5 replies to this topic

[Mathiacus]

Just a question I have about heat pads. Can they be used to heat a small space like a cupboard or a large box or do I have to have the formicarium touching it? Just wondering if I can heat multiple blocks with one pad.

[Mercutia]

I suppose depending on how big and how strong the heating mat is, you could put it at the bottom of an enclosed cupboard and heat the entire cupboard that way if it's strong enough with the most heat resistant species at the bottom (not touching the mat) and the cooler species at the top to form a sort of heat gradient. I'd recommend a thermometer in there though to regulate, for obvious reasons.

[Mathiacus]

Thankyou. :-D

[Crystals]

I use a 15 watt heat cable in the bottom of my un-plugged wine cooler, so it acts as a heater for the whole thing.  I have it on a timer, which I played around with until the cooler was more or less 24C all day (it is on about 5 hours total per day).

 

I have used a heat pad in a closed cabinet before, just be sure to have a thermometer or two in there and carefully monitor it, especially if it is a larger heat mat.

[ParaStatic]

I have found a heat pad to work good in my setup, however today it is changing to a ceramic reptile light and a thermal switch for more control over the temperatures. I turned a mini fridge into a warmer and a heat pad kept it at about 86 without shelves, 72 with. If there are shelves you might want to think of air circulation inside, I use a PC fan.

[Mathiacus]

I am thinking that my time for heat pads has passed for the season. It is starting to warm up quite nicely now. I may revisit once I start incubating queens.