Plastic Tub, Silent Killer???

Hi, I don't post much, I mostly read, and this is my first thread, but not my first post. I told the manager at a Petco today that I had switched from a 40 glass critter cage to a plastic sterilite tub. (I just hooked it up today. I have a thermostat set on 90, the probe is taped between the bottom of the tub and the ultratherm heat mat, the heat mat is gray duck taped to the tub. The inside bottom of the tub ( where the snake is) is about 87 degrees, measured by heat gun.) The snake just ate 2 mice. She is staying on the warm spot for now the ambient is 80. Everything seems fine. But I am worried because the lady from Petco said "I should have stayed with glass, or at least to be careful, because heat mats are made for glass and not plastic, when heated, plastic will let off toxic fumes". So my question is, will the plastic give off fumes that will harm my snake even though it is only warmed to 90 degrees because my heat pad which is the best(ultratherm) is connected to a thermostat which is set to 90. At what temp. do fumes come out of the plastic? Will the sterilite plastic shorten my snakes life, like she said it might? Could some of you more knowledgeable folks who use or know about plastic tubs give me your opinion please, and thanks in advance.

If it was the case most large breeders that have been doing this for more than 20 years would have reported losses.

I have been keeping my animals like this for a decade with not issue.

It's again a case of hearsay or I read it somewhere just like pine is supposed to be dangerous too.

Think about it, 90 degrees is less than most mammal's body temp.

If you had rats/mice, rabbits, Guinea Pigs in a tub, do you think it cause fumes?

Now if you failed to have a thermostat for your heat mat and it shorted out and melted or combusted, then I may buy her statement.

Since you were responsible enough to get a thermostat you have no worries. :)

I am by no means a member of the little tub fan club. Dont like them. Animals roam miles and miles in nature. But, family history of hvac. Some states have made pvc flu pipes illegal because of this acid/fume issue. This takes prolonged exposure to temps 150f +. So a controlled heat source should be no problem. The only way Id worry is if the plastic discolors in a big way. Then ya have an issue.

See, a planted viv glass guy defending tubs, first for everything

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I am by no means a member of the little tub fan club. Dont like them.

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Nothing wrong with tubs at all, I don't understand the hate of tubs. They can be as big as glass tanks in most cases, hold temps and humidity better, and many have kept them in tubs for many many years. Not saying Glass tanks aren't sufficient either, as long as you can maintain proper husbandry.

But both Deborah and Reinz provided valid point/advice.

My manager and I work for Petco and she is the one who told me to get tubs ;) no worries, friend

Thank you so much. I was thinking before my petco visit today that the uth and plastic would be a totally harmless way to keep snakes as long as I had a thermostat and used a good pad like the ultratherm and followed the proper method, ( which I learned on here by the way) I just started to worry a little because after all you think being a manager of petco she should know what she is talking about. But I knew she also say's things like you really need to feed in a different container, well I know from experience, and here that feeding in the enclosure is an ok thing to do and have never been bitten once. But I let her worry me a little, she sounded pretty convincing about the plastic fumes thing. And I love my snake, (my wife thinks maybe more than her.) But now I will quit worrying. Thanks So Much. I use to think people on here insisting on thermostats were ridiculous I had one side mounted and reached my hand in and felt the glass and what a shock. It was hot dangerous, and this was a zoo-med or zilla so I realized you all were right. And you all were right about the digital accurite's too. And thanks for recommending ultratherm pads.
PS: A THANKS to Reptile Basics

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Originally Posted by ballpythonsrock2

you think being a manager of petco she should know what she is talking about.

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Never assume. ;);)
I have learned through my time that many that make it into a management position are the "yes men" of the group and follow all company policies. :rofl::rofl:

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Originally Posted by MidSouthMorphs

Nothing wrong with tubs at all, I don't understand the hate of tubs. They can be as big as glass tanks in most cases, hold temps and humidity better, and many have kept them in tubs for many many years. Not saying Glass tanks aren't sufficient either, as long as you can maintain proper husbandry.

But both Deborah and Reinz provided valid point/advice.

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Please take no offense. Ive never cared for plastic jobs. but i do respect them.
Naturally planted vivs are my thing. Some people think im out of my ever loving mind for it.
Its just me.

Im sure keeping 20 40g breeders would suck.

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Originally Posted by Kris Mclaughlin

Please take no offense. Ive never cared for plastic jobs. but i do respect them.
Naturally planted vivs are my thing. Some people think im out of my ever loving mind for it.
Its just me.

Im sure keeping 20 40g breeders would suck.

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No offense taken, I like the natural planted set ups as well. When I kept venomous, that's what I did with them.


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