gah! tank cleaning! (?)

OK..so iv realized something recently and im a little lost for what to do.

i realized this morning that i need to clean my snakes tubs bleach them and what not..but i have the heating pads stuck to the bottom of the tubs! can i just remove the heading pads from the tubs and re-stick them..or will removing them wreck them? i thought i read someplace that pulling heating pads off once stuck on will wreck the pad?

any ideas are appreciated thank you!

I have taken my sticky heat pad off before, and if definitely doesn't stick the same after.

I've read that the UTH can be damaged by pulling it off of the tub, like it breaks some of the internal wiring causing hot spots on the UTH. I had mine stuck to the bottom of a 20L when I first got my snake, but have since switched to tubs and have removed the UTH and moved it. When you're peeling it off, try to do so pretty slowly, but also trying as much as possible to not bend or fold the UTH. Once you have it removed, I would recommend sticking paper or something else to the sticky side of the UTH, then you can tape it onto the bottom of the tub so you can easily remove for cleaning. (I have foil tape covering the sticky surface of the UTH and use foil tape to attach it to the tub.)

"Sticky" UTHs almost never adhere a second time. That being said, you can use foil tape to adhere it again after cleaning. Many people I've seen do this and it works just fine! Just be sure you don't severely bend or fold the pad over when removing it, that way you don't damage it in any way. They are incredibly difficult to remove!! It took all of my strength to remove a mini UTH, I couldn't imagine trying to remove a larger one :rofl:

alright thanks for the replies, where can i get foil tape? lol i have never seen it before..

Pretty much any hardware store should carry it, also reptile stores often do.

Nonononono put bleach in a spray bottle and wipe it off w a towel works wonder and no troubles w heat pad after

Yes leave the pad on and just wipe down the tub with the proper diluted solution. You dont have to immerse the tubs or soak them with water to get the job done. If you ever do another that way leave the peely paper on the uth and tape it to the tub with the foil tape. Then it is easy to remove...

Dumb question, but your heat pad isn't inside the tub, right?

NO the pad should NOT be inside a plastic tub!!!!! :O This is sometimes necessary with wooden enclosures but typically covered with tiles or using a waterproof mat like a Kane.

Bleach inside a tub needs to be VERY carefully washed so NO smell of bleach remains. I'd recommend using something else if you cannot be assured of a perfect wash. Chlorohexadine, or a peroxide solution. That leaves a non toxic residue, I use a steam cleaner myself followed by a CHD rinse.

Another user wrote an EXCELLENT guide on this. Check it out, maybe it can help :)

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...o-Remove-a-UTH!

I bookmarked it, not because I plan on using it, but just in case.

I use chorohex and it works wonders. I don't Like to use bleach without rinsing it off. You can try and take it off with a paintscraper and just go slowly.

I take my whole tank 20L outside and rinse the whole thing out with water and soap. The UTH stays on the tank. I complety dry the tank, let sit in the sun for awhile so it is completey dry and take the tank back inside and plug in again, never had a problem. Just dont get the plug or heat pad wet.

great replies! i was thinking about the spray bottle thing but didnt know if that would be good enough! i will do that from now on. thanks all (no my UTH is NOT inside the tank)