matt82
Arachnoknight
- Joined
- Jun 4, 2011
- Messages
- 270
How often do we see it said that heat mats are bad news in the T keeping hobby? A lot. Are there a lot of good reasons for this? Yes, probably too many.
Next question is, do you as a keeper think there is a way to use heat mats effectively to provide heat for your Ts in circumstances where supplementary heat is required? I do.
I know oil filled heaters are great (used them before to provide ambient temps in a room full of boas, and initially to heat my T enclosures!) But after sizeable electricity bills, I needed a cheaper method that was still effective. I found one that was over 95% cheaper...
I maintain my entire collection at present in a 5 foot wooden vivarium, lined with polystyrene on all sides (ALL sides, floor and ceiling too), with a thermostatically-controlled 4 foot heat mat
This setup is 110% proof that used correctly, heat mats can provide ambient temps in an enclosed space (such as the vivarium I mentioned).
Still not convinced? Here is how I will break it down...
-The 4 foot heat mat is mounted on the back wall of the vivarium after the entire inside has been lined with polystyrene.
-The probe of the dimmer-proportional thermostat sits in the centre of the mat (slightly stepped away from the actual mat).
-The ambient temperature right by the mat = 90 F (perfect for some of my mantids) , move 18 inches forward to the front of the vivarium, the ambient temps are a steady 70 F. temp immediately outside the viv, at times = mid to low 60's. That is proof of a heat mat providing a gradient to me.
This means that with that gradient (yes I said gradient when referring to heat mat heat!) I can find a happy medium for all my inverts, in one overall housing (the wooden viv)
Now I know that a heat mat emits infra-red heat, and in theory, should not really work in this situation, and granted, a little heat mat would not do the job, but after a year of using this style of setup for inverts during the cold stretches, I have had no problems, and actually my collection is thriving.
(Just to say, in rare warmer Irish weather I do knock the heat pad off BTW)
Now hopefully that lot did not come off as one big rant, far from my intention, but i just said i would put it out there and see what comes back, opinions wise.
I also want to state, I am an adult and am fully open to any constructive criticism of this particular setup, in fact I would welcome it, but if you decide that this setup is not a good idea for keeping Ts and feel like replying here, please make sure you read the entire post, and didn't just read Tarantulas + heatmats in the same sentence and decide to rant
Thanks a lot, AB is an excellent site BTW, glad i started posting here.
Next question is, do you as a keeper think there is a way to use heat mats effectively to provide heat for your Ts in circumstances where supplementary heat is required? I do.
I know oil filled heaters are great (used them before to provide ambient temps in a room full of boas, and initially to heat my T enclosures!) But after sizeable electricity bills, I needed a cheaper method that was still effective. I found one that was over 95% cheaper...
I maintain my entire collection at present in a 5 foot wooden vivarium, lined with polystyrene on all sides (ALL sides, floor and ceiling too), with a thermostatically-controlled 4 foot heat mat
This setup is 110% proof that used correctly, heat mats can provide ambient temps in an enclosed space (such as the vivarium I mentioned).
Still not convinced? Here is how I will break it down...
-The 4 foot heat mat is mounted on the back wall of the vivarium after the entire inside has been lined with polystyrene.
-The probe of the dimmer-proportional thermostat sits in the centre of the mat (slightly stepped away from the actual mat).
-The ambient temperature right by the mat = 90 F (perfect for some of my mantids) , move 18 inches forward to the front of the vivarium, the ambient temps are a steady 70 F. temp immediately outside the viv, at times = mid to low 60's. That is proof of a heat mat providing a gradient to me.
This means that with that gradient (yes I said gradient when referring to heat mat heat!) I can find a happy medium for all my inverts, in one overall housing (the wooden viv)
Now I know that a heat mat emits infra-red heat, and in theory, should not really work in this situation, and granted, a little heat mat would not do the job, but after a year of using this style of setup for inverts during the cold stretches, I have had no problems, and actually my collection is thriving.
(Just to say, in rare warmer Irish weather I do knock the heat pad off BTW)
Now hopefully that lot did not come off as one big rant, far from my intention, but i just said i would put it out there and see what comes back, opinions wise.
I also want to state, I am an adult and am fully open to any constructive criticism of this particular setup, in fact I would welcome it, but if you decide that this setup is not a good idea for keeping Ts and feel like replying here, please make sure you read the entire post, and didn't just read Tarantulas + heatmats in the same sentence and decide to rant
Thanks a lot, AB is an excellent site BTW, glad i started posting here.
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