help with UTH size

I have my BP and my Boa in 28 qt tubs. I have one of the 10-20G ZooMed UTH on my BP and a piece of flexwatt for a 20G tank on my Boa. They heat up the floor jsut fine, but my air temps are in the mid 70*s the last few days and im worried about side effects. Should i get bigger UTH/Heat tape? Can i just put a lamp over the tops of the tubs and raise the air heat?

How are you measuring temps and regulating the UTHs?

Also, what are the floor dimensions of your tubs and the dimensions of your heaters? I would be cautious about using a heat lamp over your tubs. You would need to make sure it was very stable so that it wouldn't come into contact with the lid and you would also need to control it with a rheostat to reduce the possibility of melting the plastic. You might also look at the possibilty of using a space heater to raise the temp in the whole room...

I know it's not a popular view, but I measure belly heat temps. I don't neccessarily concern myself with air temps in my tubs. However I know alot of peole don't share my view. I use a heat gun to measure the temps of my substrate. I adjust my heaters/tape to give me a 90 degree substrate temp.

Jim Smith

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Originally Posted by j_h_smith

I know it's not a popular view, but I measure belly heat temps. I don't neccessarily concern myself with air temps in my tubs. However I know alot of peole don't share my view. I use a heat gun to measure the temps of my substrate. I adjust my heaters/tape to give me a 90 degree substrate temp.

Jim Smith

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Sounds like the prevalent idea around here to me. Get the hot spot to the appropriate temp and the snake will warm themselves up as needed. I have no problem with keeping my ambient temps at 75 as long as my snake can get to the 93 temp on the other side of the cage.

ill have to measure my Tub and UTH dimmesions when i get home. I know they def do not cover 1/3 of the tub. I have them on a thermostat connected to the heat pad outside the tub, a probe inside the tub under the newspaper and then i double check the probe readings every day or two with my heat gun. My belly temp on my BP is 92, because for some reason it either wants to be at 86 or 95. My boa is at 89. The only problem i have is that my boa is always cold to the touch while my BP is always nice and toasty and comfy

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Originally Posted by SS4Luck

ill have to measure my Tub and UTH dimmesions when i get home. I know they def do not cover 1/3 of the tub.

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I would look for a UTH that covers about 1/2 the floor space of the tub. That is what worked for me...


Rob