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Apt Fire

mgoblue347

mgoblue347

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Bad news guys. Last night around 3:00AM a short in the heat tape in one of my racks occurred and started a fire, destroying all three racks my snakes were in. I lost all hatchlings besides a tiny baby female spider, I have no idea how she survived. 4 breeder females also have some pretty bad burns and have been treated. Will see how they turn out I am hoping they can turn it around and make a full recovery. I had surge protectors, and everything was installed correctly. I don't really know how exactly something like this could happen but it is pretty devastating. Huge thanks to Danny Sherrill of Texas VIP Room Reptiles for being there for me during this time and giving me a place to house my remaining snakes, I owe you one dude. I am grateful that my family was not hurt and for the snakes that were unharmed. The damage to the house was only a single wall and smoke damage to the room, could have been a lot worse.
 
I'm sorry you lost most of your snakes, but this could've turned out so much worse! I dodged a bullet myself with Flexwatt this year in my AP rack... despite having surge protectors, remote probes, thermostats, etc. the heat tape got hot enough to melt through one of the tubs! Thankfully none of the snakes were hurt.

My feelings go out to you, Brian. That is scary and sad stuff right there.
 
This could happen to any of us. I'm so sorry to hear about this accident, but happy that it wasn't worse. Take care Brian.
 
Sorry to hear such a thing. I feel for you but, I'm glad that you and your family are okay and that you didn't lose all your animals. Take care.
 
Sorry that happened to you Brian. Can you tell us more about the heat tape issue? Sodered connections, Clips? and if clips were used was the proper clamping tool used? Some people believe pliers or vise grips are fine but I have heard otherwise. What kind of rack? did the tubs slide on the heat tape? Fires start for a reason, they just don't happen. And maybe your input could save other collections.
 
I'm sorry to hear about the fire and the loss of the babies, glad to hear you and your family are OK. I hope someone can shed some light as to how this could have happened, so you can prevent it from happening again in the future.
 
I bought the heat tape pre connected from reptile basics. Just receive it in the mail the afternoon before the fire and installed it on the hatchling rack. The tubs slide over the heat tape. The rack was made by me entirely out of xpvc, 9 level 12qt. I greatly appreciate everyone's comments and concerns, thank you all so much.
 
So this was the new KOREAN heat tape, and not flexwatt from USA. what did yo have under the heat tape?
 
sorry for your loss. i have had flexwatt problems twice in the past. going to ambient only has been a great relief from that stress.
 
There was nothing under the heat tape Steve, just heat tape with Aluminum foil tape over top.

Brian, the lemonblast female was burned on her face and is having some difficulty breathing, she does seem to be doing okay, she's moving around, tongue flicking, etc. I have been putting medicine on her burns but it is day to day. I noticed some saliva if you want to call it that coming out of her mouth and can hear her breathing, I am hoping she pulls through. I greatly appreciate your support as well as everyone elses.
 
Damn I feel so bad for your snakes Brian. I really hope the injured ones can pull through OK.
At one time I called Calorique the flexwatt mfg in MA, not the Korean stuff you have. I posted my info on this forum. They repeatedly told me that aluminum tape is the worst thing you can use around your heat tape. What it does is provide a heat sink. It's possible that you had an excess build up of heat trapped btw the foil tape and your heat tape. The plastic protective coating melted and things just got worst. Plus, I was told electricity can arc through the plastic into the aluminum tape. I researched plenty of tapes trying to find an alternative that would not leave a sticky residue and was relatively inexpensive. I stumbled upon tyvek tape. Works great. and now that is all I use. FYI Calorique told me what you want to do in your racks it push or direct the heat upwards. Solution? Insulate under your heat tape or at a minimum put it under a white reflective surface, not black or metallic that will absorb the heat. I lay my tape on pink rigid insulation. Guess what. I now run my helix and herpstats 2 degrees cooler and get the same heat output as I did before I insulated. Again I feel terrible for those snakes.
 
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