Bat House Forum

[Rick]

There are several strip heating devices made for use for keeping reptiles.Some are made for plACING UNDER WOOD OR GLASS. I have a few reptile cages all equiped with these.It would be nothing to use one of these to keep a bat house warm on a summer evening.

[Joe Spencer]

Sounds like a good experimental idea.  Might help increase the odds of a nursery colony provided the bat house is large enough.  I take it they are 110 voltage?  Do they show the wattage output and if so what is it?    

[Rick]

I think the wattage ang size of these things vary. the keeping of reptiles and amphibians has increased dramaticly. There are many differnt types of heating elements availbale. I know that they can even be used on plastic without melting them.I actually have a a large wooden cage designed to keep reptiles and it has one of these heating elements underneath the wood bottom on one corner. It keeps the wood pretty warm.   I was thinking that one or two of these could be incorporated into a bat house and put on timer to go on at sundown and go off sometime in the morning. It could also be used on a cool day. i live in the Chicago area and there are several places that specialize in reptiles and the things need to keep them in good health.

[jefftward]

Sorry this is so long.

I have over 6 years experience with keeping snakes and lizards and I have used many different types of heating mats/pads. No matter what kind you use you must use a thermostat or rheostat as the temps of some of these mats can and will melt plastic especially when sandwiched between the plastic and another insulator i.e. wood. A thermostat is a must when heat is used for any animals to protect them from over heating. At one time while setting up and testing a new enclosure a heat mat that would produce an average 90 degrees produced over 130 degrees before I shut it off when I placed it between a foam insulation and the bottom of a plastic cage.

Johnson Controls makes a popular thermostat with a remote probe that is used a lot with reptiles.  You can buy them wired with a surge protector for about $75. I like the fact that if the probe becomes damaged the thermostat shuts down. Ranco is another popular brand.

With a thermostat you would not have to use a timer to turn on the heating element at night and off in the morning and you would not run the risk of cooking the bats.

When it comes to the heating element itself you can buy strips of what is called heat tape that comes in different widths and can be cut to length. You simply buy the wiring that connects to the tape. I my self like pre-made heat mats. I have had very good success with Big Apple Herps Dragons Lair Heat Mats. http://www.bigappleherp.com

You can also use mats that produce radiant heat which I would think would be better for bats.


Alright I am done. Have to get ready for work.
 

[kent borcherding]

Rick , I have been unable to contact you at the email address you posted. Your question about electric heating in bat houses , there is a lady in Germany who has been building and researching bat houses for approx. 30 years or more. The Germans have been using electricity to maintain warmer temps in the bat houses. I do have photos of the bat houses and how the wires are placed in the bat houses. I also have contact with these people . You said there are possibly highvoltage electric wires near where you are planning to place the bat houses .  If you have access to an ultra sonic detector to check under the power lines.  I have gotten readings under 3 power transmission lines around 22 kHz with a Pettersson detector. I placed some bat houses under these lines to see if the bats would use the houses.Bats never did use the bat houses in 5 years. All other factors for a good location were there , other than the power lines.you may email  me at- nightflyerno501@yahoo.com. I am doing some bat house golf course projects at the present time , and will be doing 3 golf courses in the Chicago area. Th  owners of a number of golf courses are interested in bats to help control insects on the courses , mainly mosquitoes. Could be an interseting project. The owners treat me very well.Kent Borcherding

[KC5TPA]

With a thermostat you would not have to use a timer to turn on the heating element at night and off in the morning and you would not run the risk of cooking the bats.

 

The thermostat would only control the temp of the mat, not the time of day it was on or off, correct? You WOULD need a timer, or similar device to keep the house warm at night, and not during the day unless needed; otherwise, the mat would technically be on all the time with just a thermostat.

I was thinking of using a pipe heater, but these get too hot but does have a thermal switch which is what I was trying to build my idea around. A timer would not allow you to 'keep up' with the temperature fluctuations. Thermo Cube makes a device called a TC-3 among others that would work for this approach, and I am liking the reptile mat idea, except I'm not sure about the thermostat requirement. My brother has some mats for his retiles but does not use thermostats. He works for Petco.

http://www.thermocube.com/

 

[KC5TPA]

What about using a Ceramic Infrared Heat Emitter to heat the house from the outside?

Pipe Heater?

Reptile mat?

Or would doing all of this throw off their normal cycle, and would we be messing with nature too much here?