Question about a Tub

Hello everyone!

I just had a quick question regarding building a tub. I have all of the materials besides aluminum tape that is recommended in the sticky for building a tub. Would duct tape be fine (just for use with the thermostat probe and the UTH)? Or would the heat be too much? I currently have the thermostat set to 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Is that a good temperature?

Thank you in advance for any help you can provide!

-Christian

i used duct tape before and it dont really work the heat pad will start to melt it and it will get all sticky so i would not use it

I wouldn't use it. It will become a sticky mess. You should be able to get the aluminum tape at a variety of stores.

The thermostat temp will depend on what your temp gun is reading on the inside of the tub.

The duct tape will become a mess. Lowes or Home Depot sells the tape you need. I know it sucks to buy a roll for a tub, but it will last you a long time and has other uses around the house.

I promise eventually you will go through that roll of aluminum tape. I use it everywhere.


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Thanks for the help guys! Went out and bought a roll today and got my tub all set up. I have my UTH set to 96 Fahrenheit right now but am only getting 86/76 with 61% humidity in a 28 quart Sterilite tub. I have a small water bowl in the back with two hides (one on each side) and am using Aspen for my substrate. Would it be bad to up the temperature on my thermostat? I have the thermostat's probe directly under the UTH under the tank and my thermometer's probe on the inside of the tank over the UTH. I am using a 20g zilla UTH from Petco. Also is 61% humidity too high? Should I add a few more ventilation holes?

My cages stay at 60% humidity all the time. No problems at all.

How thick is the layer of aspen? UTH's need a substrate layer of 1/2" or less to be effective.

If the floor of the tub is below 92 turn up the UTH.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by The Serpent Merchant

My cages stay at 60% humidity all the time. No problems at all.

How thick is the layer of aspen? UTH's need a substrate layer of 1/2" or less to be effective.

If the floor of the tub is below 92 turn up the UTH.

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Aaron makes a good point. Where are you taking the temperature from? Be sure to take it from under the substrate as your snake can and will burrow down in it and be exposed to that temperature.

If you want to use Duct Tape, they have a heat resistant tape which is good for up to 200 degrees and its perfectly fine. Your UTH will and should never get that hot if regulated. This will not melt.

I have the probe of the Thermometer under the substrate directly above the UTH on the bottom of the interior of the tub. Is there any limit that I should not go above for the Thermostat's setting? For example if it takes a setting of 100-102 to get the 90-92 in the bottom of the tank would that be ok?

Also my cool side dropped down to right around 75 during the night. Should I look at a little heater to put on top of the desk near the tub?

I have between 1/2 inch to 1 inch of substrate in the tub right now so when I get home later I'll take some out so the UTH can be more effective.

Also the humidity went up quite a bit to mid 70s. I took the top off and aired it out a bit this morning before I had to leave for school. Going to add more holes for ventilation later tonight. Do the ventilation holes have to be on the side of the tub or would it be ok for me to add some to the top?

You can set the thermostat to whatever it takes to get the bottom of the tub to 92. I wouldn't go over 105, but it shouldn't need to be that high anyway.

I would avoid putting holes in the top. You can put holes in the top, but most people prefer them on the sides.

Ok sounds good thank you very much! So just however many holes are needed to get it right around the 60% humidity range is what I should go for?

And a radom question regarding feeding. If she is 136 grams currently and an adult mouse makes a very slight bump in her stomach...would I be better off getting her started on rat pups?

Also, do NOT cover the t-stat probe itself with the aluminum tape! The metal tape will absorb the heat and give your probe false readings. Secure the probe behind the probe itself on the wire only. :gj:

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Originally Posted by HerpsForDerps

Ok sounds good thank you very much! So just however many holes are needed to get it right around the 60% humidity range is what I should go for?

And a radom question regarding feeding. If she is 136 grams currently and an adult mouse makes a very slight bump in her stomach...would I be better off getting her started on rat pups?

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Number of holes varies greatly depending on the climate you live in. It is something that you will have to figure out. Remember that it is much easier to add more holes than it is to cover them up.

For young BP's the best way to judge feeding is to go by weight. The rule is 15% of the snakes body weight.

So say you have a 100 gram BP. 100g x 0.15 = 15g so you should feed that 100 gram BP 15 grams of rodent. This works really well for young BP's but not so much for adults.