Setting up a tub.

[AkHerps]

Well I think I'm going to set up my very young ball python in tub housing soon, tanks are just too much of a hassle! Once I gather enough money I will be buying the heat tape, hides, etc..from Reptile Basics.

I just had a quick question. Right now I'm using a red bulb to keep his ambient air temps up, but I've been keeping it off and just using the UTH because it's summer and 80 degrees in my room. But in winter, it's going to get cooolllldddddd. I won't be able to keep the room that warm.

I've heard of some people putting the heat tape running length wise the entire tub, could I position it all the way to say, the left or right of the tub, rather than in the middle, so it would keep the air temps warm, but he could thermo-regulate?

Thanks guys!

[Vypyrz]

That may work. I've never used Flexwatt so I can't say for sure. Another option would be to use 2 heat sources and 2 thermostats. Run the cool side at about 82 and the warm side at about 92. Also, since using a space heater to keep your room temp up doesn't sound feasible, have you thought about maybe using a closet with a space heater as a snake room?

[snakesRkewl]

If you wire up an 11x12 inch flexwatt and use a 15/16qt tub for your young snake then place 1/2 of the tub on the flexwatt and bump your hot spot up to 92-93 then your ambient should be fine.
Then when your snake grows you can bump the tub size up to a larger tub and still have enough heat.
Of course never forget the t-stat

[MikeV]

I dont mean to Hijack, but I have a question

Can you safely use a UTH on a tub?

[snakesRkewl]

I dont mean to Hijack, but I have a question

Can you safely use a UTH on a tub?

I've kept tubs on flexwatt for over 2 years and had no issues.
Always plugged into a thermostat of course.

[AkHerps]

I actually have a pretty large UTH, so maybe that will work the same as a large piece of flexxwatt once I get the aluminum foil tape so the whole thing is taped down.

Thanks guys!

[Vypyrz]

I dont mean to Hijack, but I have a question

Can you safely use a UTH on a tub?

Yes, I use them on my tubs with a thermostat...

AKHerps: Have you thought about just insulating your current tank with polystyrene insulation for the winter? You can find it at Home Depot or Lowes for about $16-$20 for a 8 X 12' sheet. Just cut it to the sizes you need and tape it on...

[AkHerps]

Tanks are just a pain to deal with. I'm switching my Cresties and millipedes over to tubs soon also.

Petrie(snake) has already escaped from his tank once, even though I have the slide in lid with the locks, I have no clue how it happened and I don't want it happening again!

I think they would be lighter and easier to clean, and just all around better.

It's a 20 L with a divider in the middle and I just think it would be easier to use a tub right now and maybe put him back in the 20L when he's an adult, or maybe just move him into a bigger tub.

[Vypyrz]

I think they would be lighter and easier to clean, and just all around better.

I think they are too, which is why I like them. Cleaning them is so much easier than a glass tank. I know they aren't as pretty to look at as a nice dislay tank but you can still set them up as nice or as plain as you want...

And for me, since I have boas that will one day have to be housed in large permanent tanks, tubs are alot cheaper to use while they are still growing...

[AkHerps]

Yeah and you can still see into the clear sterilite tubs to check for any issues, and balls are never out anyways so tanks which are purely for "looking pretty" and being able to see your pet, kind of fail xP. And they don't need all that extra head room that tanks offer since they are ground dwellers.