Plastic Tub and UTH Help

Hello everybody,

I recently purchased an Iris 41qt tub along with the Zoo Med Reptitherm Mini UTH which is advertised as being safe on plastic, but is recommended only for 1-5 gallon terrariums. I have the pad placed on the lower side of my tub for two reasons: 1) it was recommended by the Zoo Med packaging and pet shop guy, and 2) the Iris tub has a funky bottom (there's lines running across it) so the UTH can't be applied flat. I have the pad running through a Zilla temp controller and a thermometer under my substrate (eco carpet). The mini UTH isn't getting above 75F. Any suggestions would be appreciated since this is my first tub set up.

Thanks.

Where is the probe for the tstat?

Are you saying the actual UTH is not getting over 75F?

or,

That the tub temp is not getting over 75F?

You should have started here and not ended up here but we'll get you set up.

A trick for the uth is to place foil on the sticky part and then secure it to the cage with tape(on the outside). This allows you to remove and move the uth to other tubs or cages and allows you to easily remove it for cleaning when needed.

You can remove the uth but when you do you need to go real slow and be careful. The heating elements run through the black pad and if they are broken the uth will not heat evenly.

Also that temp controller is not digital and has a HUGE probe. They are not the best but will get you by for the time being. Id suggest to start saving for a better tstat and then keep that one as a spare.

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h1...psqcouxfgn.jpg

Quote:

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Originally Posted by KMG

Are you saying the actual UTH is not getting over 75F?

or,

That the tub temp is not getting over 75F?

---

The interior tub temp is not getting over 75F.
I didn't put a thermostat probe on the outside under the UTH because the UTH says to make sure there's no air bubbles and I figured having a piece of metal on a hot surface was a bad idea. Also the Zilla probe is really really big.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ElderDeku

The interior tub temp is not getting over 75F.
I didn't put a thermostat probe on the outside under the UTH because the UTH says to make sure there's no air bubbles and I figured having a piece of metal on a hot surface was a bad idea. Also the Zilla probe is really really big.

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A uth is not meant to heat the air. They are to create a hotspot for the snake to lay on.

Your best bet is to remove the uth from the side and do as I said above with foil. Then use the foil tape to secure the uth to the bottom of the tub. After that Id secure the probe to the bottom of the uth as I explained above.

What is the temp in the tub and what are you using to measure it?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by KMG

A uth is not meant to heat the air. They are to create a hotspot for the snake to lay on.

Your best bet is to remove the uth from the side and do as I said above with foil. Then use the foil tape to secure the uth to the bottom of the tub. After that Id secure the probe to the bottom of the uth as I explained above.

What is the temp in the tub and what are you using to measure it?

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I'm using an Acurite digital with a probe. The tub temp is currently 72F.

You are going to need to bump that up a bit but the uth is not going to do it. You may have to add a heat lamp unless you have a warmer place in your house the tub can go.

Sometimes a small closet will be enough.

With a ideal hotspot your ambient temps can be a bit lower but not 72. I wouldn't want them lower than 75 personally and feel better in the 77-82 range.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by KMG

You are going to need to bump that up a bit but the uth is not going to do it. You may have to add a heat lamp unless you have a warmer place in your house the tub can go.

Sometimes a small closet will be enough.

With a ideal hotspot your ambient temps can be a bit lower but not 72. I wouldn't want them lower than 75 personally and feel better in the 77-82 range.

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Would a heat lamp on its own work or would the hides not get enough heat? The tub I'm using has an uneven bottom and there are lines running underneath across it that are raised so a UTH can't be put underneath (which is why I put it on the lower back in the first place).