Time to change heat source. Ideas?

[NaginiBP]

I have one BP and two corn snakes, all in separate tanks (not sure if glass or acrylic) that until last night were heated by UTHs. The heat pads are no longer sticky and I can't secure them to the tank anymore. So I get poor heating in the tank and it is burning the desk that the tanks are on. So, I am looking for the best cost-efficient way to heat the tanks. Never used anything else before. Looking at Petsmart website (the only pet store I have here), they have the UTHs and heat cables. Not sure how those would work. Doesn't look like they carry Flexwatt tape which is what I think many here use. Where to get that fast? My snakes are without heat until I get it. Tanks will be covered with blankets.

And another question: my newest corn is just a wee baby. He spends all his time hiding in a decoration I have in the tank. He is fearful and strikes at anything coming at him and he doesn't come out of the hiding spot voluntarily. Trying to figure out the best way to get him out of the tank without scaring him each time. Have been using gloves to save my fingers and a hook, but would like a less stressful way. Once out of the tank and calmed down, he is fine to hold, but very small and fast.

[kilabyte]

I would just get foil tape & tape the UTH to your tanks.

As for your corn snake I would place a small towel on him so he does not see anything and then grab him.

[NaginiBP]

I could use aluminum tape to hold the old UTHs to the tanks, if that is safe. Plus, I'm thinking of switching the BP to a tub in the near future and it just doesn't seem that UTHs would be very safe on plastic would it?

And the baby corn is inside a decoration at all times. Putting a towel on him won't work. Thinking I may need to take the decoration (fake tree) out and provide him with easier accessible hides instead.

[Kaorte]

Aluminum tape is fine to use with UTHs. I use it all the time.

If you want to use a UTH with a tub, you MUST use a reptile thermostat, which you should already have if you are using a UTH as they get around 120* when left unregulated. More then enough heat to burn your animal.

A hook for a baby corn snake? Just reach in there, tap him on the nose and pick him up. The more time you take to take him out, the more time he has to bite. Pull the hide thing off him, and grab him from the side.

[NaginiBP]

Aluminum tape is fine to use with UTHs. I use it all the time.

If you want to use a UTH with a tub, you MUST use a reptile thermostat, which you should already have if you are using a UTH as they get around 120* when left unregulated. More then enough heat to burn your animal.

A hook for a baby corn snake? Just reach in there, tap him on the nose and pick him up. The more time you take to take him out, the more time he has to bite. Pull the hide thing off him, and grab him from the side.

Thanks. I will go get some tape tonight and see how it goes. And all tanks are hooked up to thermostats.

And the baby is inside this structure, not something I can just pull off and grab him. I have to poke him to get him out. Sounds like I will just take it out then.

[Kaorte]

Ah, if it is difficult to remove him from it, then just take it out. You need to be able to access them in case of an emergency. He might even get stuck in there as he grows XD

[Vypyrz]

I could use aluminum tape to hold the old UTHs to the tanks, if that is safe. Plus, I'm thinking of switching the BP to a tub in the near future and it just doesn't seem that UTHs would be very safe on plastic would it?

Yes, you can use UTH's on tubs. As long as it is regulated, it won't melt them...