Small hole in AP floor, urates on flexwatt.

Last night I was moving my flexwatt over a bit and noticed a strong urate smell. Upon closer inspection I found urates on the flexwatt. I removed it and dried it well. I searched for a source but found no obvious holes but I did notice urate in the unused right side temp probe slot so maybe from there? The flexwatt seems fine ave even after going overnight was running correctly so I believe it was unharmed.... Gonna search in Loki's side tonight. Once I find it what are my sealing options? Will hot glue work ok? I know tape is a no no inside the tank. I thought about heat tape outside the tank but will that reflect heat back at the flexwatt?

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Originally Posted by RobertsKitty

Last night I was moving my flexwatt over a bit and noticed a strong urate smell. Upon closer inspection I found urates on the flexwatt. I removed it and dried it well. I searched for a source but found no obvious holes but I did notice urate in the unused right side temp probe slot so maybe from there? The flexwatt seems fine ave even after going overnight was running correctly so I believe it was unharmed.... Gonna search in Loki's side tonight. Once I find it what are my sealing options? Will hot glue work ok? I know tape is a no no inside the tank. I thought about heat tape outside the tank but will that reflect heat back at the flexwatt?

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Fish tank sealant works well also, just let it air out.

Wouldn't fish tank sealer take days to cure and stop off gassing?

Flexwatt is not made to be in damp conditions but as long it didn't short out and appears to be running fine it should be okay. What kind of container is the snake in? I use plastic tubs and seal small holes with silicone caulk (like aquarium sealant) It can give off a strong odor while curing so it's best to leave it set for 24-48 hours before putting an animal back in. Hot glue should work fine but may be more brittle and could crack and fall out over time whereas the silicone will be more flexible. Also if I ever find I need to use that hole again the silicone peels off pretty cleanly.

I have no other enclosure to house the snakes for any length of time so hot glue will probably have to work for this situation.

I've always found it handy to keep a few latch top storage boxes on hand for temporary housing.

http://www.sterilite.com/SelectProdu...=252&section=1

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Originally Posted by RobertsKitty

Wouldn't fish tank sealer take days to cure and stop off gassing?

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it should be fine after a few hours. the stuff that causes the silicone to be soft and that gasses out as the silicone solidifies is acetic acid, basically concentrated vinegar, a completely natural chemical that people use for cooking. once the vinegar smell is mostly gone, it should be fine.

silicone (fish tank quality, the stuff for bathrooms contains fungicides and anti-bacterial agents) and hot glue are prime choices.