Heating my dubia colony

[Rutabaga]

Hi all. My dubias should be here in a day or so. I bought the plastic tub today but I can't find a human heating pad with NO auto shut off anywhere. Can anyone please advise as to where I can find one or what else I could use?

 

[nair88]

i have this one - http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FGDDI0/ref=oss_product

no auto shutoff and it works great. i've heard that walgreens carries one without auto shutoff as well.

 

[Rutabaga]

Thanks! I will try Walgreen's tomorrow. I picked one up at CVS tonite becuase the package did not say auto shut off but when I opened it and read the instructions, it said auto shut off. So, back that one goes to CVS.

 

[jon21388]

got a no-autoshut off human heating pad from CVS for 15 dollars. I have mine on medium setting.

 

[Rutabaga]

I returned the one I got last night at CVS and went to Walgreens and found one that had the option of the auto-off or always on. YIPPEEEE!! $29.99 NOT yippeeee!! But oh well..i have it. plus it has 3 or 4 heat settings. Now...off to Lowes tonite to get a couple peices of tile for between the heat pad and the floor.

And i was planning on elevating the plastic tub w/2x4's about a half inch to an inch above the heat pad so it's not sitting directly on it. Is that a good idea?

 

[wes]

I have mine sitting right on top of the heating pad. I would think there would be too much heat loss if there was a gap. If it would give you some peace of mind, you could give it a try and see if you get to the temps you desire.

 

[jon21388]

could be very hard to get the temps your want if you elevate it. I get the temps i want and my bin is sitting directly on the heating pad.

 

[Rutabaga]

ok...I can try that. I thought I had read somewhere that it would be a fire hazzard.

 

[jon21388]

human heating pad is fine. I wouldnt use a reptile heating pad

 

[StlGreaser]

With a human heating pad even on the highest setting it will feel very warm to you but not burn you. If It can not burn you then there is NOTHING in your house that it will catch on fire. Also there is no possible way for them to melt you bin either, they just do not get hot enough.

Also all of the human heating pads out there with a digital display will show a fault telling you there is a short or other problem and will not let the heating elements come on if anything goes wrong with it. It is a fail safe built into the circuit board that controls everything! So you have noting to worry about. I used to keep mine right on the carpet with the bin directly on top of it. Now I have some shelves in the reptile room (most people would have a formal living room in its spot) so it sits on top of a wooden shelf!

 

[Rutabaga]

My dubias arrived today!!!!!!!!!!! I have everything all set up. What should i keep the heating pad setting at? My thermomoter probe wont come in until monday probably so I have no way of testing the temperature until then. I have the heating pad on 3 right now. Is that ok??? I'm going out of town for the next few days and I want to be sure they are ok while I am gone because dear husband won't check on them for me.

 

[Rutabaga]

My dubias arrived today!!!!!!!!!!! I have everything all set up. What should i keep the heating pad setting at? My thermomoter probe wont come in until monday probably so I have no way of testing the temperature until then. I have the heating pad on 3 right now. Is that ok??? I'm going out of town for the next few days and I want to be sure they are ok while I am gone because dear husband won't check on them for me.

 

[Rutabaga]

My dubias arrived today!!!!!!!!!!! I have everything all set up. What should i keep the heating pad setting at? My thermomoter probe wont come in until monday probably so I have no way of testing the temperature until then. I have the heating pad on 3 right now. Is that ok??? I'm going out of town for the next few days and I want to be sure they are ok while I am gone because dear husband won't check on them for me.

 

[jon21388]

you have it on 3? is that the highest setting? Right now mine is on medium because i need the extra heat because the room that they are in is a little cold. You setting really depends on what the temperature of the actual room is that there in. Example if they are in a garage and there is no heat in there and its freezing out you would have to put it on the highest setting and think about possible insulation of some sort to keep it warm.

 

[Rutabaga]

Mine has Low, 2, 3, 4, 5, and High. So I guess 3 and 4 would be Medium. My setup is in my laundry room which is a relatively warm room as it has a heat vent in there and no outside doors or windows so the room stays fairly warm. I will leave it on 3 for now and then check it in the morning and just use my judgement I guess. Is there such thing as "too hot" for dubias??