Flexwatt 6 or 10?

['SiQ']

Looking at ordering the flex watt to start on my rack. I was wondering what do you guys prefer? or possibly a mixture of both? Also are there anything els to consider when you set up the flexwatt as far as the reptile saftey?

Also would you use a temperature controller of some type?

Thanks guys/gals

[lk_holla]

yes yes yes! when using flex watt you MUST use a thermostat because the flex-watt on its own can get ridiculously hot (its original purpose was heating up water pipes). as far as other safety, make sure you install it out of the enclosure and not in the enclosure, and test it for a day or two without the snake in it before putting the snake in.

['SiQ']

thank you for the responce. Looks like my research is starting to pay off lol

so is the 10watt mainly used for larger snakes? or what is the big idfferent between the two

[lk_holla]

not so sure about the wattage, I've got fairly large tubs and they're not in an enclosed rack system so I use the 11"

reptile basics has a pretty good FAQ for using flexwatt

http://www.reptilebasics.com/flexwatt-faq.html

[K2exotics]

I think most people go by the width, you want it to cover about as much of the bottom of the tub as a UTH ( no more than 1/2) because you want to offer them the correct temperature gradient. So the size and wattage of flexwatt would be determined by the sixe of the tubs you are going to have in the rack, also are you using it for belly heat or back heat, etc.

['SiQ']

Once again thank you everyone for the quick responses and great help. This community is very good in so many ways!

[saber2th]

One important thing when using Flexwatt is to use the same wattage for the whole rack. Unless you use two different thermostats or something like a Herpstat II. If you mix watts on the same thermostat, You will get different temps. Say you put four shelves with 6 watt and one with 10 watt and all are running off the same thermostat, the 10 watt will run hotter than the other four with 6 watt. Now if you had those same four on one thermostat and the one with the 10 watt one a separate thermostat, you would be safe.

hope this helps,

Dave

[K2exotics]

One important thing when using Flexwatt is to use the same wattage for the whole rack. Unless you use two different thermostats or something like a Herpstat II. If you mix watts on the same thermostat, You will get different temps. Say you put four shelves with 6 watt and one with 10 watt and all are running off the same thermostat, the 10 watt will run hotter than the other four with 6 watt. Now if you had those same four on one thermostat and the one with the 10 watt one a separate thermostat, you would be safe.

hope this helps,

Dave

That is a very good point! I didnt think of that before good thing I read these posts!