Recommend me a heating pad for Dubia colony raising....
- Thread starter gotwqqd
- Start date
ChamDE86
Avid Member
I've been using Zoo Med's Repti-therm for my Dubia roach colony for a year now with no issues. They have a sticky side so you can apply it underneath your tub. You also have to be careful as I've heard they can get hot enough to melt thinner plastic materials. I'm using a plastic tote that's pretty thick and durable and have not had any melting problems.
MSMorgan
Avid Member
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_c_0_13?url=search-alias=aps&field-keywords=seeding+heat+mat&sprefix=seeding+heat+,aps,291
Had my colony for quite a while and feel that I have been successful in keeping the temp where I need it with this type of mat.
Had my colony for quite a while and feel that I have been successful in keeping the temp where I need it with this type of mat.
OldChamKeeper
Chameleon Enthusiast
Youngsters...
Zoo med heat pad. Cut a piece of standard glass and place it between the heat pad and the plastic tub. Just make the pad be of a size that covers one fourth of the bug tub.
Zoo med heat pad. Cut a piece of standard glass and place it between the heat pad and the plastic tub. Just make the pad be of a size that covers one fourth of the bug tub.
NERVOUS
Avid Member
Interesting idea... I'm currently struggling with the largest sized Zoo Med UTH not producing enough heat for my Dubias. Current temps are stuck between 75-85 degrees (F) depending on where the measurement is taken. If possible, I'd like to get the temps up to 85-95 degrees (F).
I have the pad mounted directly to the underside of a 49-gallon plastic bin. I currently have the bin elevated off the ground (by 3") to prevent excess heat from being trapped underneath the bin; which I've read could result in temps high enough to melt plastic... Although, that's not consistent with my observations thus far.
Last night I placed the plastic bin directly on the ground and temps increased slightly - by like 5 degrees (F)... Although now I'm concerned about possibly melting the bin and even starting a fire!
Does using a piece of insulating glass address the possible concern of the Zoo Med UTH melting the plastic?
Does anyone else have a suggestion on how I can increase temps to the desired 85-95 degrees (F)?
Thanks in advance.
Timely post for my situation. A couple of years ago I had a dubia colony large plastic bin melt out the bottom after over a year of no problems. I was using the heat cord and human heating pads. I noticed that the heat cord was leaving burn marks where the heat cord was. My solution to that danger was to sandwich my heating elements between 1/4 inch plexiglass, and ran the last year or so with being able to keep the temperature I wanted, but still concerned that the plexiglass was getting extremely hot.
My new solution in my chameleon/feeder bug room is to move my radiant heater I had on low to keep the room 76 degrees, and move it into a closet that just fit a 4 foot wide by 2 feet deep plastic shelving unit from Lowes. There was 18 inches of floor left to put the radiant heater inside the closet.
The result is that with a temperature regulator, and the doors shut with a 4-inch gap. My top shelf bins are at 88 degrees and my second lower shelf is at 84 degrees, my third lowest is 82 degrees. The great thing about this is that I reduced my heating devises in my room by 2, so I am not kicking breakers anymore. Indirect heat is less risky, and the closet doors and heat regulator allow me better control.
CHEERS!
Nick
My new solution in my chameleon/feeder bug room is to move my radiant heater I had on low to keep the room 76 degrees, and move it into a closet that just fit a 4 foot wide by 2 feet deep plastic shelving unit from Lowes. There was 18 inches of floor left to put the radiant heater inside the closet.
The result is that with a temperature regulator, and the doors shut with a 4-inch gap. My top shelf bins are at 88 degrees and my second lower shelf is at 84 degrees, my third lowest is 82 degrees. The great thing about this is that I reduced my heating devises in my room by 2, so I am not kicking breakers anymore. Indirect heat is less risky, and the closet doors and heat regulator allow me better control.
CHEERS!
Nick
sounds like a poorly designed unit. cord heating up that much means the gauge of the wire is too low for the amperage the pad is pulling.
OldChamKeeper
Chameleon Enthusiast
The glass keeps it from melting the bottom out. Make sure the glass is the same size as the bin, that spreads out the heat a bit thru the glass. Works for me
