Question about heating pads

[anji1971]

Can an adhesive heating pad be removed from a tank without damaging it, and will it still be safe to use on another tank?? I want to put my toad into the little terrarium that Deejay was in, but he doesn't need the heat pad. However, I don't want to pull it off, and then have it be unusable, or end up having it short out and fry the next poor critter who inhabits the tank!!!!
if it can be done, what is the best way to get it off gently?

[Lori P]

I did remove one and re-applied it, but I don' think you're supposed to. The one I pulled off came off intact, with none of the coating stuck to the old tank. And I plugged it in, let it run a bit, then had hubby touch it all over to make sure it wasn't giving off shocks (didn't tell him WHY I wanted him to touch it ahead of time of course, LOL)

I pulled it off it one long pull.. did not stop and go, know what I mean?

[garterking]

I have a new unopened one in front of me and it says if you remove it to not reuse it under "possibility of electrical failure"
I think they probably say that as a way of selling more cause I've taken them off a couple times and moved them with no problems
I think you'll be fine

[EdgyExoticReptiles]

the longer its on the harder it is to get off, sometimes it will work again but usually it will not be as strong,

[GarterGuy]

I personally haven't had any luck removing and reusing those things. Everytime, they just seemed to fall apart eventually and I didn't feel comfortable putting that under one of my animals cages if there was any possibility of something going wrong. I only use the non-adhesive pads now.

[Josh]

(didn't tell him WHY I wanted him to touch it ahead of time of course, LOL)
Lmao!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Lori P]

:D Josh, remember as much as you can, for someday your future wife will be doing the same to you. :D

[rancor_]

You arent supposed to remove them because they are a wire heating element that is lamented and applied with industrial adhesives (then heated) to the underside of a glass tank. Not because they want to sell more, but because they dont want it to fall off, be less effective or malfunction. Usually if its been on awhile, you can break the glass trying to peel it off. what I do, is cover the sticky side of the pad with aluminum foil when its new, and hold it up to the tank with ceramic tiles. Thus, it is completely reusable! :)

[adamanteus]

Good tip, rancor! Personally, I always use heating cable, which can be re-used indefinitely. Also with the cable you can be very precise as to where you place the heat.

[anji1971]

Thanks for all the tips! guess i'll just leave the pad where it is in the hope that someone will get me a new baby snake for Christmas..........

[CrazyHedgehog]

better off just keeping the pad there just not plugging it in!