Moving my snakes over to tubs.

I'm going to be getting a shelving unit from Home Depot and some tubs with locking lids, and readying it for my new arrivals that I have coming this week.

I want to use an UTH, actually am quite determined to do so, but I have never used them before. If I get a UTH, can I tape it directly to the tubs? Or am I going to need to do something special?

Also, am I going to need a way to keep the tubs off of the shelving units so the UTH doesn't sit directly between the tub and the shelf?

Any information on properly utilizing a UTH would be greatly appreciated.


& what kind of tub should I use? I have seen Rubbermaid and Sterilite being the two most common but is there a general consensus on what tubs withstand the UTH best??

Thank you guys!

UTH's don't get anywhere near enough to melt plastic - at least they shouldn't, and once you get it on a thermostat you're safe in that regard. I also think most tubs have short little feet that prevent them being smacked down flat against the shelf below it, but I'm not 100% sure on that one.

Either way, they're warm but they're not hot enough when used safely (with a thermostat set appropriately) to start a fire or melt plastic.

Along with a UTH you will need a thermostat to regulate the temp. I have a plastic shelving unit I bought from Lowes that's probably similiar to what you're getting. I use Flexwatt and have it taped directly to the rack towards the back. I slide the tubs over the tape so the back 1/4 of the tub is directly over the heat tape. I've used a few different kinds of tubs, but mainly Sterilite and Rubbermaid. Both work just fine.

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Originally Posted by sho220

I slide the tubs over the tape so the back 1/4 of the tub is directly over the heat tape. I've used a few different kinds of tubs, but mainly Sterilite and Rubbermaid. Both work just fine.

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I actually wasn't planning on using heat tape. Would a pad work as well? or should I invest in some tape?

I'm sure the heat tape would be more cost effective. But if you need it this week, overnight shipping would be outrageous.

http://www.reptilebasics.com/heat-tape-page-2


And heat tape MUST be on a thermostat. (As well as heat pads)

Do you know if Petco or petsmart sells any reliable pads or thermostats that I can use until I can get heat tape?

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Originally Posted by CptJack

UTH's don't get anywhere near enough to melt plastic

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Yes they do this is why they MUST be used with a T-Stat from the start.

I would not recommend Petsmart or Petco as a good source for any reptile supply, for heat pad or heat tape as well as thermostat this can be your one stop shop http://www.reptilebasics.com/

For a single stand alone tub I would recommend a heat pad and simply place the tub above it, if you tape it and need to clean the tub it's just gonna be messy and take longer.

I'm about to have three and two of them are rescues that I have to pick up tomorrow or else they will be euthanized by their owner. Sad day, really. He just told me today or else I would have been more prepared.

so I don't have an opportunity to wait for the mail to come in to order online. :/.

Petco and Petsmart don't sell anything reliable or trustworthy for heating or controlling it. This would be the best thermostat you could get-

http://spyderrobotics.com/

Amazon carries a hydrofarm, but imo, should only be used as a temporary thermostat. I have seen them in my local hardware/garden store. But they are super over priced there.

I'm just looking for something temporary, considering that I won't be able to wait for the mail before I end up with these two rescues. :/.

i really wish he would have given me some kind of warning about this instead of making me scramble to get everything that we need.

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Originally Posted by Deborah

Yes they do this is why they MUST be used with a T-Stat from the start.

I would not recommend Petsmart or Petco as a good source for any reptile supply, for heat pad or heat tape as well as thermostat this can be your one stop shop http://www.reptilebasics.com/

For a single stand alone tub I would recommend a heat pad and simply place the tub above it, if you tape it and need to clean the tub it's just gonna be messy and take longer.

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Weird. I'm not gonna argue with experience (I'm not the expert here) but I had one of those 20.00 Zoomed UTH's completely uregulated for about a week and while it got warm to the touch it never got uncomfortably hot to the touch on the surface. It sure wasn't hot enough on melt anything touching it. Not good for the snake and absolutely get some kind of thermostat going for the snake's safety, and listen to the experienced guy though.

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Originally Posted by CarrieAnnx3

I'm just looking for something temporary, considering that I won't be able to wait for the mail before I end up with these two rescues. :/.

i really wish he would have given me some kind of warning about this instead of making me scramble to get everything that we need.

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You can get a "dimmer switch" from Lowes or Home Depot that will work until you get a thermostat. Takes a bit to get it set to the right temp but it will work.

the reptile store had some UTH's and a thermostat. So, it looks like things are going to work out after all, until I can get some heat tape.