Re: Single Ball Python in tub, having temperature problems.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
PitOnTheProwl
Second an UTH is not meant to heat ambient temperature and I would bet you are not properly measuring your temps.
You need to measure the temperature on the inside flood of the enclosure above the UTH. the surface temperature is what you are regulating and if you are running wide open then it is well over 110 to 120 degrees. This is a fire hazard.
Yeah that is exactly where I had my probe, under the substrate.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
kitedemon
I would firstly recommend a modern UTH one that is a low density element that max temp is always below 100ºF. An ultratherm for example. This prevents massive heat build up and the fire hazard is reduced. With the plastic thin walled tub (rubbermaid or similar) I would suggest a proportional stat. (herpstat, helix, eco, herpkeeper) Tubs never perform well in cool rooms they as you have discovered need warm ones. Yes you can build some sort of insulated box to make a mirco room to solve this problem. The cost savings in a single tub in a cool room if you have been paying attention is getting quite high, stat, contrived box arrangement, room heater. I would suggest a PVCx enclosure, it has a wide ability to have flexible heat sources some of which heat ambients. The stat you have will work better and safer on it, and it will hold more heat that you have generated inside. The best of all worlds in a cool room.
A
I just messaged kitedemon about this but figured I would post here as well. I have thought about it and I think the best thing for me to do right now is hold off on the BP and get a colubrid (specifically corn snake) instead. Im not 100% positive I can provide the proper BP husbandry while in college, but corn snake care seems like something I can provide more easily. Maybe when I finish school I can build a rack and get a couple BP's then. Thanks for your help everyone
Re: Single Ball Python in tub, having temperature problems.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
kitedemon
hey Pit, I might be back...:P
Hey I am with pit on this one, Uth are fine on plastic tubs as long as they are regulated. I would go further to suggest that an on off stat is not good enough for a UTH on a plastic tub. It runs full power and then no power. This means while it is on the temp can spike to max heat. Plastic tubs have no thermal mass, nothing to slow the transfer of heat. They often will get hot faster than the stat can register the heat change and generate overly hot interior temps.
I would firstly recommend a modern UTH one that is a low density element that max temp is always below 100ºF. An ultratherm for example. This prevents massive heat build up and the fire hazard is reduced. With the plastic thin walled tub (rubbermaid or similar) I would suggest a proportional stat. (herpstat, helix, eco, herpkeeper) Tubs never perform well in cool rooms they as you have discovered need warm ones. Yes you can build some sort of insulated box to make a mirco room to solve this problem. The cost savings in a single tub in a cool room if you have been paying attention is getting quite high, stat, contrived box arrangement, room heater. I would suggest a PVCx enclosure, it has a wide ability to have flexible heat sources some of which heat ambients. The stat you have will work better and safer on it, and it will hold more heat that you have generated inside. The best of all worlds in a cool room.
A
Thanks again. That is a great explanation. I always thought heat tape was fitted into a groove for operability and safety and a uth was already packaged as a adhesive where you peel the paper off to expose the adhesive. The ultratherms are much more safe. Thanks again. Thermostats are a must all around!! A.C. :bow:
Re: Single Ball Python in tub, having temperature problems.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
kitedemon
I applaud your commitment! Setting up an enclosure in advance of animal is a great policy. Colubrids have a wider temperature range and better suited to regular room temperatures. The problems are not impossible to over come but it is often easier and cheaper to set up for colder tolerant species over tropical. I am not trying to talk you out of your decision, either way it is doable.
Yeah a big part of me thinking a Corn Snake would be better is that I could put it in a glass tank and use a low watt bulb to keep the ambient temp up if I need to, along with the UTH. From what I have researched this wouldn't cause too many issues because Corn Snakes don't require as high humidity. Also as a new snake keeper a BP hunger strike would probably stress me out. I would be nervous keeping a BP in a glass tank, having to fiddle with foil on the screen top and misting often and all that. I'm sure I could find a way to make it work for a BP I just don't wanna stress out over it anymore, and from what I've read Corn Snakes are alot more foolproof.
