dubia colont heat mat heats floor to 107...help.

[TalonAWD]

I am starting a small dubia colony and got my supplies.
Bin, egg cartons, dishes for food and water etc.

I setup a remote thermometer near the floor and above midline to the top. Theres a heat mat under the bin.
The temps inside the bin are around 85-90F. thats all good but heres my problem.
I put a third thermometer on the floor and it reads 107F. None of the nymphs are on the floor of the bin. Half of the bin has the heat mat and the other side nothing for a cool side.

Is that how its supposed to be? Will the roaches avoid traveling due to a hot floor?

Im my garage now in the summer, its not uncommon for it to get to 90F but at night it gets to around 70F. I just wanted to keep it at 85-90F 24/7 for faster growth since they are all 1/4" to 1/2" size nymphs. (No adults)

Advise?

 

[Endagr8]

If I were you, I would either lose the heat mat and find an alternate heating source, or elevate your bin off the ground slightly.

I nearly burnt my house down with a heat mat under my roach bin. It completely melted through the bin and charred the carpet.

 

[TalonAWD]

If I were you, I would either lose the heat mat and find an alternate heating source, or elevate your bin off the ground slightly.

I nearly burnt my house down with a heat mat under my roach bin. It completely melted through the bin and charred the carpet.

Oh my goodness! Thats terrible! Did the roaches all die as well?
The bin setup is in the garage (seperate from the house) but my custom car is there! I can't lose that!
Right now I took the heat mat off and disconnected it. What do you use now for heating your setup.

 

[rvtjonny]

you can use the heat mat just put a bakers cooling rack under the roach container to rise it up a little, also pick up a dimmer switch so you can lower the temp of the heat mat. it can be picked up at home depot for like 10 bucks.
other than that just put more egg cartons in your bin, and don't forget the oranges..they love them. your going to have to wait a few months to see anything but it will happen eventually. good luck

 

[TalonAWD]

you can use the heat mat just put a bakers cooling rack under the roach container to rise it up a little, also pick up a dimmer switch so you can lower the temp of the heat mat. it can be picked up at home depot for like 10 bucks.
other than that just put more egg cartons in your bin, and don't forget the oranges..they love them. your going to have to wait a few months to see anything but it will happen eventually. good luck

I ordered 50 egg crates (the 12 x 12 that holds 30 eggs) and when that comes in I will stack them.
The heat mat (12"x14") is the one used for backs and it has a 3 setting switch. Its called Soft heat. (http://www.amazon.com/SoftHeat-Heat.../dp/B0000E3J98/ref=acc_glance_hpc_ai_-2_3_tit)
The setting was on just the first one and it still got that hot!

I'll look into the dimmer switch to replace the switch is uses now. And with the cooling rack, The mat would go under the rack and bin on top of rack?

 

[rvtjonny]

I'll look into the dimmer switch to replace the switch is uses now. And with the cooling rack, The mat would go under the rack and bin on top of rack?

yes sir.. check the dollar store for the rack, thats where i got mine

 

[Endagr8]

Oh my goodness! Thats terrible! Did the roaches all die as well?
The bin setup is in the garage (seperate from the house) but my custom car is there! I can't lose that!
Right now I took the heat mat off and disconnected it. What do you use now for heating your setup.

Nope, they seemed to be okay, although kind of sluggish. Right now I'm using a ceramic heat lamp; I haven't had any problems so far.

you can use the heat mat just put a bakers cooling rack under the roach container to rise it up a little, also pick up a dimmer switch so you can lower the temp of the heat mat. it can be picked up at home depot for like 10 bucks.
other than that just put more egg cartons in your bin, and don't forget the oranges..they love them. your going to have to wait a few months to see anything but it will happen eventually. good luck

I agree with this completely. My problem definitely could have been avoided.

I was using a zoomed 10 gallon UTH without a dimmer switch/rheostat in my setup. It worked absolutely fine for at least three months before it suddenly melted the container and burned the carpet. I had it sandwiched between the carpet and the un-elevated bin--stupidity on my part :wall:.

 

[GailC]

Why not put the heat mat on the side? Thats what I do, then just lean the egg crates up against the warm side.