temp in the rack drops below 80? With the door closed of course

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Trackstrong83

Awesome, I might go ahead and build a door why I'm at it. I don't need it now with summer approaching, but maybe as it cools down.
How cool do you think the room would have to get before the temp in the rack drops below 80? With the door closed of course

---

In the winter, my indoor temps drop to around 60-65 (especially at night). This leaves the tub cool side sitting at in the high 60s/low 70s.
The rack can maintain a 77-80 ambient with the door closed. It definitely doesn't drop below 75. I haven't had an RI yet.

I keep the door open during the day and non-winter months.

The actual purpose of the door was to keep away unwanted eyes and my ferrets out during their play time. But it turned out better than I expected for retaining heat. haha.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by satomi325

In the winter, my indoor temps drop to around 60-65 (especially at night). This leaves the tub cool side sitting at in the high 60s/low 70s.
The rack can maintain a 77-80 ambient with the door closed. It definitely doesn't drop below 75. I haven't had an RI yet.

I keep the door open during the day and non-winter months.

The actual purpose of the door was to keep away unwanted eyes and my ferrets out during their play time. But it turned out better than I expected for retaining heat. haha.

---

Oh wow that's awesome. What is the door made out of? And what is your rack made out of?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Trackstrong83

Oh wow that's awesome. What is the door made out of? And what is your rack made out of?

---

It's all made out of plywood. Designed to blend in with my furniture. There are holes in the back for the flexwatt cables that allow air flow as well.



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v93/aznw1f/photo5.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v9...f/IMAG0348.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v9...f/IMAG0350.jpg

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by satomi325

It's all made out of plywood. Designed to blend in with my furniture. There are holes in the back for the flexwatt cables that allow air flow as well.



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v93/aznw1f/photo5.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v9...f/IMAG0348.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v9...f/IMAG0350.jpg

---

I love it! I just finished my rack :) ill post pictures tomorrow!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Trackstrong83

I'm building my rack today, it's going to use back heat and its enclosed on 3 sides, only the front will be open. With I hope will hold in heat great

---

Nice :) let me know how it goes!

I guess I should of hit refresh on taps talk haha ignore my last post

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Trackstrong83

I'm building my rack today, it's going to use back heat and its enclosed on 3 sides, only the front will be open. With I hope will hold in heat great

---

Pics ? Ha :)

That "cabinet" style rack is beautif, but how do the animals get fresh air?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Adin

Pics ? Ha :)

---

Just posted a thread :gj:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by TheSnakeGuy

That "cabinet" style rack is beautif, but how do the animals get fresh air?

---

She leaves the door open and only closes it when the ferrets are out or guests are over. I swear I don't stalk her... often... Lol

Under DIY ?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Adin

Under DIY ?

---

Husbandry. Wasn't sure exactly where to put it.

So I got a start on mine today ill make a thread on it under the DIY forums