Heating Cable?
- BleedingRaindrops
- Posts: 72
- Joined: Mon Oct 10, 2016 11:33 am
- Location: Okinawa
Heating Cable?
In all of Mikey's videos on the AntsCanada youtube channel he mentions using a heating cable to keep a formicarium or a test tube set up at a good temperature. I am unfamiliar with heating cables. What are they, and can someone recommend a good one to use for a test tube or for a formicarium?
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- Posts: 479
- Joined: Sat Sep 12, 2015 11:52 am
- Location: Idaho, USA
Re: Heating Cable?
Yes I have also been interested in this. Specifically the wattage and suggesting a good one. (cheap)BleedingRaindrops wrote: ↑Thu Nov 24, 2016 3:13 pmIn all of Mikey's videos on the AntsCanada youtube channel he mentions using a heating cable to keep a formicarium or a test tube set up at a good temperature. I am unfamiliar with heating cables. What are they, and can someone recommend a good one to use for a test tube or for a formicarium?
Proverbs 6:6-11
Go to the ant, you sluggard;
consider its ways and be wise!
It has no commander,
no overseer or ruler,
yet it stores its provisions in summer
and gathers its food at harvest.
Go to the ant, you sluggard;
consider its ways and be wise!
It has no commander,
no overseer or ruler,
yet it stores its provisions in summer
and gathers its food at harvest.
Re: Heating Cable?
I don't recommend heating test tubes with a heating cable. Even a 15W cable is too much and cause several flooding.
You usually place them below one side of the nest so that the nest has a heated spot and cold spot. The ants can then move to the area where the temperature is best for them.
You usually place them below one side of the nest so that the nest has a heated spot and cold spot. The ants can then move to the area where the temperature is best for them.
"We should respect all forms of consciousness. The body is just a vessel, a mere hull."
Re: Heating Cable?
They are used in the keeping of reptiles. You should be able to find them at pet stores.
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- Posts: 183
- Joined: Tue Oct 04, 2016 9:03 am
- Location: Western Tennessee
Re: Heating Cable?
There is one on Amazon I purchased for like $15. Its 15 watts and I believe is 15ft...yea kinda long but works great. Cheapest and lowest wattage I found. I'd recommend it for sure. Just look up reptile heat cable and should find it no problem.
Keeper of:
Aphaenogaster sp
Tapinoma sessile
Camponotus subbarbatus x3
Aphaenogaster sp
Tapinoma sessile
Camponotus subbarbatus x3
Re: Heating Cable?
$9 at Petco
http://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/zoo-med-repti-heat-cable-115-length
I use a heating cable in my nest and the colony often keeps the brood up against the wall with the heating cable in it.

The test tube racks have the same heating cable hole in them so the queen can get closer or farther away if they choose. I keep my colony in my basement so having the cable is nice for when the temperature drops down there. It gives them the option to get warmer or cooler.
http://www.AntsCanada.com/shop/ac-test-tube-rack/
http://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/zoo-med-repti-heat-cable-115-length
I use a heating cable in my nest and the colony often keeps the brood up against the wall with the heating cable in it.

The test tube racks have the same heating cable hole in them so the queen can get closer or farther away if they choose. I keep my colony in my basement so having the cable is nice for when the temperature drops down there. It gives them the option to get warmer or cooler.
http://www.AntsCanada.com/shop/ac-test-tube-rack/
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- Posts: 479
- Joined: Sat Sep 12, 2015 11:52 am
- Location: Idaho, USA
Re: Heating Cable?
Yes, but that one is 100 watts. isn't that deadly high for ants? I though 15 watts would be better.Cale3459 wrote: ↑Sat Mar 18, 2017 3:34 pm$9 at Petco
http://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/zoo-med-repti-heat-cable-115-length
I use a heating cable in my nest and the colony often keeps the brood up against the wall with the heating cable in it.
The test tube racks have the same heating cable hole in them so the queen can get closer or farther away if they choose. I keep my colony in my basement so having the cable is nice for when the temperature drops down there. It gives them the option to get warmer or cooler.
http://www.AntsCanada.com/shop/ac-test-tube-rack/
Proverbs 6:6-11
Go to the ant, you sluggard;
consider its ways and be wise!
It has no commander,
no overseer or ruler,
yet it stores its provisions in summer
and gathers its food at harvest.
Go to the ant, you sluggard;
consider its ways and be wise!
It has no commander,
no overseer or ruler,
yet it stores its provisions in summer
and gathers its food at harvest.
Re: Heating Cable?
Actually the one I linked is only 15 watts, but for some reason Petco has included the picture of the 39 foot box rather than the 11 foot box. For reference the 11 foot one is 15 watts, the 15 foot one is 25 watts, the 23 foot one is 50 watts, and the 39 foot one is 100 watts. Sorry for the confusion!idahoantgirl wrote: ↑Sat Mar 18, 2017 6:26 pmYes, but that one is 100 watts. isn't that deadly high for ants? I though 15 watts would be better.
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- Posts: 479
- Joined: Sat Sep 12, 2015 11:52 am
- Location: Idaho, USA
Re: Heating Cable?
ooooh, ok. Thnx!Cale3459 wrote: ↑Sat Mar 18, 2017 6:36 pmActually the one I linked is only 15 watts, but for some reason Petco has included the picture of the 39 foot box rather than the 11 foot box. For reference the 11 foot one is 15 watts, the 15 foot one is 25 watts, the 23 foot one is 50 watts, and the 39 foot one is 100 watts. Sorry for the confusion!idahoantgirl wrote: ↑Sat Mar 18, 2017 6:26 pmYes, but that one is 100 watts. isn't that deadly high for ants? I though 15 watts would be better.
Proverbs 6:6-11
Go to the ant, you sluggard;
consider its ways and be wise!
It has no commander,
no overseer or ruler,
yet it stores its provisions in summer
and gathers its food at harvest.
Go to the ant, you sluggard;
consider its ways and be wise!
It has no commander,
no overseer or ruler,
yet it stores its provisions in summer
and gathers its food at harvest.
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- Posts: 81
- Joined: Fri Oct 28, 2016 4:56 pm
- Location: Braintree
Re: Heating Cable?
I have a cheap 15w cable and (not sure if it's because it's cheap) can barely feel the heat from it, it's definitely on but I'm not sure how well it would transfer to the nest
I'll investigate more when I'm home, didn't want to leave it on for a week unattended in case of fire
I'll investigate more when I'm home, didn't want to leave it on for a week unattended in case of fire
Keeper of:
2 x Lasius niger colonies (1 founding)
1 x Myrmica rubra colony
1 x Lasius flavus (fouding)
2 x Lasius niger colonies (1 founding)
1 x Myrmica rubra colony
1 x Lasius flavus (fouding)
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