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heat tape question

bmm

bmm

New member
I am building a rack that will be approx.

40 long and 40 inches high to hold 5 rubbermaid tubs (36 long by 7)

I will be placing the heat tape on the side rather than the back...as my tubs are longer not wider and a better heat gradient will be established this way. like this

------------------|
------------------|
------------------|
------------------|
------------------|
------------------|

--- = Tubs and | = the heat tape.

Will four inch wide be o.k. down the side? Or should I go for the 11 inch wide? My tubs are about 15 inches wide.

bmm
 
Large rubbermains/sterilites or small, I find that all I ever need is the 3 inch wide heat tape. The 11 inch heat tape is for real large enclosures IMO. I havent used the wider stuff since my burmese python days.
 
If you were going to have the heat tape placed UNDER each tub, then I would agree that 3" is fine, but if you are running it down the side, I would go for the 11".

The reason I say this is because you are wanting to heat the one side of your tubs as fully as possible so that the heat will be radiated to the bottom of the tubs where your snakes can gain the heat from their ventral scales as they bask. A 3" heat source just won't cut it, in my opinion.

I have my racks heated down the back with the 11" and it works fine for them. As long as the snakes have a way to get away from the source, you'll be fine using the larger tape. Just be sure to get a good thermostat to regulate those temps.

Hope this helps in your decision --
 
hello

Well sadly, before reading this message I just brought home a 48 inch length of heat tape, and its only 4 inches wide instead of the 11 inches. I hope it does o.k.!

I did get a ESU Reptile RHeostat that controls the temp and will keep it exactly at the perfect temp. Hoping now that it just gets up that high!!! :)

bmm
 
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