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Heating Mat for Pavement Ants


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13 replies to this topic

#1 Offline EmberMyAnts - Posted April 26 2019 - 11:55 AM

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Well, here is the problem. Pavement ants love different heat setting, but, the lowest heat mats and/or cables are 24 watts, and, I need a 15 watt cable or mat. So, does anyone know any sort of mat or cable that is 15 or lower watts? Thanks!



#2 Offline FeedTheAnts - Posted April 26 2019 - 1:57 PM

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Heating Mat

This is the heating mat I use. I'm not sure what the wattage is(actually, looks like 20W), but it isn't very hot.


I accidentally froze all my ants 


#3 Offline EmberMyAnts - Posted April 26 2019 - 2:19 PM

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It says 7W, May mean 7 watts? Anyways, thanks a lot!

#4 Offline AntJohnny - Posted April 26 2019 - 3:21 PM

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1/8 5/7/14/20W Pet Reptile Heater Under Tank Heating Pad Pet Warming Heat Mat Tool

Search this on ebay. I copied the link for it and it was a few paragraphs long.

I use the 15 watt for dubia roaches and it works great. The smallest they have should work good for ants. They have temparture dials too. I can set mine anywhere from room temp to well over 200 degrees Fahrenheit. I keep it at 90 for the roaches. You will need a thermometer for it at first just to make sure it's the temparture you want. Hope this helps😀
1/8 5/7/14/20W Pet Reptile Heater Under Tank Heating Pad Pet Warming Heat Mat Tool

Search this on ebay. I copied the link for it and it was a few paragraphs long.

I use the 15 watt for dubia roaches and it works great. The smallest they have should work good for ants. They have temparture dials too. I can set mine anywhere from room temp to well over 200 degrees Fahrenheit. I keep it at 90 for the roaches. You will need a thermometer for it at first just to make sure it's the temparture you want. Hope this helps😀

#5 Offline EmberMyAnts - Posted April 26 2019 - 3:29 PM

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Thank you!!

#6 Offline Mettcollsuss - Posted April 26 2019 - 4:41 PM

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I use a heating cable rather than a mat. 15 watt ones are available at most pet stores. I find them more convenient.

#7 Offline EmberMyAnts - Posted April 26 2019 - 4:46 PM

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The problem with the cables was that I couldn’t find any 15 watts. I will go check out the cables at Petco though, thanks!
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#8 Offline Carpenter - Posted May 1 2019 - 1:42 PM

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There are some 5 watt pads on amazon, I use that for a THA formicarium with C. Novaeborencis 



#9 Offline drtrmiller - Posted May 1 2019 - 1:51 PM

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The power rating is extremely misleading when it comes to these heating devices.  The wattage is mostly related to how large the heated area is, not how hot it gets.

 

To approximate the actual heat output, take the wattage and divide it by the area in square inches.

 

For example:

 

Pad A: 15 watt / 25 sq. inch = 0.6 w/inch2

 

Pad B: 25 watt / 42 sq. inch = 0.6 w/inch2

 

As you can see, both pads have the same amount of heat per unit area, but the second one is a physically bigger heat pad, so it naturally has a higher power rating.


Edited by drtrmiller, May 1 2019 - 2:07 PM.

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#10 Offline Rstheant - Posted May 1 2019 - 2:19 PM

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ZooMed 11 watt heat cables are good for most ant species.

#11 Offline EmberMyAnts - Posted May 1 2019 - 2:32 PM

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I got a ZooMed 15 watt, 11 inch. Thanks! Haven't tried it out, but, I have hope for it!



#12 Offline venator - Posted May 4 2019 - 7:30 PM

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There are heating pads with adjustable temperature controls, so wattage doesn't matter. 

eg: https://www.amazon.c...r/dp/B01M7SP67V

this one also have 5W and 7W models anyways



#13 Offline CoolColJ - Posted May 5 2019 - 9:37 AM

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the wattage has no real effect on temperature reached, unless your using it in an incubator  it just means the cable is longer and for mats, the mat is just larger

 

Use a thermostat to control the actual temperature!


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#14 Offline PaxxMantid - Posted May 5 2019 - 3:17 PM

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There are heating pads with adjustable temperature controls, so wattage doesn't matter. 

eg: https://www.amazon.c...r/dp/B01M7SP67V

this one also have 5W and 7W models anyways

 

A dimming thermostat plus ceramic lamp or heading pad is a pretty good setup.






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