Is my UTH burning my ball python?

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Originally Posted by Bcycling

With a glass tank it is reccomended that there is a gap between the uth and whatever the enclosure is resting on.

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What would be the purpose? I have both my tanks sitting on cardbord wrapped in aluminium foil to help insulate the tank and never had an issue.

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Originally Posted by Bennie1986

What would be the purpose? I have both my tanks sitting on cardbord wrapped in aluminium foil to help insulate the tank and never had an issue.

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anything that produces heat should have SOME kind of ventilation. trapped heat can cause the UTH (or anything else that produces heat) to overheat and become damaged, possibly causing a dramatic temperature spike in the enclosure.

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Originally Posted by tttaylorrr

anything that produces heat should have SOME kind of ventilation. trapped heat can cause the UTH (or anything else that produces heat) to overheat and become damaged, possibly causing a dramatic temperature spike in the enclosure.

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Can you provide a source that proves your claim? I could understand in a sutuation where the heat source is suppose to be considerably higher than 90 degrees. Also, how do you explain the UTH that are sealed pads?

Please dont think im just trying to argue, im genuinely curious.

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Originally Posted by Bennie1986

Can you provide a source that proves your claim? I could understand in a sutuation where the heat source is suppose to be considerably higher than 90 degrees. Also, how do you explain the UTH that are sealed pads?

Please dont think im just trying to argue, im genuinely curious.

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no problem! one internet stranger's opinion should be questioned! :P
here's a link to the user manual of a ReptiTherm UTH. this was the quickest link i could find, but it states that not elevating your UTH off of whatever its resting on can cause a fire. i'll post more sources when i find them.

EDIT: here's an FAQ on the UTH i use stating you must allow the heat to dissipate and not build up.

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Originally Posted by tttaylorrr

no problem! one internet stranger's opinion should be questioned! :P
here's a link to the user manual of a ReptiTherm UTH. this was the quickest link i could find, but it states that not elevating your UTH off of whatever its resting on can cause a fire. i'll post more sources when i find them.

EDIT: here's an FAQ on the UTH i use stating you must allow the heat to dissipate and not build up.

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Ok fair enough cant argue facts however, i feel like this is more of a cya statement. I agree if it overheaded on a surface that was flamable it could be an issue but i dont see any way that, under normal operation, a lack of air flow would cause a fire. BUT again the literature is on your side lol!

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Originally Posted by Bennie1986

i dont see any way that, under normal operation, a lack of air flow would cause a fire. BUT again the literature is on your side lol!

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i take no shortcuts for the safety of my animals :)

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Originally Posted by Bcycling

If it's hot to the touch it's to hot. I would get the snake out and figure it out first

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I'd agree , I was just going to say if it felt hot or too warm to him it must be well over 98.4F ;)


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

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Originally Posted by tttaylorrr

i take no shortcuts for the safety of my animals :)

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I still dont see how, if it malfunctions that badly, a 1/8" air gap will make a difference but luckily the odds are that both the uth and stat will not fail at the same time even if it does.

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Originally Posted by Bennie1986

I still dont see how, if it malfunctions that badly, a 1/8" air gap will make a difference

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so i have a TINY science background (graphic artist for a science education company) and i'll try my best: the airflow PREVENTS any malfunctions by ensuring the heat dissipates. when air molecules heat up, they move very quickly and want to spread out to colder areas where there's less fast-moving molecules to bounce off of; heat will always want to move towards colder areas.

even a tiny amount of space will allow the molecules to spread out since they're moving very quickly and want to move to colder areas.

when these hot, fast-moving air molecules become trapped, they continue to bounce around and try to escape. without any escape route, and with a heating element present, these molecules will continue to move faster and faster and produce even more heat. this build-up of heat can affect the heating element as the surrounding air gets VERY hot and the heat cannot escape, thus reaching a temperature that can cause damage to the heating element.

does this make sense? i tried!