Under Tank Heater on Plastic Bins?

I'd like to set up caging for my snakes in rubbermaid/sterilite etc blanket boxes, but I'm worried if I put an under tank heater on it, that it will melt the plastic. Is this something to worry about, and is there a way to remedy it? I know many people use heat tape.. but the thermostat I'd have to buy is quite expensive (helix)

I use a human heating pad under my rubbermaids and haven't had any problems yet. I just give a little space for air to circulate on top of the pad and everything is just peachy :D

yea I am helping a friend of mine doing the same thing with his rubber maid that he is building

Ooh, I didn't even think about that. What if it is the kind that you buy at the pet store? The kind that sticks to the bottom.

a human heat pad will work well not so sure about a regular UTH like you said it could melt the plastic

You say you let air circulate over the heat pad.. you mean you have a space between the pad and the bin?

Has anyone tried putting the regular herp pads on a rubbermaid bin?

Come to think of it.. human heating pads are probably cheaper than herp pads anyway, but can you really get proper temps in there with those?

I wouldn't directly stick the UTH to the tank. You should just be able to sit it on whatever your tank is on and just adjust the height of the tank above it.

This thread gives you some good ideas on under tank heating pads: http://www.ball-pythons.net/index.ph...ewtopic&t=5885

This prompts another question.. is there any way to unstick an UTH from a tank?

So it's okay to use an UTH when the adhesive backing hasn't been removed?

I'm worried about burning my floor with the heat pad.. (happened before)

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Originally Posted by Shelby

This prompts another question.. is there any way to unstick an UTH from a tank?

So it's okay to use an UTH when the adhesive backing hasn't been removed?

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As for unsticking ... you should be able to do it if you are careful. I think i remember reading about someone here doing that.

As for the adhesive backing ... i honestly have no idea. I've never used one of those kinds of UTH's. I have always just used the $12 human heating pads from WalMart. Have you read the directions and warnings on the back of the UTH packaging?

I have several tubs with regular heat pads that where previous used for glass enclosures. I have had no issues with melting, nothing even leading to melting such as discoloration of the plastic where it makes contact. Most of my pads have little stick left on them but I move things around often so its no problem for me, it does take some effort to pull off a well situated heat pad though.

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This prompts another question.. is there any way to unstick an UTH from a tank?

So it's okay to use an UTH when the adhesive backing hasn't been removed?

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I have removed a UTH from a 20 gallon breeder I had and used it on one of my 40 gallon breeders with no problem. Stuck to the other tank just fine. When you start removing it just do it slowly and carefully.

$12 heating pad sounds nice.. better than $20 for a herp heating pad. I swear, if it's for reptiles, they think they can make it twice as expensive. lol

I can't remember what the warnings say on the UTH.. but they always assume you're a complete idiot when they write those.

I may try removing my heating pads.. I'd really like to have my glass tanks back for fish, and I can move my snakes to the rubbermaid bins. They'll be happier too probably, will feel more secure in translucent plastic rather than clear glass.

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Originally Posted by Shelby

Has anyone tried putting the regular herp pads on a rubbermaid bin?

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Yes, and it didn't melt it but it did warp it. I stick w/ human heating pads now.

Is there any reason you'd want to use herp heating pads rather than human heating pads?

If i stick the uth on cement floor and but a plastic tub over but leave space between for air circulation will it be ok im just trying to breed crickets for my bearded dragon and my leopard gecko just asking

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Originally Posted by Cristianortiz

If i stick the uth on cement floor and but a plastic tub over but leave space between for air circulation will it be ok im just trying to breed crickets for my bearded dragon and my leopard gecko just asking

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Yes, it'll be fine. I'd strongly recommend using a dimmer switch, rheostat, or thermostat though.

Having said that, next time I'd recommend starting a new thread for your question rather than bumping a thread that's nearly a teenager. ;)

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Originally Posted by Shelby

$12 heating pad sounds nice.. better than $20 for a herp heating pad. I swear, if it's for reptiles, they think they can make it twice as expensive. lol

I may try removing my heating pads.. I'd really like to have my glass tanks back for fish, and I can move my snakes to the rubbermaid bins. They'll be happier too probably, will feel more secure in translucent plastic rather than clear glass.

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It's crazy how stores mark prices up for reptile/fish/animal supplies in general. I was buying some shrimp for my fish a while back and happened to notice a bag of shrimp while walking past the turtle stuff in the store. Same EXACT freeze-dried shrimp in a different package, but twice as much product for almost the same price!!! So now I shop around other sections before buying...

As far as removing heat pads, just go slow and be careful. From what I understand, those little heating coils/wires are extremely fragile and can break and not function properly if broken. Haven't experienced that personally, but have read a few different people say that has happened to them. Good luck!

Instead of sticking the UTH to the tank, I stick it to aluminum foil. Go slowly so the foil doesn't get wrinkled. Then just use heat tape to stick the UTH to the bin or cage bottom. I also put the probe on the mat before putting on the foil; that way, the probe doesn't dislodge. Use a t-stat.
If your UTH is melting or discoloring your bin, it is too hot. People are 98.6 and we don't melt the bins. A car trunk in summer hits 100 easily and the bins don't melt.

sterilite its ok to use a uth i have a colony of roaches on sterelite the melting point on that plastic is high the uth run at 110 on the outside only problem is the plastic is very thick so on the other side i only get 80 but thats enough for the roaches i also have a 40 watt che on top lol

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Originally Posted by ballpythoncornsnake

sterilite its ok to use a uth i have a colony of roaches on sterelite the melting point on that plastic is high the uth run at 110 on the outside only problem is the plastic is very thick so on the other side i only get 80 but thats enough for the roaches i also have a 40 watt che on top lol

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14 Years old thread with an OP that has not participated in 10 YEARS :gj: