Dumb question

I'm sure this has been covered before, but a search on flexwatt turns up 8975546 billion hits, so I'm just gonna ask a dumb newb question!

Is flexwatt something that has to be ordered? I've done searches on Home Depot and Lowe's sites, no results. I know Petsmart doesn't carry it as I'm there every other day (it seems). I would like to just be able to go pick it up, as my sparkly new plastic tub is having issues. Cool side is ok, but warm side is too cool.

I don't believe that you can pick it up in any local store..

Try www.mgreptiles.com That is were I buy mine from
Charlie

http://www.reptilebasics.com/store/home.php

Yes, it's a speciality order heat tape. I doubt you'll find it in any local hardware stores, let alone pet shops. =)

There is also the beanfarm.com as well as mgreptiles.com and a few others I have purchased from that are reliable suppliers.


I just wish I could get it at walmart!! LOL

Flexwatt is most easily found at all of the above sites. But, just an interesting little piece of knowledge. Flexwatt can be found at some hardware stores. Flexwatt was originally designed to be used on roofs and stairways, to melt snow and keep the weight from possibly collapsing a roof, or to keep stairways clear of snow and ice, posibly creating a slip hazard. I live down south, so have not found any at any type of hardware store, but I imagine that up north, you might be able to find it. Just thought some people might not have known that.

What they said! Rich at www.reptilebasics.com is a super guy and delivers all orders promptly with no drama! Rock on!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by SarahMB

I
Is flexwatt something that has to be ordered? I've done searches on Home Depot and Lowe's sites, no results. I know Petsmart doesn't carry it as I'm there every other day (it seems). I would like to just be able to go pick it up, as my sparkly new plastic tub is having issues. Cool side is ok, but warm side is too cool.

---

By the way, Petsmart and Petco do carry "reptile heating mats" made by a couple major brands that are basically flexwatt but quite a bit more expensive. If you need it ASAP though, they are sold under the Exoterra and Zoomed brands and maybe others.

Thank you all for your replies, and for not making fun of my stupid newbie trick ;)

I decided to go ahead and call the hardware stores, as they don't put every little item online, just to see if they had it. Lowe's never answered the phone, I called twice and let it ring over 20 times.
Home Depot answered on the first ring. The first person transferred me to the electrical department. The electrical guy had no idea what I was talking about, no surprise, being as I live in Texas, haha.
Bless his heart, he walked all over the store with me on the line with him. He was checking in the tape section, and I told him he might want to try heating supplies instead. He checked there, and another guy told him to check the area with gutters. Off he went. They guy in that section told him where to find it, though. In PLUMBING! Gosh, who woulda thunk it?
My guess is it's there for people who want to tape up their pipes to keep them from freezing those 2 days of the year we actually DO get ice. haha

I was just getting ready to give up and order it online, too! Anyways, thanks for all the links, and thanks to Tim for giving me the idea to check on the phone. Inadvertantly, maybe, but it worked anyway.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by SarahMB

...They guy in that section told him where to find it, though. In PLUMBING! Gosh, who woulda thunk it?
....

---

Haha! That's great customer service for ya! And a HUGE clue for helping people in the future. When looking for flexwatt in the hardware store...check the plumbing section, rather than heating or electrical. Amazing!

I know, he really went above and beyond for what he must have thought was a crazy lady on the line! haha
I used Tim's explanation of what it's used for. So I was looking for something to melt ice on stairs. In Texas in June-almost-July.
:rolleye2:

Just a little update and question.

I went to Home Depot, and they did NOT have what I was looking for. They had heat cables, higher priced than the reptile heat cables at Petsmart, and I already tried those out. Didn't like them at all.

So, I'm getting ready to place an order online. I plan on ordering the flexwatt and the connection set, but what is the foil tape for? Is this something I need?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by SarahMB

Just a little update and question.

I went to Home Depot, and they did NOT have what I was looking for. They had heat cables, higher priced than the reptile heat cables at Petsmart, and I already tried those out. Didn't like them at all.

So, I'm getting ready to place an order from mgreptiles.com now. I plan on ordering the flexwatt and the connection set, but what is the foil tape for? Is this something I need?

---

Foil tape is all purpose. You can use it to to tape the flexwatt to the enclosure or to tape tstat probes in place. That you can get pretty cheap at Home depot. What is the status of the feeding issue? Did you get him to eat yet?

Ok, that sounds convenient, so I'm going to go ahead and order some as well.
Trey is getting ready to shed, so I've just left him alone for the past few days. I can run up to the pet store for a mouse real quick if you think I should go ahead and try feeding him?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by SarahMB

Ok, that sounds convenient, so I'm going to go ahead and order some as well.
Trey is getting ready to shed, so I've just left him alone for the past few days. I can run up to the pet store for a mouse real quick if you think I should go ahead and try feeding him?

---

When was the last tube feeding? I was under the impression that you were going to try a fuzzy with the "paper bag trick". I would leave him and let him shed and then try that trick afterwards.

Yes, I'm definitely going to try the paper bag thing.
I tube fed him 3 days ago, and 2 days ago noticed he was turning blue. So I thought I would just leave him completely alone until Monday and try a mouse then.
But if you think I should try before then, I have 45 minutes until the pet store closes, won't reopen again until Monday. It's only a couple of blocks away, I could easily run and get one real quick.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by SarahMB

Yes, I'm definitely going to try the paper bag thing.
I tube fed him 3 days ago, and 2 days ago noticed he was turning blue. So I thought I would just leave him completely alone until Monday and try a mouse then.
But if you think I should try before then, I have 45 minutes until the pet store closes, won't reopen again until Monday. It's only a couple of blocks away, I could easily run and get one real quick.

---

My opinion would be wait until he finishes shedding. A lot of BPs won't eat during shed anyway and with this one being a problem feeder, its even less of a chance. Get the shed out of the way and then you can try the paper bag trick. If that doesn't work you can continue the vet's tube feeding recommendation.

Thanks, Jamie! That makes me feel good, knowing that I was on the right track with my plan :)

And thanks for the help on the flexwatt issue!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by SarahMB

Thanks, Jamie! That makes me feel good, knowing that I was on the right track with my plan :)

And thanks for the help on the flexwatt issue!

---

Anytime! Sounds like you are doing everything possible!

Just FYI~

Rich @ www.reptilebasics.com is great, and he makes the professional connections on your flexwatt for FREE. The orders from here ship almost instantly.... I highly recomend Reptile Basics!

Jared