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You don't have evidence for either conclusion. Crickets will chew anything, but PVC is one substance that they can't get a bite of and that is what heat tapes are made of. Then again, I wouldn't leave a live cricket in with a cham long enough to chew a wire such...
Is anyone using heat tape? My Jackson's likes to bask under the UV thinking that he is going to get warm (he doesn't). I am thinking about wrapping the fake branch that he lounges on with heat tape. That way on cold days I can give him some heat.
If you are using tape, what brand?