I need help with a heat mat I purchased.

DaveEmory

Arachnosquire
Old Timer
Joined
Sep 3, 2009
Messages
92
Heat mats are fine with plastic Kritter Keepers ONLY if you DO NOT adhere them to the plastic, but instead have the enclosures sitting atop them. In other words, you either leave the paper adhesive covering on, or remove the covering and adhere some ceramic tiles onto the pad. Then you can put your enclosures on top of the heat pad, and move them around at will.

I have also taken small tiles (i.e. 2" square, or thereabouts) and placed the tiles between the feet of the Kritter Keeper, with the tile contacting the heat pad. This way, the tile conducts the heat to the enclosure in a concentrated place, but dissipates it enough that it doesn't "super heat" the plastic.

I personally prefer "FlexWatt" heat tape to expensive ExoTerra or similarly-branded heat pads; you can make the heat tape as long or short as you need it (i.e. covering a whole shelf), and they are very easy to "build". And way, way cheaper.


PC
 

paul fleming

Arachnoangel
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Aug 21, 2009
Messages
941
I use mats with my plastic as well as glass tanks
Here are some of the spider set ups......you can see the mats sandwiched in between the plastic tanks......works a treat :)
 

snappleWhiteTea

Arachnoangel
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Joined
Jul 13, 2009
Messages
780
Heat mats are fine with plastic Kritter Keepers ONLY if you DO NOT adhere them to the plastic, but instead have the enclosures sitting atop them. In other words, you either leave the paper adhesive covering on, or remove the covering and adhere some ceramic tiles onto the pad. Then you can put your enclosures on top of the heat pad, and move them around at will.

I have also taken small tiles (i.e. 2" square, or thereabouts) and placed the tiles between the feet of the Kritter Keeper, with the tile contacting the heat pad. This way, the tile conducts the heat to the enclosure in a concentrated place, but dissipates it enough that it doesn't "super heat" the plastic.

I personally prefer "FlexWatt" heat tape to expensive ExoTerra or similarly-branded heat pads; you can make the heat tape as long or short as you need it (i.e. covering a whole shelf), and they are very easy to "build". And way, way cheaper.


PC
I don't have experience with flexwatt, and i don't have enough herps to get it. for the amount i need this mat was just as cheap, maybe if i move someday and get a bigger place i can get more herps then get into f.w.


im using this heat mat for leo's, will it be ok to use it with just papertowles as substrate? i decided to just use it with the glass for now.


& nice stuff spit.
 

JC

Arachnolort
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Apr 15, 2009
Messages
1,421
Careful with those heating pads. One burned a hole through my exoterra once an the pad stopped working after that. Real fire hazard if your not careful.
 

dtknow

Arachnoking
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Aug 18, 2004
Messages
2,239
Brand of heating pad and thoughts on why it malfunctioned?
 

paul fleming

Arachnoangel
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Aug 21, 2009
Messages
941
Can I also say that I use a mat stat on ALL my mats and think it is essential.
Paul
 

JC

Arachnolort
Old Timer
Joined
Apr 15, 2009
Messages
1,421
Brand of heating pad and thoughts on why it malfunctioned?
Zoo-meds. Actually two of them malfunctioned on different dates due to overheating. They need ventilation to work properly.
 

dtknow

Arachnoking
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Aug 18, 2004
Messages
2,239
Assuming you followed the instructions to use the props included to allow airflow under the tank if you placed them under it?
 

JC

Arachnolort
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Apr 15, 2009
Messages
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Assuming you followed the instructions to use the props included to allow airflow under the tank if you placed them under it?
No I didn't follow the instructions. Neither did I heed the warning the says not to use for plastic enclosures.
 

dtknow

Arachnoking
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Aug 18, 2004
Messages
2,239
No I didn't follow the instructions. Neither did I heed the warning the says not to use for plastic enclosures.
Guess that canonly be expected. So it had nothing to do with the quality of the actual pad.
 

Lucas339

Arachnobaron
Old Timer
Joined
Jun 28, 2009
Messages
448
can you recommend me a good 1?
i only have 2 reostats. they work ok if you keep you room temps stable. i got one from home depot that cost around $8 and i have one that is a reptile one that cost more. the home depot one works fine.

if you are looking for quailty thermostats i recomend herpstats. if you are looking for something cheaper, alife makes one that has a temp dial on it. i don't trust that the temperature listed on the dial are the actual temps, but it helps when you want to lower the temperature a few degrees. bean farm sells them.
 
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