Tropical Heater

[Underdog]

I am about to put this together and wondered your opinions before I bother. (not that it will take too much effort) I'm in Ohio which has already had single digits F. this FALL even before winter. I have a great South facing window nearly 4' x 6 foot tall. Lots of sun but even though double pane glass gets a bit cold near the window. Low 60s and maybe colder as I only measured once. Tropical shivers.

Trees are doing okay there but wanting to rebuild shelves anyway so considering building this tray with a waterbed heater underneath the aluminum pan with about an inch of sand in the tray to help hold the heat. Placing the probe in the sand for the thermostat which can be set as low as 70 degrees F. The runoff from watering would also help the low humidity of our forced air heating. This would end up being just under 4 foot long and about 16 inches wide. The width of the window

I know I'm not a pioneer as I read they are often used for seedlings and such but thought my tropicals might enjoy it. I'm not buying this stuff either, just using what I have laying around the house.

Worth the bother? WhaCha Think?

 

[JudyB]

A regular seedling heat mat, just under the pots works for me. No need to bury it, and it only keeps the temps a few degrees above ambient so no need for thermostat. I also don't use extra humidity. I also live in Ohio so have the same environment type as you.

 

[Rusty Davis]

I think with the waterbed heater you would have to use the thermostat. If one was building multiple shelves there is a product called heat tape. Comes in widths of 4" 6" and 12" from what I remember. And about as long as you could ever build a shelf. Easy stuff to put together and use. I had a LOT of it when I was breeding snakes.

 

[sorce]

@Stickroot uses a bed heater.

Turns out my spot is hot as hell....
Radiator close...and pipes running overhead(basement) keeps it right hot....

And they are loving it!

Sorce

 

[sorce]

Oh...and I voted give them love...though I mean heat....

Best poll ever!

(let them shiver!) Lol

Sorce

 

[GrimLore]

Worth the bother?

Sure if you do a fair amount of testing to control the temperature. Also might consider a timer and just having it go on an hour prior to dusk and off an hours after dawn. I am also not certain about the longevity of the mat as it will not be coved in a 150 gallons of water. They normally, at least ours, don't go on much at all once the bed hits temperature. That being said I would not expect good life from it. The tape mentioned can last a couple of years but again I would also recommend a thermostat and timer setup. A regular seedling heat mat as @JudyB stated would be a hella lot less hassle and in my humble opinion safer...

Grimmy

 

[Rusty Davis]

I had my breeder racks for at least 5 years with no issues. I did recently purchase a seedling heat pad off of Amazon but haven't sent that project up. I think the heat tape would work best if someone was wanting to do a large shelf system with out heating the whole room.

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

I vote yes, give it a try. Cuttings will root better with bottom heat too.
A water bed heater is not designed for this use, but it could work well, it may last as long as normal, or it might have a short life, but sitting in storage, it ain't doing nothin.

 

[M. Frary]

when I was breeding snakes

I had a breeding pair of Burmese pythons and a breeding pair of corn snakes.
I heated the bottoms of my enclosures with water bed heaters. Covered them with tempered glass to spread the heat. You need the temperature sensor close to the mat or they get too hot.
What species of snakes did you breed.

 

[Rusty Davis]

High end ball pythons... I had a couple buddy's and we all partnered up on it. Check out Rustys-balls.com " promise its snakes" lol they still do some but I don't think as much as the good old days when I was part of it. But hey they keep the name.

 

[M. Frary]

I miss my snakes.

 

[Rusty Davis]

Me too. I had given alot to build that business but in the end walked a way to try to save a marriage. End the end it was just another chapter in the life story

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

back in the day, maybe 2 decades ago, had an ex, that was deathly afraid of snakes. The ex kept dropping in "to visit" with out warning. About that time was hiking, and came across a "blue racer" - I guess it is a color form of the yellow rat snake. It was a good 5 feet long (1.7 meters approx.) They are non-poisonous for those unfamiliar, lovely slate gray back and sky blue to white belly. Many needle sharp teeth, though no fangs for venom. Put it in an easy to see from the front door cage in the dining room. Ex only stopped by once more, then never again. Win. I felt kind thoughts every time I looked at that snake. You know for the next year or two, every time I picked up the snake, it would strike and draw blood. It would calm down in my hands, but while reaching to pick it up I always got nailed. For all the loving care I gave that snake, never once did it give me a look of appreciation. The snake just never bonded with me. One spring, I was headed to the same place I caught it, and let it go. I figured by releasing in late spring-early summer, it would have all summer to re-familiarize itself with its territory before winter.

Reptiles are cool, but I never feel they can think of us much more than as threat, or neutral - as furniture to climb on while making and escape, or food. Warm and cuddly they are not. I guess I am a dog person.

 

[Rusty Davis]

I think that's why I liked them so. They're life's are simple. It's all about survival
Sorry @Underdog we got way off topic

 

[M. Frary]

blue racer" - I guess it is a color form of the yellow rat snake

2 different snakes altogether Leo.
Racers and Coach whips are in the same family. Most always stay mean. Biters most of the time.
Yellow rat snakes are in the same family as corn snakes and black snakes.

 

[CWTurner]

I voted "let them shiver". Why should the plants be more comfortable than me?
CW

 

[Rusty Davis]

@CWTurner you could snuggle with them? That would be taking it to the next level