flexwatt

[CaitJaye]

So I've been using a 150 watt ceramic heat emmitted and a heat pad for keeping up the temp. in my enclosure. But i've been seeing a lot on felxwatt. Can I get some feedback on what i would need to set that up, any good websites to order from or anything? Also, would it be more energy efficient to use flexwatt instead of the heat emmitter?

[WmHrbst]

Reptilebasics sells flexwatt and will even hook it up all up for you. Flexwatt can be used to raise ambient temps some but the main purpose is to create a hot spot in the enclosure. The heat pad you mentioned is very similar to flexwatt but flexwatt comes in different sizes and can be cut to almost any length. It MUST be used with a tstat to control the temp. I will be able to help more if you can detail what type of enclosure you're heating.

[darthsamurai]

It depends on the enclosure you're using. If it's an aquarium, you'll have a hard time keeping ambient temps up without a heat emmiter. The problem with heat emmiters is that they dry out the enclosure. They are not good for ball pythons. Ideally for a ball is a sterilite tub with either a uth or flexwatt in an 80 degree room. just my 2 cents.

[CaitJaye]

At the moment I have a smaller set up for her, since shes still sooo tiny. I feel like its a waste to set up the big lock tank I have for her now, at least untill she gets to be a few years old.
So for now I'm using a terrarium with a screen top. Heres some pictures so you get the gist.
Also there is a "second floor" I rigged up that I'm super proud of.

[darthsamurai]

that is a beautiful set up, but not for a ball python. They are not climbers. They like tight enclosed spaces

[WmHrbst]

That looks awesome! Flexwatt won't help much with the ambient temps with that style set up. You can try covering a portion of the screen top with a towel etc to help keep the heat in along with humidity.

- - - Updated - - -

that is a beautiful set up, but not for a ball python. They are not climbers. They like tight enclosed spaces

[kitedemon]

UTH are commercially made carbon heat film, flexwatt is carbon heat film. Flexwatt is basically the same as a UTH. Flexwatt could be used to replace the UTH but the emitter is different and heat air not objects like flexwatt and UTH do.

[WmHrbst]

Also in the pic with the snake his skin looks very dry almost like a bad shed, it could be the lighting or picture but I would check the humidity to make sure. 50-65% is ideal.

[Coopers Constrictors]

Not to be a bad guy, but theres something seriously wrong with your ball. Its either extremely malnurished or you do not have the correct humidity level in the enclosure, or both. What is the temperature in there? A tall enclosure like that is probably making him feel very stressed out.

[hypnotixdmp]

I dunno if that's a bad shed or dehydration....but it's pretty, and yeah flexwatt isn't really going to help you with ambient temps. I have my snakes in their own room and its heated/cooled with its own stuff such as window unit and electric heater. But my point to that is that the temp of the room will play a big factor in your ambient temps. Putting it in a room by itself and keeping the temp at 79-82 in the room, then you won't even need the ceramic heater!!!


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