UTH Side or Bottom...Vote!!!

I got a reptitherm UTH for my baby spider ball... now im a lil confused...I have one on the under side of my baby pastel and it keeps temps perfect.. but ive been reading up on UTH's..It says it is most effective on the side of the tank.. which is right??? maybe a vote...who puts it on the side vs. bottom..THANK YOU :banana:

Definitely bottom. Ball pythons need belly heat to digest their food, and prefer belly heat. (Not saying My BP has told me this, but it's what I've heard) :)

My vote is bottom, they need belly heat.

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Bottom makes them digest and it hides it better than having a bulky heater hanging off the side of your enclosure

Bottom works better... Side mounting makes very little sense. Just make sure that it is regulated with a thermostat.

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Originally Posted by Trackstrong83

Definitely bottom. Ball pythons need belly heat to digest their food, and prefer belly heat. (Not saying My BP has told me this, but it's what I've heard) :)

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x2
You beat me to it!

I think the only place I have seen it suggested to be used on the side is on the actual pet store packaging.

Use it on the bottom.

it's called an Under Tank Heater for a reason.

The packaging only suggests side mounting it if proper ventilation cannot be given when mounting it to the bottom... and a thermostat fixes that issue anyway (even without any ventilation)

Bottom for belly heat

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Originally Posted by The Serpent Merchant

it's called an Under Tank Heater for a reason.

The packaging only suggests side mounting it if proper ventilation cannot be given when mounting it to the bottom... and a thermostat fixes that issue anyway (even without any ventilation)

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I'd still recommend at least a little bit of ventilation on the bottom though... Just as a preventative measure.

Butt....I mean bottom!


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Originally Posted by Crazy4Herps

I'd still recommend at least a little bit of ventilation on the bottom though... Just as a preventative measure.

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I currently have 4 AP T8's and an AP T12 stacked together with flexwatt heating all of them... there is 0 gap in-between them but the thermostat probe is attached directly to the flexwatt (AP routes a slot for Thermostat Probes in the bottom of the cages) They have been set up this way for months without any issues at all.

The reason for the gap is to prevent heat build up. But if your thermostat probe is attached directly to the UTH, any heat built up will be detected and power going to the UTh will be reduced, preventing heat buildup. In cages set up with the thermostat probe (or no thermostat :O) not attached to the UTH, then I agree that an air gap should be used.

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Originally Posted by The Serpent Merchant

I currently have 4 AP T8's and an AP T12 stacked together with flexwatt heating all of them... there is 0 gap in-between them but the thermostat probe is attached directly to the flexwatt (AP routes a slot for Thermostat Probes in the bottom of the cages) They have been set up this way for months without any issues at all.

The reason for the gap is to prevent heat build up. But if your thermostat probe is attached directly to the UTH, any heat built up will be detected and power going to the UTh will be reduced, preventing heat buildup. In cages set up with the thermostat probe (or no thermostat :O) not attached to the UTH, then I agree that an air gap should be used.

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I use the AP probe slots with flexwatt as well, but I still like to use plywood to create a 1/2" space between cages; in the unlikely event that a thermostat goes haywire or gets turned up too high, a small gap could mean the difference between life and death for my animals...

The hut pad comes with little rubber bumpers just use those. Belly heat is more efficient energy to heat wise. It is NOT required to digest food that is a myth! You will need a thermostat as well if you plan on using a tub I would recommend a proportional unit to eliminate swing you get with on/off units. You could also go with a custom enclosure and an on/off (thick bottom) is another option.

On an efficiency standpoint (heat loss vs no heat loss) belly heat is the best placement, side or back heat is most efficient when used in an enclosed rack/and or room with very stable temps.

As for the rest a matter of preference, my BP don't even have a hot spot in the summer ;) (not something I recommend to anyone either)

I vote bottom, definitely!

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Originally Posted by Deborah

On an efficiency standpoint (heat loss vs no heat loss) belly heat is the best placement, side or back heat is most efficient when used in an enclosed rack/and or room with very stable temps.

As for the rest a matter of preference, my BP don't even have a hot spot in the summer ;) (not something I recommend to anyone either)

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Sometimes in the summer the room gets so warm I do end up turning my reptiles' heat off too :oops:

Belly heat. Heat rises, it doesn't travel horizontally.

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