I'm thinking of building a rack system (for potential hatchlings) and was reading that I could use a heating cable under sterilite boxes. I was thinking of using approx. 30L (32 quart) boxes: 3 per shelf, 2 rows. I need to heat 6 boxes.
Doug Wagner has illustrated the set-up I'd like to use in his book "Boas, A Complete Owner's Manual." The picture below was scanned from this book as a reference, so you know what I'm talking about. Using just one line to heat each box (i.e. not coiled)
I've seen that there are normal heating cables (15 Watt) the length I need or higher wattage but longer than I need, as well as low volt cables the length I need in 10, 15 and 20 Watt.

I have absolutely NO idea what sort of wattage I might need or if there is an advantage of getting the low volt cables or not... any ideas?? (I'm thinking of housing future baby BRBs in the boxes.)

THANKS!!!!

Attached Images

rack.jpg (10.6 KB, 14 views)

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Andrea

The set up looks nice, but I've never heard of using heating cables. Are they accessable to the snakes? It looks like they just hang over the bins, I would hate to see a snake wrap around it and get burned.

What if you used the same setup, but put radiant heat panels on the back. Some of the members here really like the panels. Plus you could regulate each panel independantly, in case there is more than one species of snake in the rack.

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Answers are great. But I prefer questions!

Visit me at www.jaysreptiles.com

The way I've planned it is just like a bookshelf with individual plastic containers (with lids) placed onto the shelves. The cable would be laid outside of the boxes in a groove cut into the shelf about 8-10 inches from the back (just to heat 1/3) of the container.
Here's a sketch of my idea. The shelves would be in a cabinet under the main terrarium (with the whole thing on wheels!)
The cable would run through the shelving unit under the outside of the boxes.

Jay, the panels sound interesting, but so far I can only find heating mats or heating cables here in Switzerland. I just don't know anything about wattage!!

The snakes will not come into direct contact with the cables and my idea is to only temporarily house potential juvenile Rainbow boas if I decide to try breeding Q and Talyn someday... so it's not intended as a permanent home.

Attached Images

rack 2.JPG (23.7 KB, 8 views)

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Andrea