How to attach heat mats inside?

[Ruth]

Ok, just a quick question but i'm stumped.

I'm going to put my heat mat inside my new viv and was wondering how to attach them or rather what with? I remember Sarah saying some snails she send had eaten cellotape so don't know what to use instead. Maybe masking tape but that’s paper so will they eat that?

*stops rambling and posts*

[sezzy5889]

why do you want to put it inside? why not outside?

I have no experience with fixing them inside

[Ruth]

It's a wooden vivarium so it has to go on the inside (as far as i'm aware). All my glass tanks have the mats on the outside.

[sezzy5889]

oh, well sorry i can't help

[jayne]

Could you use double-sided tape so that it goes between the heat mat and the viv wall where the snails can't get to it?

[felix93]

What I did with my large one is we have to cut the socket and the wire first (the heat mats came with the build in socket) and then drill holes towards to the bottom, on the wall of the wooden part, then insert the wire through there and connect the socket. So there's hardly any wire can be seen inside, just in case its being chewed by the snails which is highly unlikely. We also use the electric wire tape to cover the seen wire from the heat mats to the holes, so it's sealed down properly. And to make it safer, we also nailed down using those nail covers that for the phone wire to protect the wire coming off before using the tape to seal down firmly.

*I have not explained that good, have I?

[Deleted]

felix93 said:

What I did with my large one is we have to cut the socket and the wire first (the heat mats came with the build in socket) and then drill holes towards to the bottom, on the wall of the wooden part, then insert the wire through there and connect the socket. So there's hardly any wire can be seen inside, just in case its being chewed by the snails which is highly unlikely. We also use the electric wire tape to cover the seen wire from the heat mats to the holes, so it's sealed down properly. And to make it safer, we also nailed down using those nail covers that for the phone wire to protect the wire coming off before using the tape to seal down firmly.

*I have not explained that good, have I?

I understood

[Moracai]

I have a heat mat underneath my wooden vivarium and it seems to work well. It's lovely and warm and moist inside.

[Ruth]

I went with jaystefbill's suggestion and attached the actual mat to the back wall with double sided taped but i think i'm going to do as you suggest felix and get some of those telephone naily thingies to pin the wire back against the wall securely as its hanging a bit.

Cheers guys ;D

[Ruth]

Ok, one last question

Duck tape, is it safe? I want to seal the joins in my viv stack to avoid water soaking and swelling the joins. I thought of using duck tape as it is hardy and waterproof but am a little concerned my snails may rasp at it.

what do you guys think?

[deadmansfinger]

use clear silicone. Its what I use to seal my vivs.

Brian.

[section8angel]

I've used duct tape before and the snails left it alone but it didn't last longer than a month despite being waterproof, hardy and ever so sticky

[Ruth]

Cheers Brian/ Sian