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Replacing Heat after 6 Years in PVC Cages

L

LittleGrayTiger

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It's been a REALLY long time since I've been online in a herp forum of any sort. I have a ball python and two leopard geckos (Both male) that I've had for about seven years. Six years ago I got them PVC cages, one is Animal Plastics (I don't think they make these anymore) and the other is a split Boaphile Plastics cage.

Long story short the flexwatt is finally pooping itself out after all this time(No longer heating adequately), including battling some lower-than-I'd-like ambient temperatures. I have a wide range of temperatures throughout the year in my current home; It's about 76-80F in the summer and a fairly steady 68F in the winter(Although the bedroom where the animals live tends to stay around 70). I don't trust the rheostat so I want to replace it too.

What's a safe, non-flexwatt heating option for PVC cages? I've been reading about radiant heat panels, but know essentially nothing about them. I'm assuming since the geckos live in a multiunit cage that I would need two radiant panels. I'm also under the impression that under tank heaters have a difficult time penetrating the thick PVC material to heat a cage adequately.

Also please drop the brand of your favorite rheostat. It's better safe than sorry since I don't know
 
If you have wide fluctuations in ambient temps; I'd recommend scrapping the rheostat & getting yourself a good thermostat.
Radiant heat panels are nice; the initial investment is high; but they should last long enough to justify the expense...though you might find them to be overkill for the leopard gecko cages (depending on the cage size). As far as AP - they generally rout a channel for the heat tape, so the heat doesn't have to get through the full thickness.
 
Thanks for the help! I'm earmarking funds for a radiant heat panel from Reptile Basics now. I may go for flexwatt again for the geckos, just because I haven't found a pair of radiant heat panels small enough to make sense in their 24x18" footprint sections.
 
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