Heat Tape Questions.

[ballin]

Will heat tape (zoomed or exo terra brands) burn carpet?
I'm looking for a way to heat the snakes I'm going to soon be getting and wondering ways to heat the cages using heat tape.
Not getting a rack system.
UTH are options but since I would be getting more then a couple tubs I thought heat tape would be more efficent.
thanks

[Crazy4Herps]

It depends on what you set it to (/how thick the cage is). For very thick cages such as acrylics, it needs to get very hot to warm the interior of the cage sufficiently. With tubs you'd probably be okay, but it's still a good idea to ventilate the space between the tape and the floor (I put two strips of plywood on either side of cages I use heat tape with, lifting it up an inch or so from the ground).

Heat tape is great and much safer than UTHs, but be sure to have a good thermostat (Johnsons and Rancos are great), or you may end up with a fire on your hands. Also, for the actual tape, I personally recommend flexwatt. It's much cheaper and more reputable than other brands such as ZooMed.

[ballin]

what do you think of rheostats? since I would only be having a small piece of flexwatt, would I need a thermostat? If so, what is a good priced thermostat to get, not too pricey?

[Crazy4Herps]

Rheostats don't work with heat tape. However, if you end up using heat pads, I recommend them as a cheaper alternative to a t'stat. While they will still fluctuate, it helps keep control of the temps. But when it comes to heat tape, a top notch t'stat is the only way to go. I know there are all kinds of cheap t'stats, but honestly, if you want one to work (which you do, because without a working t'stat, the heat tape will burn your house to the ground, it gets that hot), you should be looking at $80+. As I mentioned before, Ranco and Johnson t'stats work wonderfully and are for a fair price (I got my Johnsons for $100 shipped).

[ctrlfreq]

Rheostats don't work with heat tape.

Yes they do, and if the environment doesn't fluctuate wildly, they will maintain stable temperatures just fine.

Now, there are very good reasons to get thermostats (response to temperature changes, failing open, power savings, etc), but if you're talking about a stand-alone quarantine tub, or something to get you through until Rich can ship you a replacement Ranco - $7 at Lowe's will get the job done.

[BuckeyeBalls]

If you want cheap could always get the reptitemp or zilla temp control

I use the zilla temp control and it works just fine. I have flexwatt hooked up to it for my 2 tubs and havent had a problem.

Their "good" for "cheap" tstats