Ball Python Flexwatt thoughts

My ball python is 2 months old and doing great. His setup is progressivly getting better (adding plants, rocks, vines, etc) but I have a question about flexwatt heat tape. I am currently using a UTH and the thermostat probe is stuck between the glass bottom of the tank and the UTH. I have noticed that the UTH really only gets hot in the middle and I read that you should go with flexwatt. I was wondering if this was true. Also if anyone has any advice on how to setup flexwatt tape (with pictures perferably) that would be awesome. One more thing, where do I put the probe to the thermostat to regulate the temperature?

The Sticky about how to set up either a tank or tub gives precise directions. The UTH probe and thermostat connection go OUTSIDE the tank on the bottom. Is this where you have it placed?



Pamela and GINGER, my wonderful BP

1 dog, 3 cats, 1 macaw, 1 husband, 1 daughter, and GINGER [emoji216]


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The temp probes go underneath the substrate next to the hide on the hot side.....or you can have 2 sets of probes, one by the hot, and one by the cool. However, most of us you an infrared laser thermometer, because they tend to be more accurate.


Pamela and GINGER, my wonderful BP

1 dog, 3 cats, 1 macaw, 1 husband, 1 daughter, and GINGER [emoji216]


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

yah its on the outside and the probe is also on the outside

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The probe goes with the thermostat to the UTH

If it is a glass tank you place the UTH outside attached to the bottom of the tank if it has that plastic base that keeps it off the ground, the UTH plugs into the thermostat with a probe and you then place the probe on the inside the tank on the glass above the UTH(foil tape can be used to hold in place) and then set the temp on the thermostat. Your BP will find the heat that he likes and will get comfortable the bottom, ideal temps would be 88-90 on the glass. The UTH will do little to keep the ambient temp in the cage up so don't freak out if your temp gage reads low on the "hot side" , as long as it stays in the high 70's to 80's for the ambient temp in the cage he will be fine. A temp gun can be a useful tool as a quick way to ensure your hot spot is on point.

If it is a plastic tub you can keep the UTH of flexwatt on the "floor" and not attached to the bottom of the tub. Remember that the flexwatt is heavily influenced by the air temp surrounding the cage, for best results you want to keep the room temp closer to the ambient temp of the tank. If you have the tank in a room that is in the 60's with the AC on all the time, it will be constantly running trying to keep the temps up and you will likely need another heat source to keep the ambient temps in the tank up.

The thermostat probe should NOT go on the inside of any enclosure that has an animal in it.
There are too many things that can go wrong.

The probe should be between the uth and the enclosure.

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Originally Posted by PitOnTheProwl

The thermostat probe should NOT go on the inside of any enclosure that has an animal in it.
There are too many things that can go wrong.

The probe should be between the uth and the enclosure.

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So a melamine, animal plastics, homemade etc... enclosure running any type of heat lamp should have the probe placed on the outside of the cage?

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Originally Posted by Aztec4mia

So a melamine, animal plastics, homemade etc... enclosure running any type of heat lamp should have the probe placed on the outside of the cage?

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This post is about heat tape, not heat lamps. Comparing thermostat probe placement for these two heat sources is like comparing apples and elephants.

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Originally Posted by Eric Alan

This post is about heat tape, not heat lamps. Comparing thermostat probe placement for these two heat sources is like comparing apples and elephants.

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lol, I understand but he made the general vague statement, i'm just busting his balls.

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should NOT go on the inside of any enclosure that has an animal in it.

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That being said I stand by my statement, I don't offer advice that I do not have first hand experience and success with. The OP does not need to follow it.

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Originally Posted by Aztec4mia

lol, I understand but he made the general vague statement, i'm just busting his balls.

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He made a statement in a thread about thermostat placement using a UTH. Not exactly vague.

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Originally Posted by Aztec4mia

That being said I stand by my statement, I don't offer advice that I do not have first hand experience and success with. The OP does not need to follow it.

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You have first-hand experience placing flexwatt on the floor (meaning on the inside) of the enclosure in a plastic tub?

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Originally Posted by Eric Alan

He made a statement in a thread about thermostat placement using a UTH. Not exactly vague.

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haha, understand the thread topic, but he could of said tub, rack system, sterilite, enclosure to me means anything with an animal in it, melamine, rack, wood etc... the OP seems new to the hobby and could be thinking the same thing. so I wanted to make sure we were extra clear on the topic. I do not place flexwatt in the tub. Perhaps I could have worded it better or they came out with some floating flexwatt.

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keep the UTH of flexwatt on the "floor" and not attached to the bottom of the tub.

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We are getting off topic of the original post, I offered my advice. Maybe you could offer the OP some advice you have acquired on the subject.

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Originally Posted by Aztec4mia

lol, I understand but he made the general vague statement, i'm just busting his balls.




That being said I stand by my statement, I don't offer advice that I do not have first hand experience and success with. The OP does not need to follow it.

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http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h1...psqcouxfgn.jpg

Take your experience for what you want but then IF and WHEN I was running tanks with overhead heating I would still make sure the thermometer probe was elevated and not directly on the floor. Any and all fluids can alter the temperature readings.
This thread was not about any type of overhead heat. ;)

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Any and all fluids can alter the temperature readings.

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I agree, I would not recommend this for a large breeder collection. But for a few snakes that you can check on regularly, a tipped water bowl would be noticed pretty quickly and I assume that there will be some kind of bedding in the rack, even with paper towels that have been soiled will dry relatively quickly and readings go back to normal. Flexwatt isn't exactly a super heat conductor and our snakes(at least mine) are smarter then we give them credit for, they will move to the cool side of the tub if they are too hot. Honestly I would be more worried about the temp prob failing from an overhead heat lamp or an electrical fire with the flexwatt.

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This thread was not about any type of overhead heat.

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I know I think I covered that here ;)

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I understand the thread topic, but he could of said tub, rack system, sterilite, enclosure to me means anything with an animal in it, melamine, rack, wood etc... the OP seems new to the hobby and could be thinking the same thing. so I wanted to make sure we were extra clear on the topic.

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*I forgot to add "I" in my original statement that I quoted, I read it and I kind of came of sounding WRONG, Sorry Eric.

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Originally Posted by Aztec4mia

I kind of came of sounding WRONG, Sorry Eric.

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Aztec4mia

i'm just busting his balls.

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