Let's hear some more about Dubai's(heating)

[azmodane]

So right now I have about 300 Dubai Roaches in a 22gal tub. I have a 10inx10in screened hole cut in top with a 75w blue night bulb type guy on top. I also have a Zilla undertank heating pad underneath the one side. I have egg flats cut in half stacked together with a whole eggflat over top to "trap" in heat and also make sure it's super dark in there on one side. the other side being completely open with food/water. When I check the temp tho it's only saying about 82F and I know I need it higher in there for faster breeding. My house sits at about 74F throughout winter.... Any suggestions to help with the heating? Also What else can I throw in the tub other than the water crystals and roach chow to feed? I've been throwing in baby carrots which are gone instantly but was looking to change it up a little... Thanks so much

 

[Gail]

when you check the temp, do you do it right against the plastic where the heat pad is? I know my heat pad is well over 90* and the roaches cuddle up to it.

You can feed them any veggies that your dragon eats. Oranges will help them breed faster and I usually save the large stems from my greens for them. I've even seen people give them left over roast turkey or chicken, offer bones and all and they will pick it clean.

 

[Triage]

Hmm. That seems like you have enough power to heat that tote. I use a ceramic heating element on the top of my screen. I use two pieces of 1x1 wood scrap to keep the element and fixture off of the plastic, as to not melt it. I also have a heating-pad set to low(without a shutoff timer) under the tote. I have a digital sensor in my tote and the base is sitting next to me. It reads 93.4 right now, (Its a warm day for winter here in Virginia) but most times it reads 89-90. I have been feeding roach chow, water crystals and oranges. I also throw the stalks of my mustard greens in there.

With the onset of winter and starting to run my heat pump...the air has gotten very dry around here. My oranges were drying up in like 24 hours. So to fix this, I took a little Country Crock bowl, poked some tiny holes in the lid, filled it halfway with water and placed it on the floor of the tote. That really brought my humidity up AND I have noticed more molts since then. Of course, you may not need this.

This whole setup is in my garage. (My garage is actually half of my basement and heated) The temperature in the garage is usually around 70ish.

 

[azmodane]

Mine is sitting in my spare room in the closet with doors shut to try and trap in heat even more and I haven't noticed many molts so far I might need to do the water thing for humidity and my probe is actually dangling in the middle for the temperature also is there any easy way to sort males from females to try and keep the 2 to 1 or 3 to 1 ratio?

 

[Triage]

I'm not sure about sorting the males from the females except for just pulling them out. Maybe one of the sellers can answer that one. I also have heard that some people wrap the tote in an old blanket or quilt. They say that helps keep the heat in. Maybe try that?

 

[azmodane]

Only problem with blanket over top is what do I do with the heat lamp on top? Wouldn't the lamp on blanket be fire hazard? Unless I build something to make sure blanket doesn't touch lamp but when it comes to building I'm Bob Vilas retarded brother

 

[Triage]

No, not on top....I mean like wrap the blanket AROUND the tote but not OVER the tote. Then you run some duct tape around it or packing tape to keep it on the sides. Its basically like insulating the sides of the tote. I'm not sure about that blue light, but it seems you should have plenty of power to heat this thing, especially if your keeping your house temp at 74. If you touch the side of your tote is it warm or cold? When I touch mine, it feels warmer than the air. So maybe its the ceramic heating element. Maybe its higher watts. I just don't remember. If I can find the box, I'll post the watts on that.

 

[azmodane]

Ahhhh around the sides yes I didn't think of that and when I touch the sides its slightly warmer than the outside air I will try the blanket method shortly and see if that helps also for 300 roaches is a 22 gal big enough?

 

[Triage]

so here is a picture of my tote in my garage.

There is only a 1" space between the lamp cover (with the CHE inside) and the screen. Also, the entire screen is covered (somewhat) by the wood and the cover. So the CHE is beaming heat directly into the box, nowhere else. The wood is there because the edge of the lamp cover gets hot. So it shouldn't touch the plastic directly. And I would think 22 gallon is enough.

 

[suzuki4life]

Heat rises....so logic says you would add heat from the bottom if possible

medical heating pads allow heat of over 120 degrees and I have used them at full capacity in the past. They are expensive and will burn up with constant and extended usage.

Per manufacturer spec, flexwatt should not be used for over 95 degrees. I use it currently.

you can heat a tote effectively off of 6-12watts.

and space would be reflective upon the size of the roaches. I keep 500 adults in 66 qt bins. You can fit 1000 nymphs in a 4oz container....

 

[azmodane]

So your saying the 3 inch flexwatt would be enough to heat the tote and would be less expensive than using a 75 watt bulb on top of the heat pad?

 

[suzuki4life]

I use 3 and 4 " flexwatt....

My new building has an ambient of 80 degrees but hoping to get it up to 85.


But in the past, they were kept in the house with an ambient of 70.



overhead heating has a few drawbacks...

if there is a water source inside your enclosure it (the heat) will increase humidity...which can be good or bad...

but unless your fixture is inside your tote, the odds are you are losing most of your heat rather then actually using it.

 

[azmodane]

What you think a 2 foot section of flexwatt would cost? Cables and everything?

 

[suzuki4life]

one section assembled? probably $15-20. But you want it on a dimmer or a thermostat(better idea btw)

I buy it in 50ft rolls.

shipping is normally what jacks any deals.

 

[azmodane]

Don't know if that will be best idea just for 1 tote you know?